The rule: If seeking knowledge is combined with a worship whose benefit is specific, seeking knowledge takes precedence. Is this correct?
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The Shaykh : He says: What is your opinion of one who says: Any worship that is combined with seeking knowledge, and the benefit of this worship is specific to the person himself, he should prioritize it over knowledge? Is this rule correct? And does it have conditions?
Because I saw one of the young men from the students of knowledge who did not pray the prayer for rain with us, and he said: I slept to strengthen myself for seeking knowledge. May Allah grant you forgiveness and mercy?
The Shaykh : It is no doubt that seeking knowledge is the best of deeds for one whose intention is sincere, but the obligatory acts are necessary and nothing takes precedence over them. As for his delaying the prayer for rain in order to sleep to strengthen himself for seeking knowledge, if this is true, meaning that he is currently tired and unable to continue, then it is only said that his sleeping to strengthen himself for seeking knowledge is better.
As for making this his habit and saying: I sleep instead of the regular voluntary prayers to seek knowledge, and I sleep instead of the late-night prayer to seek knowledge, and I sleep instead of the witr prayer to seek knowledge, and then he leaves all the voluntary acts for the sake of seeking knowledge, this is not correct. And what is the benefit of seeking knowledge except action? Yes. And this one says yes.
Because I saw one of the young men from the students of knowledge who did not pray the prayer for rain with us, and he said: I slept to strengthen myself for seeking knowledge. May Allah grant you forgiveness and mercy?
The Shaykh : It is no doubt that seeking knowledge is the best of deeds for one whose intention is sincere, but the obligatory acts are necessary and nothing takes precedence over them. As for his delaying the prayer for rain in order to sleep to strengthen himself for seeking knowledge, if this is true, meaning that he is currently tired and unable to continue, then it is only said that his sleeping to strengthen himself for seeking knowledge is better.
As for making this his habit and saying: I sleep instead of the regular voluntary prayers to seek knowledge, and I sleep instead of the late-night prayer to seek knowledge, and I sleep instead of the witr prayer to seek knowledge, and then he leaves all the voluntary acts for the sake of seeking knowledge, this is not correct. And what is the benefit of seeking knowledge except action? Yes. And this one says yes.