A new student of knowledge seeking guidance and light: should we advise memorization first or understanding? And what are the texts you advise us to memorize?
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The questioner : Regarding the topic of seeking knowledge: He says: "Honorable Shaykh, a new student of knowledge seeking guidance and light: should we advise memorization first or understanding? And what are the texts you advise us to memorize?"
The Shaykh : I advise memorization first for the young, because the young possess two advantages over the older in memorization: first, the speed of memorization, and second, the lack of forgetting. This is why it is a well-known proverb: "Knowledge in youth is like engraving on stone". Also, the mind of the young cannot bear the explanation of meanings, their analysis, and their dissection because he is young. This is one point. Second, and most important, the first thing to memorize is the Book of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). This is the first thing, because the Book of Allah, if you memorize it, is the foundation; it is the foundation in establishing rulings and evidence. If you memorize it, you can read it in any state, as long as you are not in a state of major ritual impurity. You can read it while walking in a car, on foot, you can read it while on your bed, you can read it at any time, as long as you are not in a state of major ritual impurity or in places where it is not appropriate to read the Qur'an. Then, after that, what is authentic from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), especially in the books dedicated to that, such as *Umdat al-Ahkam*, for what is in it is taken from *the two Sahihs* (al-Bukhari and Muslim). Then, what the scholars wrote in Islamic jurisprudence, and the best we see is *Zad al-Mustaqni' fi Ikhtisar al-Muqni'*. Our Shaykh, Abd al-Rahman ibn Sa'di (may Allah have mercy on him), used to advise us to memorize it, and he would say: "It is the most comprehensive of the concise books". It has also been covered by scholars with explanations, marginal notes, and comments, among other things.
Yes.
The Shaykh : I advise memorization first for the young, because the young possess two advantages over the older in memorization: first, the speed of memorization, and second, the lack of forgetting. This is why it is a well-known proverb: "Knowledge in youth is like engraving on stone". Also, the mind of the young cannot bear the explanation of meanings, their analysis, and their dissection because he is young. This is one point. Second, and most important, the first thing to memorize is the Book of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). This is the first thing, because the Book of Allah, if you memorize it, is the foundation; it is the foundation in establishing rulings and evidence. If you memorize it, you can read it in any state, as long as you are not in a state of major ritual impurity. You can read it while walking in a car, on foot, you can read it while on your bed, you can read it at any time, as long as you are not in a state of major ritual impurity or in places where it is not appropriate to read the Qur'an. Then, after that, what is authentic from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), especially in the books dedicated to that, such as *Umdat al-Ahkam*, for what is in it is taken from *the two Sahihs* (al-Bukhari and Muslim). Then, what the scholars wrote in Islamic jurisprudence, and the best we see is *Zad al-Mustaqni' fi Ikhtisar al-Muqni'*. Our Shaykh, Abd al-Rahman ibn Sa'di (may Allah have mercy on him), used to advise us to memorize it, and he would say: "It is the most comprehensive of the concise books". It has also been covered by scholars with explanations, marginal notes, and comments, among other things.
Yes.