Is it better to seek knowledge with desire, or to remain in one's job for the sake of da'wah despite the limited benefit? And is seeking knowledge confined to study circles and mosques?
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The questioner : May the Shaykh be honored, which is better: for a Muslim to remain in his job with limited benefit in terms of calling people to Allah, or is it better to devote himself to seeking knowledge and keeping the company of scholars, if he knows that he has a desire for that?
And is seeking knowledge confined to study circles and mosques? I ask for guidance toward the best of both matters. May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : We must look at what job he wants to leave in order to seek knowledge. If it is a job that anyone can do and it has no role in directing the affairs of the community, then there is no doubt that seeking knowledge is better.
However, if the position is a sensitive and important one that should be filled by people of good and righteousness, then what I see is that he should remain in his position. He can seek knowledge while in his position; he can obtain tapes, booklets, and learn from people in his workplace who are more knowledgeable than he is.
This applies in cases like the army, for example. A person in the army with these soldiers may find that they have many deviations, that they neglect their obligations, and that they violate some of the forbidden things. So if we tell the person of good to abandon this, it means we have eliminated the good in that area. But if we tell the person of good: "Remain in this and call to Allah as much as you can," that is what is preferable. The important thing is that the job he wants to leave for the sake of seeking knowledge must be examined regarding its importance. Yes.
And is seeking knowledge confined to study circles and mosques? I ask for guidance toward the best of both matters. May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : We must look at what job he wants to leave in order to seek knowledge. If it is a job that anyone can do and it has no role in directing the affairs of the community, then there is no doubt that seeking knowledge is better.
However, if the position is a sensitive and important one that should be filled by people of good and righteousness, then what I see is that he should remain in his position. He can seek knowledge while in his position; he can obtain tapes, booklets, and learn from people in his workplace who are more knowledgeable than he is.
This applies in cases like the army, for example. A person in the army with these soldiers may find that they have many deviations, that they neglect their obligations, and that they violate some of the forbidden things. So if we tell the person of good to abandon this, it means we have eliminated the good in that area. But if we tell the person of good: "Remain in this and call to Allah as much as you can," that is what is preferable. The important thing is that the job he wants to leave for the sake of seeking knowledge must be examined regarding its importance. Yes.