The ruling on acquiring knowledge from books without referring to scholars
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Some people say that reading books alone is of no benefit, and that one must read under a shaykh. Is this correct or not?
Answer: Yes, if the person is a layman who does not possess the tools of knowledge and has not learned what qualifies him to study books, he will not gain the required benefit. He may benefit if he understands Arabic; he may benefit if it is in his language; he may benefit if he understands, just as he benefits from the words of Allah when he reads the Qur'an in the language he understands. However, he will not gain the complete, great benefit unless he learns from scholars known for goodness, sound creed, and the Salafi methodology, following the righteous Salaf, who are the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and those who followed them with excellence. This scholar clarifies matters for you and guides you to what may be hidden from you in the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and helps you with correct understanding. On your own, you may make many mistakes, especially if you have not learned the principles that guide you to understanding the texts and have not sat with scholars. As for one who has sat with scholars, attended circles of knowledge, and benefited from them, he can study and benefit. We advise you to combine these: study the books you understand, reflect upon the Qur'an, and focus on reading the Qur'an with reflection and comprehension, and ask scholars about what is difficult for you. Do not rely on yourself; rather, you must ask scholars known for uprightness, virtue, piety, worship, and sound belief. This is what you should do.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
The presenter: It would be desirable, Your Eminence, if you mentioned the things that qualify him to benefit from reading without having someone with him, or without having a shaykh, as they say?
The Shaykh: He should review books of tafsir, the exegesis of the Noble Qur'an, and know the principles of the scholars and the principles of jurisprudence, studying them, as well as the terminology of hadith, so that he may benefit. In any case, he will not gain the required benefit except with a scholar who clarifies matters for him; it is necessary, because these are principles and rules that require some explanation and clarification. For him to be independent from the very beginning, this does not achieve the goal, even if he is skilled and even if he is an Arab, because he needs to know the terminology through those who are knowledgeable about it. However, it is not prohibited for him to reflect upon the Qur'an, memorize hadiths, and read beneficial books; he will certainly gain some benefit. But he should not be content with this; we advise him not to be content, but to seek knowledge in circles of knowledge and in trusted, good schools of knowledge, and through visiting scholars in their homes and mosques to ask questions and seek clarification. This is how a student of knowledge should be.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
Answer: Yes, if the person is a layman who does not possess the tools of knowledge and has not learned what qualifies him to study books, he will not gain the required benefit. He may benefit if he understands Arabic; he may benefit if it is in his language; he may benefit if he understands, just as he benefits from the words of Allah when he reads the Qur'an in the language he understands. However, he will not gain the complete, great benefit unless he learns from scholars known for goodness, sound creed, and the Salafi methodology, following the righteous Salaf, who are the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and those who followed them with excellence. This scholar clarifies matters for you and guides you to what may be hidden from you in the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and helps you with correct understanding. On your own, you may make many mistakes, especially if you have not learned the principles that guide you to understanding the texts and have not sat with scholars. As for one who has sat with scholars, attended circles of knowledge, and benefited from them, he can study and benefit. We advise you to combine these: study the books you understand, reflect upon the Qur'an, and focus on reading the Qur'an with reflection and comprehension, and ask scholars about what is difficult for you. Do not rely on yourself; rather, you must ask scholars known for uprightness, virtue, piety, worship, and sound belief. This is what you should do.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
The presenter: It would be desirable, Your Eminence, if you mentioned the things that qualify him to benefit from reading without having someone with him, or without having a shaykh, as they say?
The Shaykh: He should review books of tafsir, the exegesis of the Noble Qur'an, and know the principles of the scholars and the principles of jurisprudence, studying them, as well as the terminology of hadith, so that he may benefit. In any case, he will not gain the required benefit except with a scholar who clarifies matters for him; it is necessary, because these are principles and rules that require some explanation and clarification. For him to be independent from the very beginning, this does not achieve the goal, even if he is skilled and even if he is an Arab, because he needs to know the terminology through those who are knowledgeable about it. However, it is not prohibited for him to reflect upon the Qur'an, memorize hadiths, and read beneficial books; he will certainly gain some benefit. But he should not be content with this; we advise him not to be content, but to seek knowledge in circles of knowledge and in trusted, good schools of knowledge, and through visiting scholars in their homes and mosques to ask questions and seek clarification. This is how a student of knowledge should be.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.