I am a beginner student of knowledge; how should I begin, and with which sciences?
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The questioner : He says: I am a beginner student of knowledge who wants to start seeking knowledge. Should I begin with books on creed or something else? I ask you, may Allah guide you, to direct me to an easy and accessible method that I can benefit from? And if I start with a science that I do not practice until I finish it, I hope you will clarify this matter for me and for my fellow beginners.
The Shaykh : I see that a beginner student of knowledge should follow the guidance of his teacher and shaykh. People differ, and people’s needs for knowledge differ. If you are in a country where there are many religious innovations, then we say: start with tawhid (the oneness of Allah). If there are many religious innovations and shirk (associating partners with Allah), start with tawhid. If you are in a country free from religious innovations and shirk, but people need fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) of worship and fiqh of transactions, start with fiqh. So, start with what people need most.
Likewise, I encourage my brothers, the students of knowledge, to understand the Book of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), because the Qur'an is the root of all roots. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did not move past ten verses until they learned them and the knowledge and practice contained in them. That is, one person reads ten verses, first understands their meaning, then applies them in practice. They said:. Then he memorizes from the texts, such as *Umdat al-Ahkam* in hadith, or if he has stronger ambition, *Bulugh al-Maram* in hadith. Then in fiqh, he also memorizes a text that suits him. It is well known that *Zad al-Mustaqni'* has served people greatly; it has commentaries and marginal notes, and it is the well-known text among judges and scholars in this Kingdom. Yes.
The questioner : This is a request from your eminence, asking the honorable shaykh to say:
"May Allah's peace follow peace upon *** the one who holds a high status in the heart
O our shaykh, if you visited us, you would find *** we are the guests and you are the master of the house"
Honorable shaykh, on behalf of your brothers in the city of Rafi'a, we invite you to visit us. Is there a response to this invitation during this vacation, knowing that you have not yet honored us with a visit?
The Shaykh : May Allah reward him with good in any case. I ask Allah to make me worthy of my good opinion of myself. And Allah knows that I wish to visit the entire Kingdom, but our work, by Allah, is abundant. And the more responsibility there is... it is like a shepherd of locusts who does not know whether to take from this tree or that tree. In any case, I think it is better for a person to allocate, for example, two or three days in the north, two or three days in the south, two or three days in the Eastern Province, and two or three days in the Western Province, or more, as the Western Province contains Makkah al-Mukarramah. However, I do not commit to this, as our work is abundant. We tell the brother, "Insha'Allah, I will meet with you and we will look into the matter."
The questioner : And this is another request. It says: Honorable shaykh, we want you to clarify the date of the scientific course you hold in the summer. When will it begin, and what is its curriculum? May Allah guide you, so that we may arrange ourselves to attend and invite our brothers to do the same.
The Shaykh : Yes, it was our custom to wait fifteen days after the end of the exams so that the students here could visit their families and rest a little. But there is a problem this year that may make us start the course as soon as the exams end. I will, insha'Allah, consult with the students, and we will see and agree on it soon and announce it.
As for the topics, it will be first in the principles of tafsir (Qur'anic exegesis), second in the principles of fiqh, and third in fara'id (the law of inheritance shares). These are the concise books that we hope to complete during this vacation.
As for the regular lessons, they will continue as they are, meaning those after Maghrib will continue as they are, insha'Allah. And success is from Allah.
The questioner : This last request says: Honorable shaykh, it is well known that during the vacation, Allah has facilitated several activities, including the group circle for memorizing the Qur'an, secondly the summer house for the Qur'an, and thirdly the summer centers. Is there any encouragement for our brothers to join these things? May Allah guide you.
The Shaykh : By Allah, I encourage joining all these things if possible. And if it is not possible, let a person prioritize what he sees is more comfortable for him, as people differ. And on this occasion, I thank Allah (Mighty and Majestic) for guiding the government to open the door to summer centers, for there is much good in them, even if nothing else, they protect the youth from wasting time, loitering in the markets, and deadly boredom. Generally, those in charge of these centers are trustworthy young men, people of righteousness and sound guidance.
