I see, and praise be to Allah, that the youth of today, in particular, have committed themselves to obeying Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He)
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The questioner : I see, and praise be to Allah, that the youth of today, in particular, have committed themselves to obeying Allah, but we see them leaning toward studying only hadith, tafsir, tawhid, and fiqh, while neglecting other subjects like mathematics and sciences. They say, “We only want religion; the other subjects do not matter to us. We want the Hereafter.” Yes, and praise be to Allah, we do not prevent them from the remembrance of Allah, but Allah (Mighty and Majestic) commanded us to seek knowledge and encouraged us to do so. We ask you, may Allah reward you, for a brief overview of the virtue of knowledge. Also, to be frank, we see that their voluntary acts involve extreme strictness. We ask for your guidance?
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that what the questioner mentioned is that knowledge is not limited to the Islamic sciences, such as the science of tafsir, hadith, tawhid, and fiqh, and what is related to them. But the praiseworthy knowledge in all cases is these sciences. They are the ones Allah commanded, they are the ones in which there is virtue, and Allah the Exalted said regarding them:[Fatir 35:28] And He said regarding them: [Al-Mujadila 58:11] And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said regarding them: Sahih Muslim 2699a And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said regarding them: Sahih Muslim 1037a.
As for the other sciences that relate to worldly affairs, they are from the permissible sciences. If a person takes them as a means to good, they are good; and if he takes them as a means to evil, they are evil. They are not praised for their own sake, nor are they blamed for their own sake, but rather they are judged according to what they lead to. And there are other sciences that are harmful, either in creed, or in morals, or in behavior. These are forbidden and blameworthy in all cases.
So knowledge is of three categories: praiseworthy in all cases, blameworthy in all cases, and permissible, where the blame or praise depends on what it serves as a means to.
The texts transmitted regarding the virtue of knowledge and the encouragement to seek it relate only to the first category, which is praiseworthy in all cases. And if the sciences that relate to worldly affairs are beneficial to creation and do not occupy one from what is more important than them, then seeking them is praiseworthy for the general or specific benefit they lead to. And it is not befitting for us to belittle them so that we do not give them value in a state where they are beneficial to creation.
As for her statement that she sees these people being extremely strict in religion, strictness and ease are relative matters. A person may see something as strict, while in the view of another it is easy. And a person may see something as easy, while in the view of another it is strict. The reference in this is to what the pure Sunnah requires, the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), which is based on the Book of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). If what they are doing of actions is in accordance with the Book and the Sunnah, then it is not strictness, but rather it is ease and simplicity. And if some of the negligent and transgressing people see it as strictness, then their view is of no account. For if it agrees with the Book and the Sunnah, it is easy, by the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan an-Nasa'i 5034Sahih (Darussalam) But some of the transgressing people may object to some of the legislations of Islam and think that carrying them out is strictness, describing those who adhere to them as being strict in their religion.
And we do not deny that there is a group of people who are overly strict in their religion, adding to it, and being harsh with those who differ with them in some matters where independent legal reasoning is permissible and where the community is allowed to disagree. These people are of no account because they are transgressing. And those who are lenient and see that adhering to the Shari'ah is strictness are also of no account because they are transgressing. The religion is between the one who goes to extremes in it and the one who neglects it.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, Shaykh Muhammad. In truth, this is a message that reached the program from your sincere brother, who says in it: To the family of the program "Light on the Path" and our distinguished scholars, peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings. And after that.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : I ask Allah to grant you health and well-being to continue this noble path of helping Muslims overcome their problems. And since I have a question with two parts, between which I am confused, it is.
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that what the questioner mentioned is that knowledge is not limited to the Islamic sciences, such as the science of tafsir, hadith, tawhid, and fiqh, and what is related to them. But the praiseworthy knowledge in all cases is these sciences. They are the ones Allah commanded, they are the ones in which there is virtue, and Allah the Exalted said regarding them:
Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge.
إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُAllah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees
يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ ءامَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍhe who treads the path in search of knowledge, Allah would make that path easy, leading to Paradise for him
من سلك طريقاً يلتمس فيه علماً، سهّل الله له به طريقاً إلى الجنةHe upon whom Allah intends to bestow goodness, He confers upon him an insight in religion
من يرد الله به خيراً يفقهه في الدينAs for the other sciences that relate to worldly affairs, they are from the permissible sciences. If a person takes them as a means to good, they are good; and if he takes them as a means to evil, they are evil. They are not praised for their own sake, nor are they blamed for their own sake, but rather they are judged according to what they lead to. And there are other sciences that are harmful, either in creed, or in morals, or in behavior. These are forbidden and blameworthy in all cases.
So knowledge is of three categories: praiseworthy in all cases, blameworthy in all cases, and permissible, where the blame or praise depends on what it serves as a means to.
The texts transmitted regarding the virtue of knowledge and the encouragement to seek it relate only to the first category, which is praiseworthy in all cases. And if the sciences that relate to worldly affairs are beneficial to creation and do not occupy one from what is more important than them, then seeking them is praiseworthy for the general or specific benefit they lead to. And it is not befitting for us to belittle them so that we do not give them value in a state where they are beneficial to creation.
As for her statement that she sees these people being extremely strict in religion, strictness and ease are relative matters. A person may see something as strict, while in the view of another it is easy. And a person may see something as easy, while in the view of another it is strict. The reference in this is to what the pure Sunnah requires, the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), which is based on the Book of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). If what they are doing of actions is in accordance with the Book and the Sunnah, then it is not strictness, but rather it is ease and simplicity. And if some of the negligent and transgressing people see it as strictness, then their view is of no account. For if it agrees with the Book and the Sunnah, it is easy, by the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Indeed, this religion is easy
إن هذا الدين يسرAnd we do not deny that there is a group of people who are overly strict in their religion, adding to it, and being harsh with those who differ with them in some matters where independent legal reasoning is permissible and where the community is allowed to disagree. These people are of no account because they are transgressing. And those who are lenient and see that adhering to the Shari'ah is strictness are also of no account because they are transgressing. The religion is between the one who goes to extremes in it and the one who neglects it.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, Shaykh Muhammad. In truth, this is a message that reached the program from your sincere brother, who says in it: To the family of the program "Light on the Path" and our distinguished scholars, peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings. And after that.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : I ask Allah to grant you health and well-being to continue this noble path of helping Muslims overcome their problems. And since I have a question with two parts, between which I am confused, it is.