Category Archives: Fruits of knowledge

Apr 2020 · Apr

The importance of having knowledge as well as eemaan (true faith)

With regards to the virtue of having both knowledge of the Religion as well as eemaan, Imam al Qurtubee (rahimahullah) mentions about the aayah:

<<Allah raises in rank those from you who have eemaan (true faith) and those who have been given knowledge.>>

Soorah Mujaadilah (58) aayah 11

Meaning (He raises) in reward in the Hereafter, and in nobility in this worldly life. So He raises the believer over the one who is not a believer and (He raises) the scholar over the one who is not a scholar.

And ibn Mas’ood said: Allah praised the scholars in this aayah. And the meaning is that Allah raises those who have been given knowledge over those who have eemaan but have not been given knowledge. In rank – meaning ranks in their religion when they act upon that which they have been commanded to do.

(Tafseer al Qurtubee)

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May 2018 · May

The excellence of the people of knowledge

With regards to the excellence of the people of knowledge, the Shaykh Abdur-Rahmaan as Sa’dee rahimahullah mentions about the aayah: 

<<Allah bears witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Him; and the angels and the people of knowledge (also bear witness to this). He maintains His creation with Justice. None has the right to be worshipped except Him, al Azeez, al Hakeem.>>

(Soorah aale ‘Imraan (3) aayah 18)

And in this aayah is (mentioning of) the virtue of knowledge and the people of knowledge – because Allah singled them out with making mention (of them) to the exclusion of other people; and linked their shahaadah (bearing witness) with His shahaadah and His angels’ shahaadah.

And He made their shahaadah to be from the greatest evidences and proofs for His Tawheed and His Religion and His Recompense.

And that it is obligatory for the mukallafeen (those who are Islamically accountable for their actions) to accept this just and truthful shahaadah.

(Tayseer ul Kareem ir Rahmaan of as Sa’dee)

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Apr 2014 · Apr

The student of knowledge is known for his eagerness to study and revise with his colleagues

With regards to the causes of the student of knowledge becoming firm in learning and retaining his knowledge of the Sharee’ah, the Noble Scholar Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah was asked:

Our esteemed father, what is the correct path that it is obligatory for the student of Sharee’ah knowledge to follow, such that he reaches that which he wishes for from pleasing Allaah, the Perfect and Most High and acquiring knowledge which is beneficial and which will be of use to him and the Muslims?

And what are the factors that will aid the student in memorising and making the issues firmly grounded in his mind and in not forgetting (them)?

Answer:

The most tremendous of the causes is that you have taqwaa (fear of and dutifulness towards) your Lord through obeying Him and leaving off disobeying Him – and your having sincerity towards Him and asking Him for (acceptance of) repentance and for help and for tawfeeq (success in attaining that which is good).

Then being meticulous in (attending) the lessons and in learning, and in preserving your time.

So these are indeed from the most tremendous of the causes.

And from the causes of that also is – studying with your colleagues and striving to (attain) the benefit such that the knowledge becomes established (with you).

So do not just content yourself with your reading and (attending) the lessons with the teacher – rather along with that, there should be studying with your colleagues who are of good character of (those issues) which are not clear to you such that the knowledge becomes established in your mind.

(Quoted in Wasaayaa wa tawjeehaat li tullaab il ilm p37 of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah, translated by Nasser ibn Najam)

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Mar 2014 · Mar

The student of knowledge is the first of the people to act upon his knowledge

With regards to the student of knowledge being the foremost to put his knowledge into practice, the scholar Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah stated:

Upon you – baarak Allaahu feekum – is to act upon what you know because this is the fruit of knowledge.

No, what is the benefit of knowledge which the person does not act upon? There is no benefit in it – rather it will be something harmful for the person.

By Allaah, the ignorant person is better than the person of knowledge who does not act upon his knowledge.

So the proof has been established against the person of knowledge who does not act (upon his knowledge) and the excuse has been cut off for him.

So sometimes the ignorant person learns (something) and (then) acts; but as for the man who is a person of knowledge but he does not act, then his knowledge is a harm for him. Therefore the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa ‘alaa aalihi wa sallam said:

The Qur-aan is a proof for you or against you.[1]

And the Qur-aan is knowledge. So as for the person who memorises the Qur-aan, then is the Qur-aan a proof for him?

The Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam divided that into two categories. He said:

… a proof for you or against you.

So it is a proof for you if you act upon it and it is a proof against you if you do not act upon it.

Therefore I urge you to act upon what you have learned such that your knowledge becomes a proof for you, and a means to your attaining the everlasting abode of bliss. I ask Allaah that He makes me and you to be from its people.

Therefore it is a must to act (upon knowledge). And let us strike an example for this.

When a person knows that the prayer is obligatory upon him and that it is obligatory for him to establish them with the congregation in the mosques, then is it befitting for him that he neglects this obligation and that he does not pray except when it is easy for him? When he wakes up from his sleep, (only then) does he pray? When he has a break from work (only then) does he pray?

Is this befitting for him whilst he knows that the prayer in congregation is obligatory for him to be negligent about this?

No, this is absolutely unbefitting for him – and if not, then the ignorant person is better than him.

(Quoted in Wasaayaa wa tawjeehaat li tullaab il ilm p178 to 179, translated by Nasser ibn Najam)

[1]Reported by Muslim (223) from the hadeeth of Aboo Maalik al Ash’aree

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May 2013 · May

The student of knowledge feels no envy of people who are learning and he does everything he can to help them, not hinder them

With regards to the student of knowledge being pleased with and helping the Muslim who is learning and not having any envy of him, the Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah comments:

And from that which is befitting for the student of knowledge with regards to his colleagues is that he does not have jealousy of them regarding that which Allaah has bestowed upon them, by way of memorization or understanding or knowledge.

And that he does not have jealousy of them in that by which he may benefit them, by way of supporting (them) and helping (them) – be that in (giving them) a booklet or (sharing) research or other than that.

This is because for some of the students, Shaytaan speaks to him saying to him, “If you help your companion, he will become better than you.” And this is an error.

Rather we say, just as the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa ‘alaa aalihi wa sallam said:

“Allaah is in the aid of the servant whilst the servant is in the aid of his brother.”

And it does not automatically follow on that if your companion is someone who is coming for the forefront (due to his knowledge) or someone who is attaining knowledge which he did not attain except with your (help), it is does not necessitate that he has got ahead of you.

So (by helping him) you are benefitting yourself and you are not harming your own self at all.

Quoted in Wasaayaa wa tawjeehaat li tullaab il ‘ilm page 82, translated by Nasser ibn Najam

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May 2013 · May

The student of knowledge’s memorisation is good because he leaves off sins

With regards to the effects of sins upon the ability of the student of knowledge to memorise, ‘Abdus Salaam ibn Burjis (d. 1425 AH) rahimahullaah said:

Disobeying Allaah, the Most High, is an obstacle to attaining Sharee’ah knowledge – because it (Sharee’ah knowledge) is a noor (light) from Allaah which He casts into the hearts of whomever He wishes from His servants.

And noor (light) and dhulmah (darkness) do not come together in a heart.

Therefore ibn Mas’ood radi Allaahu ‘anhu said:

Indeed I consider that a man (might) forget knowledge which he has already learned because of a sin which he does.

And may Allaah have mercy upon ash Shaafi’ee who said:

I complained to Wakee’ about my memorisation being bad

So he directed me to leave off sins

And he informed me that knowledge is a noor (light)

And the light from Allaah is not bestowed upon a person who is sinful

Quoted in ‘Awaa-iq ut talab of ‘Abdus Salaam ibn Burjiss rahimahullaah page 38, translated by Nasser ibn Najam

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Jan 2013 · Jan

Let the student of knowledge beware of not acting on his knowledge

‘Alee radi Allaahu ‘anhu said:

Knowledge calls out for action, so either it is responded to or else it departs.

And Sufyaan ath Thawree rahimahullaah said:

Knowledge is only to be learned in order for Allaah to be feared and obeyed by it.

And Fudayl ibn ‘Iyaad rahimahullaah said:

The person of knowledge does not stop being jaahil (ignorant) of what he knows until he acts on it. So when he acts on it, he is an ‘aalim (person of knowledge).

And ibn al Jawzee rahimahullaah said:

The true miskeen (impoverished person) is the one whose lifetime is lost in knowledge that he does not act upon. So he has missed out on the delights of the dunyaa and the treasures of the Hereafter.
Thus he will come (on the Last Day) as a bankrupt person, along with having a strong proof against himself.

