Can one who is unable to attend the Shaykh's gathering suffice with listening to the tape, or is he like one who takes knowledge from a book?
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The questioner : Our Shaykh (may Allah preserve him): If a student of knowledge is unable to attend the Shaykh's gathering in the circle, and he seeks knowledge through tapes, does this serve as a solution to the saying: "Whoever's Shaykh is his book, his error is more than his correctness," if it is through tapes?
The Shaykh : This person says: If he is unable to attend the lesson and receives knowledge from tapes, does this take the place of attendance, or is it said of it what is said of taking knowledge from books, that whoever takes his knowledge from a book, his error is more than his correctness?
Answer: There are three levels:
The first level, which is the highest, is to take from the mouths of the Shaykhs and attend the gatherings. This is undoubtedly the highest, because a person is affected by the tones of speech and the instructor's emotion, and he understands accordingly.
The second level is tapes. Tapes cause him to miss seeing the instructor, but he hears the voice exactly. This is less than seeing, but it contains much good.
The third is the book, and this is beneficial without a doubt. So these are three ways. In the past, there were only two ways: sitting with the scholars or the book. But now, praise be to Allah, this has become the intermediary.
As for the saying of whoever said: "Whoever's knowledge is from his book, his error is more than his correctness", this is not correct. The meaning is not general. There are people who read knowledge from books and attained much good. But reading books requires more time and also requires understanding, because the beginner student may understand a phrase in a way contrary to what is intended, and thus go astray.
The Shaykh : This person says: If he is unable to attend the lesson and receives knowledge from tapes, does this take the place of attendance, or is it said of it what is said of taking knowledge from books, that whoever takes his knowledge from a book, his error is more than his correctness?
Answer: There are three levels:
The first level, which is the highest, is to take from the mouths of the Shaykhs and attend the gatherings. This is undoubtedly the highest, because a person is affected by the tones of speech and the instructor's emotion, and he understands accordingly.
The second level is tapes. Tapes cause him to miss seeing the instructor, but he hears the voice exactly. This is less than seeing, but it contains much good.
The third is the book, and this is beneficial without a doubt. So these are three ways. In the past, there were only two ways: sitting with the scholars or the book. But now, praise be to Allah, this has become the intermediary.
As for the saying of whoever said: "Whoever's knowledge is from his book, his error is more than his correctness", this is not correct. The meaning is not general. There are people who read knowledge from books and attained much good. But reading books requires more time and also requires understanding, because the beginner student may understand a phrase in a way contrary to what is intended, and thus go astray.