Do you consider memorizing a text from the fiqh texts necessary for a student of knowledge?
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The questioner : O Shaykh, may Allah reward you and benefit us through you, do you consider memorizing a text from the fiqh texts necessary for a student of knowledge?
The Shaykh : Who?
The questioner : From the concise fiqh texts, such as al-Zad or al-Dalil, it is important for a student of knowledge. What is the response to those who say that it is sufficient for him to memorize a text of the hadiths of rulings, such as al-Bulugh or al-Muntakha?
The Shaykh : By Allah, I see that all good lies in combining this and that, the hadiths and the words of the jurists, and memorizing them, because knowledge is through memorization. We have not benefited except from what we have memorized. Memorization is a treasure; whenever a person wishes, he reaches out to it. Do not be deceived by the words of those who say, "You should focus on understanding rather than memorization," for that is an error. You must memorize. Memorization remains; whenever you wish to recall it, you will find it. But if someone says, "I can either memorize the text of al-Zad, for example, or memorize al-Umdah, and I cannot combine them," then al-Umdah is better, because al-Umdah is the speech of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), so it is more deserving of being memorized and reflected upon. Yes.
The Shaykh : Who?
The questioner : From the concise fiqh texts, such as al-Zad or al-Dalil, it is important for a student of knowledge. What is the response to those who say that it is sufficient for him to memorize a text of the hadiths of rulings, such as al-Bulugh or al-Muntakha?
The Shaykh : By Allah, I see that all good lies in combining this and that, the hadiths and the words of the jurists, and memorizing them, because knowledge is through memorization. We have not benefited except from what we have memorized. Memorization is a treasure; whenever a person wishes, he reaches out to it. Do not be deceived by the words of those who say, "You should focus on understanding rather than memorization," for that is an error. You must memorize. Memorization remains; whenever you wish to recall it, you will find it. But if someone says, "I can either memorize the text of al-Zad, for example, or memorize al-Umdah, and I cannot combine them," then al-Umdah is better, because al-Umdah is the speech of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), so it is more deserving of being memorized and reflected upon. Yes.