The Shaykh’s advice to students of knowledge at the start of the school year.
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The Shaykh : Since this is the time when students begin receiving their education, it is necessary that we speak about what pertains to this topic.
We say: There is no doubt that seeking religious knowledge is among the best of righteous deeds; indeed, it is equivalent to jihad in the path of Allah, as Allah Blessed and Exalted is He said:[At-Tawbah 9:122] Thus, Allah Mighty and Majestic made it clear that the believers cannot all go out for jihad in the path of Allah, because that would lead to the neglect of other benefits that Islam must attend to. By this, we know that jihad cannot be an individual obligation for every single Muslim, as some contemporary people claim, saying that jihad is an individual obligation for every Muslim. This is an error that contradicts the Qur'an, because Allah said: [At-Tawbah 9:122] meaning: this is not possible. Then He guided them that some should go out and some should stay behind, so that those who stay behind can deepen their understanding of the religion of Allah and warn their people when they return to them. However, jihad becomes an individual obligation in specific, particular matters.
So seeking religious knowledge is undoubtedly equivalent to jihad in the path of Allah.
The scholars differed on which is better: knowledge or jihad? There is no doubt that the benefit of knowledge is more widespread than the benefit of jihad, because the benefit of jihad, when it is realized, is only in a specific part of the earth, but knowledge benefits all people. So knowledge, in itself, is better than jihad. But even so, we may say to some people: jihad is better for you, and to others: knowledge is better for you. This becomes clear by example: if there is a man who is brave, strong, and knowledgeable about the methods of war, but he is poor in seeking knowledge—his memorization is difficult for him and his understanding is limited—then we say: jihad is better for him because it is more beneficial.
And another man who is not so brave or knowledgeable about the methods of war, but he is strong in memorization, strong in understanding, strong in argument, and strong in persuasion, then we say: seeking knowledge is better for him.
So the points we understand now are: seeking knowledge is equivalent to jihad in the path of Allah.
Which is better? This varies according to the people. To some people we say: jihad is better for you, and to some people we say: knowledge is better for you, according to what the situation requires.
Knowledge requires psychological training, moral training, and physical training.
Psychological training: This is that one seeks knowledge for the sake of Allah, not for showing off, not for fame, not to draw the attention of people to himself, and not to gain a worldly benefit. Rather, he seeks knowledge for Allah Mighty and Majestic, because knowledge is a form of worship among the best of worships, so it is not permissible to divert it to other than Allah. For this reason, it came in the hadith: I seek refuge in Allah. So sincerity to Allah Mighty and Majestic in seeking knowledge is necessary.
Sincerity is realized by several things. The first: that one intends by it to draw near to Allah, and that there is no line he reads, whether for memorization or understanding, except that it brings him closer to Allah Mighty and Majestic, until his reviewing of books, his discussion with his companions, and his reflection on himself become a worship by which he draws near to Allah Mighty and Majestic.
Second: that he intends by seeking knowledge to preserve the Shari'ah of Islam.
Because preserving the Shari'ah is either through books or through men, because knowledge is either written or memorized. So he intends by seeking knowledge to preserve the Shari'ah, because the Shari'ah is not preserved except by its men.
The third matter: that he intends to protect the Shari'ah and defend it.
Because the Shari'ah has enemies: enemies in the name of Islam, and enemies in the name of disbelief. Among its enemies in the name of Islam are the people of innovation, because they call to their innovations in the name of what? In the name of Islam. They consider what they are upon to be Islam, and they may misguide others, saying that these people are misguided, either open sinners or disbelievers. So we must protect the Shari'ah from these people and their innovations. And this is not possible except by what? Except by knowledge: first, knowledge of the Sunnah, and second, knowledge of this innovation and its doubts. We must know these innovations and their doubts, and what they are based on, so that we can be able to refute them, for it is not possible to refute something when you do not know what it is.
Therefore, if a man came to a library filled with books of the people of the Sunnah, and he started to assert an innovation in this library, and there was no one there who knew how to refute him, would these books be of any benefit? Answer, everyone: they are not of any benefit. No book can jump up to refute him. But if there were a scholar of the Sunnah, it would be possible for him to refute this and demolish his argument.
So prepare yourself now. Prepare yourself, O student. Prepare yourself to be a hero in refuting falsehood.
There are people who do not belong to Islam; they are enemies of Islam and do not claim to be Muslims.
We also need to understand the falsehood they are upon and to refute them. All of this is included in the sincerity of intention to Allah Mighty and Majestic: that a person intends to defend the Shari'ah of Allah by these means and by other methods that may not come to our minds now.
And among what is obligatory upon the student of knowledge is that the effect of knowledge appears in his worship, which is his dealing with Allah Mighty and Majestic, such that he fears Allah Glorified and Exalted is He in secret and in public, and his heart is always attached to Allah. Because Allah the Exalted said:[Fatir 35:28] Who are the scholars? In reality, the scholars are the people of fear of Allah. If you see that you have no fear of Allah Mighty and Majestic and no awe of Him, then examine yourself that you are not among the people of knowledge, even if you have memorized what you have memorized of texts, and even if you have understood what you have understood of meanings. The effect of knowledge must appear on a person in his worship and his dealing with Allah.
Also: do not let Allah find you where He commanded you to be absent, and do not let Him find you where He forbade you. This is necessary. And whoever is not like this, his knowledge will be a burden upon him. May Allah protect us and you from this.
O Allah, do not make what we have learned a burden upon us. Be aware that you have a responsibility before Allah Mighty and Majestic. The ignorant person may be excused for his ignorance, but by what is the scholar excused? The effect of knowledge must appear on you in worship, through fear of Allah, watching Him, attaching oneself to Him, seeking His help, and worshipping Him with abundant obedience.
The scholars who are leaders in knowledge: we hear from their reports that they are people of worship, people who stand in prayer at night, people who are constantly glorifying Allah, people who read the Qur'an. So search your self: are you of this caliber or not?
It is also necessary that knowledge have an effect on a person's character, by dealing with people with good character.
Generosity, cheerfulness, openness of chest, helping, forgiveness, excellence. Everything that pertains to dealing with people with goodness is among the effects of knowledge.
We now see many groups entering colleges, institutes, and schools, and we do not see any effect of seeking knowledge on them. We see the students themselves meeting each other in the same classroom and not greeting one another. We also find them with the general public and not greeting the general public. Is this the character of a Muslim, let alone the character of a student of knowledge?
The answer: No. And if you say: No, then know that your limbs will testify against you on the Day of Resurrection if you do not practice it. Now, a person passes by his brother and does not greet him, and there is only a meter or less between them. Why? Is not every greeting worth ten good deeds? If a person were given one dirham for a greeting, he would find him greeting even in places where greeting is not customary to get this dirham. So why does he not greet in the place of greeting to get ten good deeds that remain, and his faith increases, and love is established between him and his brother? And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:.
Where are we from these advices, when we are students of knowledge who know them? How do we not implement them? This hadith and other evidence from the Book and the Sunnah will be an argument against us if we do not act upon what they indicate of guidance and direction.
Likewise, the effect of knowledge must be apparent in his love for his brother, wishing for him what he wishes for himself. You find some students, and perhaps even great scholars, when their brother stands out for something, they try to belittle him, disparage him, and hunt for his faults so that he does not stand out over them. This character trait is from the character of whom? From the character of whom? The Jews. It is from the character of the Jews, who are the ones who envy people for what Allah has given them of His bounty. And this is from a person's ignorance, because when a person reflects on who gave him this bounty? It is Allah (Mighty and Majestic). So, ask Allah who gave it to him. Therefore, the Exalted said:[An-Nisa 4:32] Ask the One who gave it to him to give it to you. As for wishing for the removal of Allah's blessing from him, or hating what Allah has bestowed upon him, this is from your foolishness and from your adopting the character of the brothers of the monkeys and pigs, the Jews. Are you pleased with this? No. So, if you see your brother and Allah has granted him distinction in memorization, or in understanding, or in diligence, say: "O Allah, as You have bestowed upon him, bestow upon me." Do we not say in the tashahhud: Sunan an-Nasa'i 1292Hasan (Darussalam) Complete Sahih al-Bukhari 3370 meaning: As You bestowed upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim with Your blessings upon them, so bestow upon Muhammad and his family.
Thus, the character of the student of knowledge must be one that abandons envy, whether little or much.
And I think the time for the meeting has ended, and we will postpone, if Allah wills, until the next meeting to complete this research, because it is important. Now we will devote ourselves to the questions, starting with the questions of the guests only, from the right. Be patient, my brother, you have a question, give it to the brother.
