I want to be a student of knowledge, but I heard that the affliction of knowledge is forgetfulness. Who is the one who said this phrase?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : You say: I want to be a student of knowledge, but I heard that the affliction of knowledge is forgetfulness. Who is the one who said this phrase? What is the way to guard against this affliction? The second part: What helps in strengthening memory and establishing knowledge in the heart?
The Shaykh : I do not know who said this word, "the affliction of knowledge is forgetfulness", but reality bears witness to it. Forgetfulness is the heart's distraction from what was known, and it befalls everyone. Everyone forgets, even the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 401 But people differ. The causes of securing memory may be innate by the nature of the person, or they may be acquired by the person's effort.
As for the innate, a person has no control over it regarding memory and its remaining in their hearts. They remained as they were and did not forget except a little. Some of them even say, "I was not told a hadith that I then forgot."
Some people are quick to forget; they are told a hadith in the morning and forget it in the evening. And some people are in between. This is a natural matter over which a person has no control, except by asking Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and turning to Him. Indeed, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) holds the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and He (Mighty and Majestic) is able to change nature to something better.
The second is the acquired, which is obtained by the servant's action. This is by reviewing what he has memorized and remembering it constantly, and not occupying himself with idle talk and idle thinking. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded the review of the Qur'an, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 791 Or he said: Sahih al-Bukhari 5033 This is the remedy, which is review, and that a person should constantly think about what he has memorized.
Another remedy for forgetfulness, which is very important, is taqwa (mindfulness of Allah) and righteous deeds. Indeed, Allah the Exalted says:[Maryam 19:76] So whenever a person is guided and does righteous deeds, Allah preserves his knowledge in his heart and increases him from His bounty. If you want your memorizations to remain, you must have taqwa of Allah and do righteous deeds, as these noble verses benefit you: [Maryam 19:76] [Muhammad 47:17] And this is witnessed by the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Ma'idah 5:13] This forgetfulness includes forgetfulness due to distraction and forgetfulness due to leaving off. These are among the causes of the preservation of what a person has memorized. Among the causes also is that one should increase in studying with his companions and colleagues regarding what they have memorized. The first, which I mean studying with colleagues and companions, is at all times and on every occasion. Studying, as it preserves the memorized, also sharpens the mind, strengthens it, and develops it, as is known by experience.
As for the second, which is applying the knowledge practically, this also establishes the knowledge and preserves it. For this reason, it was said: "Knowledge calls out to action, so if it responds, otherwise it departs." And it was said: "Bind knowledge with action." For example, if a person knows what is prescribed in wudu' (the ablution for prayer) and acts upon it, this action becomes like studying, and this action becomes a review by him of this knowledge, a review by him of the knowledge fixed in his mind. Likewise, what is in prayer, zakah (the obligatory alms), fasting, Hajj (the major pilgrimage), and other deeds that he has learned: if he applies that practically, this becomes an establishment of his knowledge. What is the second part?
The questioner : You say in your second question: What helps in strengthening memory and establishing knowledge in the heart? And you have mentioned this.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.
The Shaykh : I do not know who said this word, "the affliction of knowledge is forgetfulness", but reality bears witness to it. Forgetfulness is the heart's distraction from what was known, and it befalls everyone. Everyone forgets, even the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
but I am a human being like you and liable to forget like you. So if I forget remind me
إنما أنا بشر مثلكم أنسى كما تنسون، فإذا نسيت فذكرونيAs for the innate, a person has no control over it regarding memory and its remaining in their hearts. They remained as they were and did not forget except a little. Some of them even say, "I was not told a hadith that I then forgot."
Some people are quick to forget; they are told a hadith in the morning and forget it in the evening. And some people are in between. This is a natural matter over which a person has no control, except by asking Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and turning to Him. Indeed, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) holds the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and He (Mighty and Majestic) is able to change nature to something better.
The second is the acquired, which is obtained by the servant's action. This is by reviewing what he has memorized and remembering it constantly, and not occupying himself with idle talk and idle thinking. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded the review of the Qur'an, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Keep refreshing your knowledge of the Qur'an, for I swear by Him in Whose Hand is the life of Mahammad that it is more liable to escape than camels which are hobbled.
تعاهدوا القرأن، فوالذي نفسي بيده لهو أشد تفلتاً من الإبل في عقلهاbreak away than a camel in its bind
تفصياً من الإبل في عقلهاAnother remedy for forgetfulness, which is very important, is taqwa (mindfulness of Allah) and righteous deeds. Indeed, Allah the Exalted says:
And Allah increases those who were guided, in guidance,
وَيَزِيدُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ اهْتَدَوْا هُدًىAnd Allah increases those who were guided, in guidance,
وَيَزِيدُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ اهْتَدَوْا هُدًىAnd those who are guided - He increases them in guidance and gives them their righteousness.
وَالَّذِينَ اهْتَدَوْا زَادَهُمْ هُدًى وَءاتَاهُمْ تَقْواهُمْSo for their breaking of the covenant We cursed them and made their hearts hard. They distort words from their [proper] usages and have forgotten a portion of that of which they were reminded
فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِمْ مِيثَاقَهُمْ لَعَنَّاهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَا قُلُوبَهُمْ قَاسِيَةً يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَنْ مَوَاضِعِهِ وَنَسُوا حَظًّا مِمَّا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِAs for the second, which is applying the knowledge practically, this also establishes the knowledge and preserves it. For this reason, it was said: "Knowledge calls out to action, so if it responds, otherwise it departs." And it was said: "Bind knowledge with action." For example, if a person knows what is prescribed in wudu' (the ablution for prayer) and acts upon it, this action becomes like studying, and this action becomes a review by him of this knowledge, a review by him of the knowledge fixed in his mind. Likewise, what is in prayer, zakah (the obligatory alms), fasting, Hajj (the major pilgrimage), and other deeds that he has learned: if he applies that practically, this becomes an establishment of his knowledge. What is the second part?
The questioner : You say in your second question: What helps in strengthening memory and establishing knowledge in the heart? And you have mentioned this.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.