How does a student of knowledge attain understanding of the texts?
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The questioner : How does one attain understanding? You said understanding, understanding. How does a person attain understanding?
The Shaykh : May Allah help us. By Allah, my brother, it is a difficult matter. First, understanding is of two types: innate and acquired. The innate type is what Allah has placed in humans, and people differ greatly in this. For example, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) was among the most understanding of people. It is even mentioned regarding 'Umar, and the grammarians mention it—I do not know if it has a sound chain or not—they say, "The negation of the genus, and Abu Hasan is known for his intelligence (may Allah be pleased with him)."
Likewise, al-Shafi'i and others; this is innate intelligence from Allah. The second type is acquired by a person training himself to reflect upon the Qur'an and reflect upon the hadith, and linking the evidence to one another, linking verses to one another, and hadiths likewise. Then Allah grants him great understanding. As for my intention with this, it is understanding the text as to what is intended by it. As for the issues that a person delves into and derives rulings from, while others do not, that is a different matter, and there is no blame in it. Perhaps some people derive a hundred issues from one hadith, while another person derives only ten issues or the like. Yes. So, seek help from Allah the Mighty and Majestic, and ask Allah the Exalted and Sublime for understanding, knowledge, and understanding. Allah the Mighty and Majestic said:[Al-Anbya 21:79] So He distinguished between knowledge and understanding. Let us read.
The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy. The author (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The Chapter on Zakat al-Fitr. "A debt does not prevent its payment except if he seeks it. He pays it on behalf of himself and a Muslim whom he supports, even if it is in Ramadan. If he is unable to pay for all, he starts with himself, then his wife, then his slave, then his mother, then his father, then his child, then the closest in inheritance. A slave owned by partners owes a sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg). It is recommended to pay on behalf of a fetus, but it is not obligatory for a defiant wife."
The Shaykh : Be patient.
The Shaykh : May Allah help us. By Allah, my brother, it is a difficult matter. First, understanding is of two types: innate and acquired. The innate type is what Allah has placed in humans, and people differ greatly in this. For example, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) was among the most understanding of people. It is even mentioned regarding 'Umar, and the grammarians mention it—I do not know if it has a sound chain or not—they say, "The negation of the genus, and Abu Hasan is known for his intelligence (may Allah be pleased with him)."
Likewise, al-Shafi'i and others; this is innate intelligence from Allah. The second type is acquired by a person training himself to reflect upon the Qur'an and reflect upon the hadith, and linking the evidence to one another, linking verses to one another, and hadiths likewise. Then Allah grants him great understanding. As for my intention with this, it is understanding the text as to what is intended by it. As for the issues that a person delves into and derives rulings from, while others do not, that is a different matter, and there is no blame in it. Perhaps some people derive a hundred issues from one hadith, while another person derives only ten issues or the like. Yes. So, seek help from Allah the Mighty and Majestic, and ask Allah the Exalted and Sublime for understanding, knowledge, and understanding. Allah the Mighty and Majestic said:
And We gave understanding of the case to Solomon, and to each [of them] We gave judgement and knowledge.
ففهّمناها سليمان وكلا ءاتينا حكما وعلماThe questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy. The author (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The Chapter on Zakat al-Fitr. "A debt does not prevent its payment except if he seeks it. He pays it on behalf of himself and a Muslim whom he supports, even if it is in Ramadan. If he is unable to pay for all, he starts with himself, then his wife, then his slave, then his mother, then his father, then his child, then the closest in inheritance. A slave owned by partners owes a sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg). It is recommended to pay on behalf of a fetus, but it is not obligatory for a defiant wife."
The Shaykh : Be patient.