We say: There is no doubt that seeking religious knowledge is among the best of righteous deeds; indeed, it is equivalent to jihad in the path of Allah, as Allah Blessed and Exalted is He said:
And it is not for the believers to go forth [to battle] all at once. For there should separate from every division of them a group [remaining] to obtain understanding in the religion and warn their people when they return to them that they might be cautious.
وَمَا كَانَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لِيَنْفِرُوا كَافَّةً فَلَوْلا نَفَرَ مِنْ كُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِنْهُمْ طَائِفَةٌ لِيَتَفَقَّهُوا فِي الدِّينِ وَلِيُنْذِرُوا قَوْمَهُمْ إِذَا رَجَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَحْذَرُونَAnd it is not for the believers to go forth [to battle] all at once
وَمَا كَانَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لِيَنْفِرُوا كَافَّةًSo seeking religious knowledge is undoubtedly equivalent to jihad in the path of Allah.
The scholars differed on which is better: knowledge or jihad? There is no doubt that the benefit of knowledge is more widespread than the benefit of jihad, because the benefit of jihad, when it is realized, is only in a specific part of the earth, but knowledge benefits all people. So knowledge, in itself, is better than jihad. But even so, we may say to some people: jihad is better for you, and to others: knowledge is better for you. This becomes clear by example: if there is a man who is brave, strong, and knowledgeable about the methods of war, but he is poor in seeking knowledge—his memorization is difficult for him and his understanding is limited—then we say: jihad is better for him because it is more beneficial.
And another man who is not so brave or knowledgeable about the methods of war, but he is strong in memorization, strong in understanding, strong in argument, and strong in persuasion, then we say: seeking knowledge is better for him.
So the points we understand now are: seeking knowledge is equivalent to jihad in the path of Allah.
Which is better? This varies according to the people. To some people we say: jihad is better for you, and to some people we say: knowledge is better for you, according to what the situation requires.
Knowledge requires psychological training, moral training, and physical training.
Psychological training: This is that one seeks knowledge for the sake of Allah, not for showing off, not for fame, not to draw the attention of people to himself, and not to gain a worldly benefit. Rather, he seeks knowledge for Allah Mighty and Majestic, because knowledge is a form of worship among the best of worships, so it is not permissible to divert it to other than Allah. For this reason, it came in the hadith:
Whoever seeks knowledge for which the Face of Allah is sought, not desiring except a portion of this world, will not smell the fragrance of Paradise.
من طلب علماً مما يبتغى به وجه الله لا يريد إلا أن ينال عَرَضاً من الدنيا لم يرح رائحة الجنةSincerity is realized by several things. The first: that one intends by it to draw near to Allah, and that there is no line he reads, whether for memorization or understanding, except that it brings him closer to Allah Mighty and Majestic, until his reviewing of books, his discussion with his companions, and his reflection on himself become a worship by which he draws near to Allah Mighty and Majestic.
Second: that he intends by seeking knowledge to preserve the Shari'ah of Islam.
Because preserving the Shari'ah is either through books or through men, because knowledge is either written or memorized. So he intends by seeking knowledge to preserve the Shari'ah, because the Shari'ah is not preserved except by its men.
The third matter: that he intends to protect the Shari'ah and defend it.
Because the Shari'ah has enemies: enemies in the name of Islam, and enemies in the name of disbelief. Among its enemies in the name of Islam are the people of innovation, because they call to their innovations in the name of what? In the name of Islam. They consider what they are upon to be Islam, and they may misguide others, saying that these people are misguided, either open sinners or disbelievers. So we must protect the Shari'ah from these people and their innovations. And this is not possible except by what? Except by knowledge: first, knowledge of the Sunnah, and second, knowledge of this innovation and its doubts. We must know these innovations and their doubts, and what they are based on, so that we can be able to refute them, for it is not possible to refute something when you do not know what it is.
Therefore, if a man came to a library filled with books of the people of the Sunnah, and he started to assert an innovation in this library, and there was no one there who knew how to refute him, would these books be of any benefit? Answer, everyone: they are not of any benefit. No book can jump up to refute him. But if there were a scholar of the Sunnah, it would be possible for him to refute this and demolish his argument.
