What is the ruling on seeking knowledge?
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Question:
I love you for the sake of Allah, a love that none but Allah knows . What is the ruling on seeking knowledge?
Answer:
First: May Allah love you, for the sake of Whom you loved us. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in an authentic hadith: meaning: weeping out of fear of Allah. It is agreed upon that it is authentic.
This great and noble hadith indicates that among the seven whom Allah will shade in His shade are those who love one another for the sake of Allah. Those who love one another for the sake of Allah, whether of any race, or in any country, or in any place, or in any era; they are included in this great hadith.
And He (peace and blessings be upon him) said in another hadith: On the Day of Resurrection: Where are those who love one another for My majesty? Today I will shade them in My shade on a day when there is no shade except My shade. We ask Allah to make us and you among them.
As for what concerns seeking knowledge: It is obligatory for the student of knowledge to strive to seek knowledge, to understand the religion, and to exert effort to know the rulings of Allah. It is obligatory to know what Allah has made obligatory upon you and what Allah has forbidden upon you. This is the obligation. Every person is required to learn what he cannot afford to be ignorant of regarding what Allah has made obligatory upon him and forbidden to him. As for expanding in knowledge and knowing the rulings of the Shari'ah, this is a collective obligation, as is established among the scholars of knowledge. It is a collective obligation; if those who suffice perform it, it drops from the rest. But where are those who suffice now? Where are those who suffice?
It is obligatory for one whom Allah has granted the leisure to seek knowledge to take care of this matter, to continue, and to focus from the university to specialization; because that is more complete in knowledge and more effective in the acceptance of the call. Whoever has a higher qualification is closer to being affected by his call, if he is sincere to Allah in his intention. Then he is safer regarding additional knowledge and insight. So whoever Allah facilitates seeking knowledge for, let him be pleased with this thing and let him rejoice in this thing, as Allah the Exalted said: [Yunus: 58].
And there is no doubt that it is from the favor of Allah that He facilitated for you seeking knowledge and chose you for seeking knowledge. And from His mercy to you is that Allah facilitated for you those who teach you from the people of the Sunnah. So rejoice in this, thank Allah for it, continue seeking, be patient, and strive. Guard your time. Guard the time regarding the lessons, taking care of them, and reflecting on them before you come to the teacher. And regarding reading in your home, and with your colleagues, and regarding the Qur'an, taking care of it, reciting it frequently, and memorizing what is easy of it. And regarding action; because action aids in knowledge and causes success. If you are among those who strive in action in knowledge, and strive in the voluntary prayers and types of voluntary acts, this is among the greatest causes for Allah's success for you.
I love you for the sake of Allah, a love that none but Allah knows . What is the ruling on seeking knowledge?
Answer:
First: May Allah love you, for the sake of Whom you loved us. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in an authentic hadith:
Seven whom Allah will shade in His shade on a day when there is no shade except His: a just ruler, and a young man who grew up in the worship of Allah, and a man whose heart is attached to the mosques, and two men who loved one another for the sake of Allah, they met for that and parted for it, and a man whom a woman of high status and beauty invited, and he said: I fear Allah, and a man who gave charity in secret, so that his left hand does not know what his right hand spends, and a man who remembered Allah in solitude – meaning: no one was with him – so his eyes overflowed.
سبعة يُظلهم الله في ظلِّه يوم لا ظلَّ إلا ظله: إمام عادل، وشابٌّ نشأ في عبادة الله، ورجل قلبه معلَّق بالمساجد، ورجلان تحابَّا في الله، اجتمعا على ذلك، وتفرَّقا عليه، ورجل دعته امرأةٌ ذات منصبٍ وجمالٍ فقال: إني أخاف الله، ورجل تصدَّق بصدقةٍ فأخفاها، حتى لا تعلم شماله ما تُنفق يمينه، ورجل ذكر الله خاليًا –يعني: ما عنده أحد- ففاضت عيناهThis great and noble hadith indicates that among the seven whom Allah will shade in His shade are those who love one another for the sake of Allah. Those who love one another for the sake of Allah, whether of any race, or in any country, or in any place, or in any era; they are included in this great hadith.
And He (peace and blessings be upon him) said in another hadith:
Allah the Exalted says:
يقول الله As for what concerns seeking knowledge: It is obligatory for the student of knowledge to strive to seek knowledge, to understand the religion, and to exert effort to know the rulings of Allah. It is obligatory to know what Allah has made obligatory upon you and what Allah has forbidden upon you. This is the obligation. Every person is required to learn what he cannot afford to be ignorant of regarding what Allah has made obligatory upon him and forbidden to him. As for expanding in knowledge and knowing the rulings of the Shari'ah, this is a collective obligation, as is established among the scholars of knowledge. It is a collective obligation; if those who suffice perform it, it drops from the rest. But where are those who suffice now? Where are those who suffice?
It is obligatory for one whom Allah has granted the leisure to seek knowledge to take care of this matter, to continue, and to focus from the university to specialization; because that is more complete in knowledge and more effective in the acceptance of the call. Whoever has a higher qualification is closer to being affected by his call, if he is sincere to Allah in his intention. Then he is safer regarding additional knowledge and insight. So whoever Allah facilitates seeking knowledge for, let him be pleased with this thing and let him rejoice in this thing, as Allah the Exalted said:
Say, "In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy - in that let them rejoice; it is better than what they accumulate."
قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا يَجْمَعُونَAnd there is no doubt that it is from the favor of Allah that He facilitated for you seeking knowledge and chose you for seeking knowledge. And from His mercy to you is that Allah facilitated for you those who teach you from the people of the Sunnah. So rejoice in this, thank Allah for it, continue seeking, be patient, and strive. Guard your time. Guard the time regarding the lessons, taking care of them, and reflecting on them before you come to the teacher. And regarding reading in your home, and with your colleagues, and regarding the Qur'an, taking care of it, reciting it frequently, and memorizing what is easy of it. And regarding action; because action aids in knowledge and causes success. If you are among those who strive in action in knowledge, and strive in the voluntary prayers and types of voluntary acts, this is among the greatest causes for Allah's success for you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.