What is the best method for seeking knowledge other than through the shaykhs?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you with the best reward
The Shaykh : And you, my brother
The questioner : What are the general outlines for learning without the method of the shaykhs?
The Shaykh : Today, regarding this, there are books. After what I mentioned earlier, that it is obligatory for the student of knowledge to learn something of the basic principles of the sciences that help him understand what he reads from the books, meaning his Arabic language must be strong. If that is the case, then he can rely, regarding the correction of his creed, on the book *Al-'Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah* with its commentary by Ibn Abi al-'Izz al-Hanafi. And if it is facilitated for him to have some of the books of the two Shaykhs, al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, then he should also make it his habit to read and study the books of these two.The Shaykh : In, regarding fiqh, to correct his worship and make it as close as possible to the Sunnah, he should read the book *Fiqh al-Sunnah* by Sayyid Sabiq, because it departed from rigid traditionalism. Although he was not able to reach the highest level in correcting and supporting the opinions he presents with valid evidence, as is known to the owners and students of this book, he often mentions the issue and the opinions of the scholars in it, then does not decide on it with his own opinion, nor does he bring evidence for the stronger opinion. Here, the beginner student of knowledge falls into confusion. But he should seek help with this book by using some other books, some of which were authored before and some after, such as the book *Al-Rawdah al-Nadiyyah Sharh al-Durar al-Bahiyyah* by Sadiq Hasan Khan, and *Subul al-Salam Sharh Bulugh al-Maram* by al-San'ani, and *Tammam al-Mannah fi al-Ta'liq 'ala Fiqh al-Sunnah*, although it has not yet been completed. And regarding knowing the texts of hadiths, and not just the rulings, the commentary of *Subul al-Salam* on the book *Bulugh al-Maram* by Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani may suffice for the student of knowledge regarding the rulings. But it is necessary for thisThe student : so that his knowledge is not, as is said today, dry and limited only to correcting the structure of worship. Rather, he must concern himself with refining the soul and rectifying the heart, and that is by referring to some of the comprehensive hadith books, such as the book *Riyad al-Salihin* by Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him), and *Mishkat al-Masabih* by al-Khatib al-Tabrizi, and especially the edition in which I verified many of its hadiths. In this manner, the student of knowledge begins, and then he finds the path has opened up before him, and Allah the Exalted and Majestic will open it for him, on the condition that he fears Allah the Exalted and Majestic in what he seeks of knowledge, and that he does not make knowledge a means to preside over gatherings, but rather a means to correct his creed, his worship, and his conduct. This is what comes to my mind in answer to the question.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with the best reward
The Shaykh : And you as well.
The Shaykh : And you, my brother
The questioner : What are the general outlines for learning without the method of the shaykhs?
The Shaykh : Today, regarding this, there are books. After what I mentioned earlier, that it is obligatory for the student of knowledge to learn something of the basic principles of the sciences that help him understand what he reads from the books, meaning his Arabic language must be strong. If that is the case, then he can rely, regarding the correction of his creed, on the book *Al-'Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah* with its commentary by Ibn Abi al-'Izz al-Hanafi. And if it is facilitated for him to have some of the books of the two Shaykhs, al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, then he should also make it his habit to read and study the books of these two.The Shaykh : In, regarding fiqh, to correct his worship and make it as close as possible to the Sunnah, he should read the book *Fiqh al-Sunnah* by Sayyid Sabiq, because it departed from rigid traditionalism. Although he was not able to reach the highest level in correcting and supporting the opinions he presents with valid evidence, as is known to the owners and students of this book, he often mentions the issue and the opinions of the scholars in it, then does not decide on it with his own opinion, nor does he bring evidence for the stronger opinion. Here, the beginner student of knowledge falls into confusion. But he should seek help with this book by using some other books, some of which were authored before and some after, such as the book *Al-Rawdah al-Nadiyyah Sharh al-Durar al-Bahiyyah* by Sadiq Hasan Khan, and *Subul al-Salam Sharh Bulugh al-Maram* by al-San'ani, and *Tammam al-Mannah fi al-Ta'liq 'ala Fiqh al-Sunnah*, although it has not yet been completed. And regarding knowing the texts of hadiths, and not just the rulings, the commentary of *Subul al-Salam* on the book *Bulugh al-Maram* by Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani may suffice for the student of knowledge regarding the rulings. But it is necessary for thisThe student : so that his knowledge is not, as is said today, dry and limited only to correcting the structure of worship. Rather, he must concern himself with refining the soul and rectifying the heart, and that is by referring to some of the comprehensive hadith books, such as the book *Riyad al-Salihin* by Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him), and *Mishkat al-Masabih* by al-Khatib al-Tabrizi, and especially the edition in which I verified many of its hadiths. In this manner, the student of knowledge begins, and then he finds the path has opened up before him, and Allah the Exalted and Majestic will open it for him, on the condition that he fears Allah the Exalted and Majestic in what he seeks of knowledge, and that he does not make knowledge a means to preside over gatherings, but rather a means to correct his creed, his worship, and his conduct. This is what comes to my mind in answer to the question.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with the best reward
The Shaykh : And you as well.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.