Quoted in ‘Awaa-iq ut talab of ‘Abdus Salaam ibn Burjiss rahimahullaah pages 17 to 19, translated by Nasser ibn Najam

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Dec 2012 · Dec

The student of knowledge has a pure intention in his seeking knowledge

With regards to the virtue of seeking knowledge with a pure intention, the Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah comments:

Rather some of the scholars say that seeking knowledge with a pure and sincere intention is more excellent than fighting in the Path of Allaah because fighting in the Path of Allaah contains only blocking the enemies and fighting against them such that there is no fitnah and that the Religion is entirely for Allaah.

However seeking knowledge is something that the whole ummah (Muslim nation) is in need of, such that they can worship Allaah upon clear-sightedness; and (even) the people who fight (in the Path of Allaah) are in need of it such that they know how they should fight and how they deal with the war booty and how they advance and how they retreat.

So the ummah is in need of knowledge, in every situation and at every moment.

Therefore I urge you, O young people, to turn towards and have diligence upon seeking Sharee’ah knowledge, and to have purity and sincerity of intention in that – in that you intend by it seeking closeness to Allaah, the Perfect and Most High, by obeying His command; and that you intend protection of the Islaamic Sharee’ah and defending it and spreading it among the servants (of Allaah).

Then you attest to the truthfulness of this intention through your actions, in worship and manners and dealings (with other people).

Quoted in Wasaayaa wa tawjeehaat li tullaab il ‘ilm pages 341, translated by Nasser ibn Najam

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Aug 2012 · Aug

The student of knowledge is the furthest from chasing after money

With regards to the student of knowledge knowing the true status of money, Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah comments:

Then indeed I say to you – if you were to say to your brother asSalaamu alaikum how much (reward) would you attain? Ten good deeds – along with friendship and love and affection and an opening up of the chest and a smile on the face.

What is your opinion about if it were said to one of you, “If you give salaam to your brother, we will give you one dirham?” Would you give the salaam?

The answer: yes, you would give the salaam and maybe you would pause a little while in order to give salaam a second time – for the sake of (another) one dirham. Yet what is its (the money’s) end destination?

Indeed its end destination is the toilet – for the greatest pleasure which the person takes delight in is food and drink. And what is the end destination of the food and drink? The toilet.

Therefore Shaykh ul Islaam ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullaah said:

It is befitting for the person who has intellect that he deems wealth to have the station of a donkey which he rides on or the station of the toilet in which he answers his call of nature.

And this is the position (adopted) by those who have awareness and knowledge.

Quoted in Wasaayaa wa tawjeehaat li tullaab il ‘ilm pages 183 to 184, translated by Nasser ibn Najam

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May 2012 · May

The student of knowledge is careful to not accustom himself to comfort and luxury

With regards to the student of knowledge not chasing after the luxuries and comforts of this world,  Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah comments:

(The author’s advice), “do not accustom yourself to comfort and luxury”.

This is advice to be said to the student of knowledge and (also) to other than the student of knowledge – because accustoming oneself to that is contrary to the guidance of the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. For indeed he used to forbid from an abundance of luxuriousness and he would command with walking barefoot sometimes.

And a person who has become accustomed to a luxurious life will find it difficult when he encounters (certain) matters – because sometimes there will come to him matters in a form where he is not able to have the luxury (he is used to) along with him.

And let us strike an example, with the example which we have mentioned in the hadeeth: he would command with walking barefoot sometimes. Some people do not walk barefoot – always there is a sock upon him, and upon it a leather sock, and upon it a shoe. You will not find him walking, this man, if a temporary impediment were to occur to him and he were to be told to walk 500 metres without any protection for the foot; you would find that extremely difficult upon him. And sometimes his foot would bleed from the contact with the ground.

However if he were to accustom himself to a roughness and to leaving off always having comfort, then he would attain much good.

So if the (person’s) body is not accustomed to the like of these matters (of forsaking luxury), then he will have no manaa’ah (strength and toughness). You will find him feeling pain from anything from that (affair which is difficult).

However if he has manaa’ah then he will not be bothered by it.

(Sharh hilyah taalib il ‘ilm p43 of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah, translated by Nasser ibn Najam)

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