So we ask Allah the Exalted to guide our government to what is good and righteous for the land and the people, and to protect our land from our people, and to support the Muslims in every place. Indeed, He is capable of all things.
The questioner : May Allah reward our shaykh with the best reward, benefit us with his knowledge, and let him enjoy his life in obedience to Him. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon His servant and messenger Muhammad.
The Shaykh : Amen.
The Shaykh : I see that a beginner student of knowledge should follow the guidance of his teacher and shaykh. People differ, and people’s needs for knowledge differ. If you are in a country where there are many religious innovations, then we say: start with tawhid (the oneness of Allah). If there are many religious innovations and shirk (associating partners with Allah), start with tawhid. If you are in a country free from religious innovations and shirk, but people need fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) of worship and fiqh of transactions, start with fiqh. So, start with what people need most.
Likewise, I encourage my brothers, the students of knowledge, to understand the Book of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), because the Qur'an is the root of all roots. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did not move past ten verses until they learned them and the knowledge and practice contained in them. That is, one person reads ten verses, first understands their meaning, then applies them in practice. They said:
And we learned the Qur'an, knowledge, and practice all together.
فتعلمنا القرآن والعلم والعمل جميعاًThe questioner : This is a request from your eminence, asking the honorable shaykh to say:
"May Allah's peace follow peace upon *** the one who holds a high status in the heart
O our shaykh, if you visited us, you would find *** we are the guests and you are the master of the house"
Honorable shaykh, on behalf of your brothers in the city of Rafi'a, we invite you to visit us. Is there a response to this invitation during this vacation, knowing that you have not yet honored us with a visit?
The Shaykh : May Allah reward him with good in any case. I ask Allah to make me worthy of my good opinion of myself. And Allah knows that I wish to visit the entire Kingdom, but our work, by Allah, is abundant. And the more responsibility there is... it is like a shepherd of locusts who does not know whether to take from this tree or that tree. In any case, I think it is better for a person to allocate, for example, two or three days in the north, two or three days in the south, two or three days in the Eastern Province, and two or three days in the Western Province, or more, as the Western Province contains Makkah al-Mukarramah. However, I do not commit to this, as our work is abundant. We tell the brother, "Insha'Allah, I will meet with you and we will look into the matter."
The questioner : And this is another request. It says: Honorable shaykh, we want you to clarify the date of the scientific course you hold in the summer. When will it begin, and what is its curriculum? May Allah guide you, so that we may arrange ourselves to attend and invite our brothers to do the same.
The Shaykh : Yes, it was our custom to wait fifteen days after the end of the exams so that the students here could visit their families and rest a little. But there is a problem this year that may make us start the course as soon as the exams end. I will, insha'Allah, consult with the students, and we will see and agree on it soon and announce it.
As for the topics, it will be first in the principles of tafsir (Qur'anic exegesis), second in the principles of fiqh, and third in fara'id (the law of inheritance shares). These are the concise books that we hope to complete during this vacation.
As for the regular lessons, they will continue as they are, meaning those after Maghrib will continue as they are, insha'Allah. And success is from Allah.
The questioner : This last request says: Honorable shaykh, it is well known that during the vacation, Allah has facilitated several activities, including the group circle for memorizing the Qur'an, secondly the summer house for the Qur'an, and thirdly the summer centers. Is there any encouragement for our brothers to join these things? May Allah guide you.
The Shaykh : By Allah, I encourage joining all these things if possible. And if it is not possible, let a person prioritize what he sees is more comfortable for him, as people differ. And on this occasion, I thank Allah (Mighty and Majestic) for guiding the government to open the door to summer centers, for there is much good in them, even if nothing else, they protect the youth from wasting time, loitering in the markets, and deadly boredom. Generally, those in charge of these centers are trustworthy young men, people of righteousness and sound guidance.
So we ask Allah the Exalted to guide our government to what is good and righteous for the land and the people, and to protect our land from our people, and to support the Muslims in every place. Indeed, He is capable of all things.
The questioner : May Allah reward our shaykh with the best reward, benefit us with his knowledge, and let him enjoy his life in obedience to Him. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon His servant and messenger Muhammad.
The Shaykh : Amen.