Is it better for a student of knowledge to memorize the Qur'an or to memorize the scientific texts, and why has he not memorized more than a little of the Qur'an?
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The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : May Allah forgive you. Do you think it is better for a student of knowledge to focus on memorizing the Qur'an until he has memorized it, or to seek knowledge and memorize the texts even if he has not memorized more than a little of the Qur'an?
The Shaykh : I think it is better to memorize the Qur'an, without doubt. The Qur'an is the foundation of knowledge, so memorizing the Qur'an is better. However, I think he can combine the two if he has no other occupations. He can dedicate the beginning of the day to memorizing the Qur'an and the end of the day to reviewing some of the texts, and he can manage both. If he cannot do so, the Qur'an is better. We do not prefer anything over the Qur'an, absolutely.
The Shaykh : I think it is better to memorize the Qur'an, without doubt. The Qur'an is the foundation of knowledge, so memorizing the Qur'an is better. However, I think he can combine the two if he has no other occupations. He can dedicate the beginning of the day to memorizing the Qur'an and the end of the day to reviewing some of the texts, and he can manage both. If he cannot do so, the Qur'an is better. We do not prefer anything over the Qur'an, absolutely.