A Reminder and Advice on Seeking Knowledge and Correcting the Intention

The Shaykh : However, in conclusion, I wish to mention something. What I fear most is that the study of hadith becomes a mere passion and desire, diverting one from the other sciences of the Shari'ah. For example, we are in need of those who first focus on memorizing the Qur'an, and we are in need of those who focus on the interpretation of the Qur'an. Not like those well-known reciters in Egypt and other countries who specialize in tajwid and perhaps engage, during their recitation, in matters that the Shari'ah does not approve of, such as adhering to musical laws and melodies in which they rise and fall, which is something the speech of the Lord of the Worlds (Blessed and Exalted is He) is above. So I see it obligatory that there be memorizers who combine memorization with the interpretation of the Noble Qur'an and the understanding of the meanings and rulings of the Qur'an. Why do we not find today an acceptance of such a specialization in memorizing the Qur'an and knowing the rulings derived from the Qur'an? Without a doubt, that would also be a cause for studying the Sunnah. But I do not find among the youth today the same acceptance that we observe in the study of the Sunnah; we do not find such acceptance in the study of the Noble Qur'an and the study of its interpretation, and relying on the words of the early exegetes, especially like Ibn Jarir al-Tabari and those who followed his approach of interpreting the transmitted with the transmitted, and the like. Likewise, the other sciences: we are in need of scholars of language who take language as a means to help them understand the Qur'an and understand the Sunnah. We know that in Egypt, for example, and also in Syria, there are linguistic academies, but these specialists in language have no inclination to study the Shari'ah; they have not taken their knowledge of the Arabic language as a means to gain expertise in Islamic jurisprudence. So we want now young people who learn the Arabic language as a means, not as an end, as I said about those who specialized in language, but we have not seen from them a praiseworthy effort in using their specialization to interpret the Book or interpret the Sunnah. This is a reminder, and the reminder benefits the believers. And I apologize now, for my time has run out, so until another meeting, if Allah wills.
Al-Halabi : Umm Salimah, and from her two narrators?

The Shaykh : Two narrators, did you hear them mentioned?
Al-Halabi : Mentioned, my Shaykh.

The Shaykh : We heard this; are they the ones you mentioned?
Al-Halabi : My Shaykh says the hadith is valid, and it is a narration of Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib from her, meaning from Umm Salimah. And from him there are two paths: the first is from Abd al-Rahman ibn Hamid from Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf, who heard Sa'id ibn al-Musayib with it; Muslim narrated it, and so on. The second is from Amr ibn Muslim from Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib with it, with the wording and so on; Muslim also narrated it. And I brought my Shaykh a third path from Umm Salimah, a mawquf report, in al-Hakim.

The Shaykh : This is Amr ibn Muslim?
Al-Halabi : Amr ibn Muslim.

The Shaykh : Yes, this is the one about whom there is discussion.
Al-Halabi : Abd al-Rahman ibn Hamid.