So prepare yourself now. Prepare yourself, O student. Prepare yourself to be a hero in refuting falsehood.
There are people who do not belong to Islam; they are enemies of Islam and do not claim to be Muslims.
We also need to understand the falsehood they are upon and to refute them. All of this is included in the sincerity of intention to Allah Mighty and Majestic: that a person intends to defend the Shari'ah of Allah by these means and by other methods that may not come to our minds now.
And among what is obligatory upon the student of knowledge is that the effect of knowledge appears in his worship, which is his dealing with Allah Mighty and Majestic, such that he fears Allah Glorified and Exalted is He in secret and in public, and his heart is always attached to Allah. Because Allah the Exalted said:
Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge.
إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُAlso: do not let Allah find you where He commanded you to be absent, and do not let Him find you where He forbade you. This is necessary. And whoever is not like this, his knowledge will be a burden upon him. May Allah protect us and you from this.
O Allah, do not make what we have learned a burden upon us. Be aware that you have a responsibility before Allah Mighty and Majestic. The ignorant person may be excused for his ignorance, but by what is the scholar excused? The effect of knowledge must appear on you in worship, through fear of Allah, watching Him, attaching oneself to Him, seeking His help, and worshipping Him with abundant obedience.
The scholars who are leaders in knowledge: we hear from their reports that they are people of worship, people who stand in prayer at night, people who are constantly glorifying Allah, people who read the Qur'an. So search your self: are you of this caliber or not?
It is also necessary that knowledge have an effect on a person's character, by dealing with people with good character.
Generosity, cheerfulness, openness of chest, helping, forgiveness, excellence. Everything that pertains to dealing with people with goodness is among the effects of knowledge.
We now see many groups entering colleges, institutes, and schools, and we do not see any effect of seeking knowledge on them. We see the students themselves meeting each other in the same classroom and not greeting one another. We also find them with the general public and not greeting the general public. Is this the character of a Muslim, let alone the character of a student of knowledge?
The answer: No. And if you say: No, then know that your limbs will testify against you on the Day of Resurrection if you do not practice it. Now, a person passes by his brother and does not greet him, and there is only a meter or less between them. Why? Is not every greeting worth ten good deeds? If a person were given one dirham for a greeting, he would find him greeting even in places where greeting is not customary to get this dirham. So why does he not greet in the place of greeting to get ten good deeds that remain, and his faith increases, and love is established between him and his brother? And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
By Allah, you will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I inform you of something that, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread the greeting of peace among yourselves.
والله لا تدخلوا الجنة حتى تؤمنوا، ولا تؤمنوا حتى تحابوا، فلا أخبركم بشيء إذا فعلتموه تحاببتم؟ أفشوا السلام بينكمWhere are we from these advices, when we are students of knowledge who know them? How do we not implement them? This hadith and other evidence from the Book and the Sunnah will be an argument against us if we do not act upon what they indicate of guidance and direction.
Likewise, the effect of knowledge must be apparent in his love for his brother, wishing for him what he wishes for himself. You find some students, and perhaps even great scholars, when their brother stands out for something, they try to belittle him, disparage him, and hunt for his faults so that he does not stand out over them. This character trait is from the character of whom? From the character of whom? The Jews. It is from the character of the Jews, who are the ones who envy people for what Allah has given them of His bounty. And this is from a person's ignorance, because when a person reflects on who gave him this bounty? It is Allah (Mighty and Majestic). So, ask Allah who gave it to him. Therefore, the Exalted said:
And do not wish for that by which Allah has made some of you exceed others. For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned. And ask Allah of his bounty
وَلا تَتَمَنَّوْا مَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بِهِ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ لِلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا اكْتَسَبُوا وَلِلنِّسَاءِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا اكْتَسَبْنَ وَاسْأَلُوا اللَّهَ مِنْ فَضْلِهِAlahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala ali Muhammad (O Allah, send salah upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad)
اللهم صل على محمد وعلى آل محمد،as You sent Your Mercy on Abraham and on the family of Abraham
كما صليت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيمThus, the character of the student of knowledge must be one that abandons envy, whether little or much.
And I think the time for the meeting has ended, and we will postpone, if Allah wills, until the next meeting to complete this research, because it is important. Now we will devote ourselves to the questions, starting with the questions of the guests only, from the right. Be patient, my brother, you have a question, give it to the brother.