Advice for One Who Wants to Gain Knowledge of the Religion
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
A lengthy letter sent by one of the brother listeners from Sudan. He says: He is residing in Libya. Our brother says: He has a strong desire to gain knowledge of the religion, and to learn tafsir and the tajwid of the Noble Qur'an. He asks the Shaykh for guidance regarding these matters. May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh: And he is in Libya?
The presenter: Yes, he is residing in Libya, he is of Sudanese origin, and his name is Ali Ahmad Adam.
The Shaykh: This is a good deed and a good desire. He should hasten to it and take the initiative. If he finds in Libya any of the scholars of the righteous Salaf, known for goodness, from whom he can gain knowledge of the religion, then praise be to Allah. If he does not find in Libya anyone who can do this, it is prescribed for him to move from there to another place where he can find scholars of the Shari'ah, so that he can gain knowledge of the religion from them, and so that he can learn the Book of Allah and its tajwid from them.
So the result is: If he finds in Libya someone through whom the objective is achieved, praise be to Allah; he should take the initiative, read to them, learn, benefit, and gain knowledge of the religion. If he does not find such a person, he should move to a place other than Libya until he finds from whom he can learn the pure sciences of the Shari'ah, and learn the sciences of the Qur'an and the tajwid of the Qur'an. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1037a, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 2699a. So seeking knowledge is among the most important matters, and among the best of acts of worship. It is obligatory for every Muslim to learn what he cannot afford to be ignorant of. Every Muslim must learn what he cannot afford to be ignorant of regarding what Allah has made obligatory upon him and what He has forbidden. Yes.
The presenter: Do you advise him with specific books, Your Eminence?
The Shaykh: Yes, we advise him first with the Book of Allah. We advise him to learn the Book of Allah, memorize it, and increase in its recitation and reflection on its meanings, together with whichever of his good brothers are available there. For the Book of Allah is the origin of all good; it is the source of guidance, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: : [Al-Isra: 9], and He (Mighty and Majestic) said: [Fussilat: 44], and He (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: : [Sad: 29], and He (Mighty and Majestic) said: [Muhammad: 24], and He (Exalted and Majestic is He) said: [Al-An'am: 155].
So we advise all Muslims to take care of the Book of Allah, turn to it, increase in its recitation, take care of memorizing it, reflect on its meanings, and act upon it. This is what is prescribed for everyone, and learning it and teaching it is a collective obligation (fard kifayah) upon the Muslims.
Then it is prescribed for the believer to seek out the people of knowledge and insight, so that he can gain knowledge of the religion from them, and so that he can ask them about whatever is difficult for him from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).
Then we advise, after that, with the books of authentic hadith, such as the two Sahihs, for they are the greatest book after the Book of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
Then the four Sunans: Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Sunan al-Nasa'i, and Sunan Ibn Majah. For they are great books, and they are books of the Sunnah. Even though some weak hadiths are in them, they are great books, and most of what is in them are authentic hadiths. It is possible for the student of knowledge to know what is weak in them through the methods outlined by the people of this science, or by asking the knowledgeable people who are aware of this. And like: Riyad al-Saliheen, a good and beneficial book, most of which are authentic hadiths. And like: Muntakha al-Akhbar by al-Mujaddid Ibn Taymiyyah, a noble book. And like: Bulugh al-Maram by al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar, a good and beneficial book. And like: 'Umdat al-Hadith by the Shaykh Abdul Ghani al-Maqdisi. These are great books in hadith, and the believer should take care of them according to his capacity. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh: And he is in Libya?
The presenter: Yes, he is residing in Libya, he is of Sudanese origin, and his name is Ali Ahmad Adam.
The Shaykh: This is a good deed and a good desire. He should hasten to it and take the initiative. If he finds in Libya any of the scholars of the righteous Salaf, known for goodness, from whom he can gain knowledge of the religion, then praise be to Allah. If he does not find in Libya anyone who can do this, it is prescribed for him to move from there to another place where he can find scholars of the Shari'ah, so that he can gain knowledge of the religion from them, and so that he can learn the Book of Allah and its tajwid from them.
So the result is: If he finds in Libya someone through whom the objective is achieved, praise be to Allah; he should take the initiative, read to them, learn, benefit, and gain knowledge of the religion. If he does not find such a person, he should move to a place other than Libya until he finds from whom he can learn the pure sciences of the Shari'ah, and learn the sciences of the Qur'an and the tajwid of the Qur'an. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
He upon whom Allah intends to bestow goodness, He confers upon him an insight in religion
من يرد الله به خيرًا يفقهه في الدينhe who treads the path in search of knowledge, Allah would make that path easy, leading to Paradise for him
من سلك طريقًا يلتمس فيه علمًا سهل الله له به طريقًا إلى الجنةThe presenter: Do you advise him with specific books, Your Eminence?
The Shaykh: Yes, we advise him first with the Book of Allah. We advise him to learn the Book of Allah, memorize it, and increase in its recitation and reflection on its meanings, together with whichever of his good brothers are available there. For the Book of Allah is the origin of all good; it is the source of guidance, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: :
Indeed, this Qur'an guides to that which is most suitable
إِنَّ هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ يَهْدِي لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقْوَمُSay, "It is, for those who believe, a guidance and cure."
قُلْ هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هُدًى وَشِفَاءٌ[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.
كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُوْلُوا الأَلْبَابِThen do they not reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?
أَفَلا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَى قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَاAnd this [Qur'an] is a Book We have revealed [which is] blessed, so follow it and fear Allah that you may receive mercy.
وَهَذَا كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مُبَارَكٌ فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَاتَّقُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَSo we advise all Muslims to take care of the Book of Allah, turn to it, increase in its recitation, take care of memorizing it, reflect on its meanings, and act upon it. This is what is prescribed for everyone, and learning it and teaching it is a collective obligation (fard kifayah) upon the Muslims.
Then it is prescribed for the believer to seek out the people of knowledge and insight, so that he can gain knowledge of the religion from them, and so that he can ask them about whatever is difficult for him from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).
Then we advise, after that, with the books of authentic hadith, such as the two Sahihs, for they are the greatest book after the Book of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
Then the four Sunans: Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Sunan al-Nasa'i, and Sunan Ibn Majah. For they are great books, and they are books of the Sunnah. Even though some weak hadiths are in them, they are great books, and most of what is in them are authentic hadiths. It is possible for the student of knowledge to know what is weak in them through the methods outlined by the people of this science, or by asking the knowledgeable people who are aware of this. And like: Riyad al-Saliheen, a good and beneficial book, most of which are authentic hadiths. And like: Muntakha al-Akhbar by al-Mujaddid Ibn Taymiyyah, a noble book. And like: Bulugh al-Maram by al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar, a good and beneficial book. And like: 'Umdat al-Hadith by the Shaykh Abdul Ghani al-Maqdisi. These are great books in hadith, and the believer should take care of them according to his capacity. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.