A question about reconciling the understanding of reality with the pursuit of knowledge.
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The student: ...
The Shaykh : In truth, people in all their affairs are divided into three groups: two extremes and a middle. One extreme is one who is excessive, and the other extreme is one who is excessive, and there is a middle. Some people occupy themselves with what they call the understanding of reality, and their only concern is following people, listening to hearsay, and asking many questions. This is undoubtedly a waste of time, and it is preoccupation with what is important, if it is important, at the expense of what is more important, and this is an error. Some people occupy themselves with Islamic jurisprudence and strive for it, but they do not pay any attention to the conditions of people at all; rather, they may deny from Islamic jurisprudence what they think the evidence does not indicate, and this is also an erroneous extreme. And some people try to combine this and that.
And when we examine the biography of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), we find that he (peace and blessings be upon him) understood reality and understood people, and understood the good from the evil, but he (peace and blessings be upon him) was concerned with the second matter, which is understanding the religion. Therefore, he said:Sahih Muslim 1037a He did not say "understand him in reality." The understanding of reality is merely a means for application. So the student of knowledge must have both this and that. Do not lean toward the extreme of understanding reality, and do not exaggerate in understanding the religion to the point of turning away from everything. A person must be in the middle.
The Shaykh : In truth, people in all their affairs are divided into three groups: two extremes and a middle. One extreme is one who is excessive, and the other extreme is one who is excessive, and there is a middle. Some people occupy themselves with what they call the understanding of reality, and their only concern is following people, listening to hearsay, and asking many questions. This is undoubtedly a waste of time, and it is preoccupation with what is important, if it is important, at the expense of what is more important, and this is an error. Some people occupy themselves with Islamic jurisprudence and strive for it, but they do not pay any attention to the conditions of people at all; rather, they may deny from Islamic jurisprudence what they think the evidence does not indicate, and this is also an erroneous extreme. And some people try to combine this and that.
And when we examine the biography of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), we find that he (peace and blessings be upon him) understood reality and understood people, and understood the good from the evil, but he (peace and blessings be upon him) was concerned with the second matter, which is understanding the religion. Therefore, he said: