Seeking knowledge for the sake of Allah alone
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Psychological training: It is to seek knowledge for the sake of Allah, not for showing off, not for fame, not to draw people’s attention to oneself, and not to gain any worldly benefit. Rather, one seeks knowledge for the sake of Allah (Mighty and Majestic); because knowledge is a form of worship among the best of worships, so it is not permissible to direct it to other than Allah.And for this reason it came in the hadith: (Whoever seeks knowledge from what is sought for the face of Allah, desiring nothing but to gain a worldly benefit, will not smell the fragrance of Paradise) — we seek refuge in Allah — so it is necessary to be sincere to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in seeking knowledge.And sincerity is achieved through matters: First: that he intends by it to draw near to Allah, and that there is no line he reads, whether for memorization or understanding, except that it brings him closer to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), until his reviewing of books, his discussions with his companions, and his reflection upon himself become a form of worship by which he draws near to Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
Second: That he intends by seeking knowledge to preserve the Shari'ah of Islam.
Because preserving the Shari'ah is either through books or through people; because knowledge is either written or memorized. So he intends by seeking knowledge to preserve the Shari'ah; because the Shari'ah is not preserved except by its people.
The third matter: That he intends to protect the Shari'ah and defend it.
Because the Shari'ah has enemies; enemies in the name of Islam, and enemies in the name of disbelief.So among its enemies in the name of Islam: The people of religious innovation; because they call to their innovations in the name of Islam, and they consider what they are upon to be Islam.And perhaps they mislead others and say: Indeed, these people are misguided; either open sinners or disbelievers. So it is obligatory for us to protect the Shari'ah from these people and their innovations.And this is not possible except with knowledge: First, knowledge of the Sunnah.And secondly: Knowledge of this innovation and its doubts. It is necessary that we know these innovations and their doubts, and what they are based upon, so that we can refute them, since it is not possible to refute something when you do not know what it is.
Therefore, if a man came to a library filled with books of the people of the Sunnah, and he began to assert an innovation in this library, and no one there knew how to refute him, would these books be of any benefit? No, they would not. No book there could jump up to refute him. But if there were a scholar of the Sunnah, it would be possible to refute him and demolish his argument.
So prepare yourself now, O student, to be a hero in refuting falsehood.
There are people who do not claim to be Muslims, enemies of Islam who do not claim to be Muslims.
We also need to understand the falsehood they are upon and to refute them. All of this is included in the sincerity of intention to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), that a person intends to defend the Shari'ah of Allah through these means and other methods that do not come to our minds now.
Second: That he intends by seeking knowledge to preserve the Shari'ah of Islam.
Because preserving the Shari'ah is either through books or through people; because knowledge is either written or memorized. So he intends by seeking knowledge to preserve the Shari'ah; because the Shari'ah is not preserved except by its people.
The third matter: That he intends to protect the Shari'ah and defend it.
Because the Shari'ah has enemies; enemies in the name of Islam, and enemies in the name of disbelief.So among its enemies in the name of Islam: The people of religious innovation; because they call to their innovations in the name of Islam, and they consider what they are upon to be Islam.And perhaps they mislead others and say: Indeed, these people are misguided; either open sinners or disbelievers. So it is obligatory for us to protect the Shari'ah from these people and their innovations.And this is not possible except with knowledge: First, knowledge of the Sunnah.And secondly: Knowledge of this innovation and its doubts. It is necessary that we know these innovations and their doubts, and what they are based upon, so that we can refute them, since it is not possible to refute something when you do not know what it is.
Therefore, if a man came to a library filled with books of the people of the Sunnah, and he began to assert an innovation in this library, and no one there knew how to refute him, would these books be of any benefit? No, they would not. No book there could jump up to refute him. But if there were a scholar of the Sunnah, it would be possible to refute him and demolish his argument.
So prepare yourself now, O student, to be a hero in refuting falsehood.
There are people who do not claim to be Muslims, enemies of Islam who do not claim to be Muslims.
We also need to understand the falsehood they are upon and to refute them. All of this is included in the sincerity of intention to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), that a person intends to defend the Shari'ah of Allah through these means and other methods that do not come to our minds now.