The Honorable Shaykh. . What is your opinion on what takes precedence: seeking knowledge or worship, and likewise memorization or recitation?
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The questioner : He says: The Honorable Shaykh! What is your opinion?
The Shaykh : Yes. What is my opinion?
The questioner : What is your opinion, O Honorable Shaykh, on what takes precedence: seeking knowledge or worship, memorization or recitation?
The Shaykh : Yes, seeking knowledge is better than worship, and I say this following the questioner's wording; otherwise, seeking knowledge is itself a form of worship and among the best forms of worship. Even the Imam of the people of the Sunnah, Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him and gather us with him in His Paradise), said (may Allah have mercy on him): "There is nothing that surpasses knowledge for one whose intention is sincere". It is better than the regular voluntary prayers, better than the witr prayer, and better than standing in night prayer. The Imam Ahmad said: "Discussing [knowledge] for a night is more beloved to me than keeping the night awake [in prayer]". Listen, my brother. Look at the jurists and scholars. Discussing [knowledge] for a night: meaning in seeking knowledge, is more beloved to me than keeping the night awake in prayer. So seeking knowledge itself is worship. Therefore, saying that the better of the two is worship or seeking knowledge is incorrect, because seeking knowledge is worship. It is true that such a question intends to compare seeking knowledge with limited worship, such as prayer and recitation. So we say: seeking knowledge is better. In fact, seeking knowledge is better than fighting the enemy for one who is not qualified to fight. In fact, some contemporary scholars prefer it absolutely, on the grounds that fighting today is not under an Islamic banner. Meaning: there is no Imam fighting the disbelievers, and even those who fight go from one country to another to fight; many of them do not believe that they are under the banner of the people of the country they have come to. Rather, they form groups, groups, groups. And each fights with a faction. In any case, this is a matter that is not the place for its research or investigation here. It requires much contemplation. But my intention is that seeking knowledge is better than every act other than the obligatory duties. The obligatory duties are a settled matter, as Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said in the Holy Hadith:Sahih al-Bukhari 6502.
As for his question: Is memorization or recitation better? This returns to the person himself. If he can combine both, that is better. If he cannot, I offer an opinion from myself; if I am correct, praise be to Allah, and if I am wrong, I ask Allah for forgiveness: that it is better for him to recite the Qur'an from the mushaf in this blessed month and complete a recitation, rather than to memorize it, unless he fears that if he leaves off memorization and review, he will forget what he has memorized. In that case, we say: review what you have memorized. Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes. What is my opinion?
The questioner : What is your opinion, O Honorable Shaykh, on what takes precedence: seeking knowledge or worship, memorization or recitation?
The Shaykh : Yes, seeking knowledge is better than worship, and I say this following the questioner's wording; otherwise, seeking knowledge is itself a form of worship and among the best forms of worship. Even the Imam of the people of the Sunnah, Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him and gather us with him in His Paradise), said (may Allah have mercy on him): "There is nothing that surpasses knowledge for one whose intention is sincere". It is better than the regular voluntary prayers, better than the witr prayer, and better than standing in night prayer. The Imam Ahmad said: "Discussing [knowledge] for a night is more beloved to me than keeping the night awake [in prayer]". Listen, my brother. Look at the jurists and scholars. Discussing [knowledge] for a night: meaning in seeking knowledge, is more beloved to me than keeping the night awake in prayer. So seeking knowledge itself is worship. Therefore, saying that the better of the two is worship or seeking knowledge is incorrect, because seeking knowledge is worship. It is true that such a question intends to compare seeking knowledge with limited worship, such as prayer and recitation. So we say: seeking knowledge is better. In fact, seeking knowledge is better than fighting the enemy for one who is not qualified to fight. In fact, some contemporary scholars prefer it absolutely, on the grounds that fighting today is not under an Islamic banner. Meaning: there is no Imam fighting the disbelievers, and even those who fight go from one country to another to fight; many of them do not believe that they are under the banner of the people of the country they have come to. Rather, they form groups, groups, groups. And each fights with a faction. In any case, this is a matter that is not the place for its research or investigation here. It requires much contemplation. But my intention is that seeking knowledge is better than every act other than the obligatory duties. The obligatory duties are a settled matter, as Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said in the Holy Hadith:
And the most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him
ما تقرب إلي عبدي بشيء أحب إلي مما افترضت عليهAs for his question: Is memorization or recitation better? This returns to the person himself. If he can combine both, that is better. If he cannot, I offer an opinion from myself; if I am correct, praise be to Allah, and if I am wrong, I ask Allah for forgiveness: that it is better for him to recite the Qur'an from the mushaf in this blessed month and complete a recitation, rather than to memorize it, unless he fears that if he leaves off memorization and review, he will forget what he has memorized. In that case, we say: review what you have memorized. Yes.