Category Archives: The Etiquette of Seeking Knowledge

Oct 2012 · Oct

The student of knowledge is careful when answering questions posed to him

With regards to the student of knowledge having the humility to tell the people that he does not know the answer to their question, Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah comments:

And know for certain that if you open up the arena (when sitting with the people), then questions will come one after the other to you.

However you should beware of answering with that which you do not have knowledge of. Don’t be deceived by the people turning towards you and beginning to ask you (questions), then you reply with that which you do not have knowledge of!

This is a serious issue because Allaah, the Most High, said:

Say (O Muhammad): My Lord has made forbidden al fawaahish (filthy deeds), whether done openly or secretly, sins, transgression without due right, and that you ascribe partners to Allaah for which He has sent down no authority and that you say about Allaah that which you have no knowledge of.

Soorah al A’raaf (7) aayah 33

Do not say about Allaah that which you do not have knowledge of. If you are asked about a matter and you do not know about it, then say to him, “Wait, I will ask about it and I will (then) tell you,” or “I will look it up in the books and (then) I will tell you.”

And do not say that about which you have no knowledge. Indeed the hearing, the sight and the heart – each of these will be questioned by Allaah.

Soorah al Israa- (17) aayah 36

Quoted in Wasaayaa wa tawjeehaat li tullaab il ‘ilm pages 260, translated by Nasser ibn Najam

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Aug 2012 · Aug

The student of knowledge acts on his knowledge

With regards to the student of knowledge having the least excuse for not acting upon his knowledge, Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah comments :

So what is the fruit of knowledge?

The fruit of knowledge is: acting upon it and calling to it.

Therefore the obligation to act upon knowledge for the student of knowledge is greater than what is obligatory on other than him – because the ignorant person is not an imaam (leader). So he is not taken as a role model, not in his action nor in his statements.

However the student of knowledge is taken as a role model. Therefore, upon the student of knowledge is to act on his knowledge because the student of knowledge carries his weapon – either it will be against him or it will be for him, just as the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said:

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

And there is no third category here, such that the Qur-aan would be neither for you nor against you. It is either for you or against you, so when will it be for you?

The answer: It will be for you if you act upon it, and if you are a righteous role model in directing the creation towards goodness.

And it will be against you if you neglect it and turn away from it and relinquish it.

Therefore it is obligatory upon us to act upon knowledge and that we be righteous role models and that we be imaams for our Islamic nations in whichever place (we are in) – because if a person acts upon what he knows, he becomes an imaam; Allaah, the Most High, will bequeath to him knowledge which he did not know of before.

Pay attention to this point: if you act upon what you know you will become an imaam and the people will copy you and you will become a role model, then Allaah, the Most High, will increase you in knowledge and he will bequeath to you knowledge of a matter which you did not know beforehand.

And read the statement of Allaah, the Most High:

And as for those who accept guidance, then He increases them in guidance…[2]

Meaning: in knowledge.

…and He bestows upon them their taqwaa (fear and dutifulness to Him).[3]

Meaning: action.

Upon you is action on knowledge.

If you know that Allaah has made obligatory such-and-such upon you, then hasten to (do) it. You know that Allaah has made such-and-such forbidden for you, then distance yourself from it.

And if not, then you have missed out on the fruit of knowledge, you have completely missed out on it.

Therefore the fruit of knowledge and the intent behind it is acting (upon it).

Quoted in Wasaayaa wa tawjeehaat li tullaab il ‘ilm pages 258 to 260, translated by Nasser ibn Najam

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

[2] Soorah Muhammad (47) aayah 17

[3] Soorah Muhammad (47) aayah 17

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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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Aug 2012 · Aug

The student of knowledge acts towards his teacher in a manner that honours him

With regards to the student of knowledge honouring his teacher and the consequences of not doing so, the Noble Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al Uthaymeen rahimahullaah stated:

And I advise you likewise to honour your teachers because the teacher – if he is a teacher in the true sense, one who sincerely advises – has two virtues over the students:

·       The first virtue – that of teaching (them)

·       The second virtue – that of giving guidance and of correctly nurturing

So the one who is a teacher in reality disseminates knowledge amongst the students and loves that his guidance and his direction be disseminated. So if he establishes this then he becomes one who is deserving of being honoured and respected.

And know that if you honour the teacher in the way that is befitting then you will take benefit from this teacher.

As for if he perceives that you attach little importance to him, then you will lose out on him and lose out on his guidance to you.

Quoted in Wasaayaa wa tawjeehaat li tullaab il ‘ilm pages 145 to 146,translated by Nasser ibn Najam

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Aug 2012 · Aug

The student of knowledge is from the people who spread salaam the most

With regards to the student of knowledge not holding back from giving salaam, Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah comments:

Therefore I enjoin on you the spreading the salaam amongst yourselves such that you attain friendship and love and brotherhood and cheerfulness upon the face and happiness in the heart – along with abundant reward with Allaah, the Majestic and Most High.

As for nowadays, the people meet each other in the environment of the university, then, with great regret, you will not find giving salaam to each other.

And it may be that some of them say: the people are many in number – if I were to initiate the salaam with everyone I meet – and I were to meet, for example, one hundred men when walking around – then do I give salaam one hundred times?

We say: fear Allaah and obey Him as much as you are able to – just as we say, for example, commanding the good and forbidding the evil is something obligatory. However, if we were to walk in the marketplace we would find this person has his garment hanging too low (below his ankles), and this one is smoking and this one trims his beard, and the like of that, is it obligatory that we stop at each one and we advise him?

This (would be) difficult and would contain hardship; however we fear Allaah and obey Him as much as we are able to.

And I say: the spreading of salaam occurs (only) a little amongst the students at the University (and) other than the students at the University – such that nowadays, only a few of the students at the masaajid will spread the salaam. And all of this is either (a result) of ignorance or of being negligent.

So upon us, O brothers, is that we mould ourselves to have the manners of Islaam, seeking the reward of Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, (seeking) the rectification of our community.

(Quoted in Wasaayaa wa tawjeehaat li tullaab il ‘ilm pages 184 to 185, translated by Nasser ibn Najam)

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Jul 2012 · Jul

The student of knowledge does not act deceptively and if he does, despite being advised, he is informed on

With regards to the student of knowledge not behaving deceptively, and what to do if he persists upon this despite being advised, the Noble Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al Uthaymeen rahimahullaah stated:

And I advise you also to stay away from behaving deceptively in the duroos (lessons), especially at the times of examinations. For indeed, behaving deceptively is from the characteristics of the hypocrites, and Allaah forbade it in His statement:

O you who believe, do not betray Allaahand the Messenger and do not knowingly betray your trusts. And know that your possessions and your children are but a trial and that with Allaah there surely is a tremendous reward.

Soorah al Anfaal (8)aayaat 27 to 28

So if you know of someone that they carry out this repulsive action, then it is upon you to advise him. So if he desists from it, then this is what is desired. If not then you tell on him. And this is from sincerity and sincere advice to him before every single thing – with the proof that the Messenger sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said:

Help your brother, be he the oppressor or the oppressed. They said: O Messenger of Allaah,this is (regarding) the oppressed one, but how do we help the oppressor? He said: You prevent him from the oppression, so that is your help for him.

Reported by al Bukhaaree (2443, 2444, 6952) from the hadeeth of Anas

Quoted in Wasaayaa wa tawjeehaat li tullaab il ‘ilm pages 144 to 145, translated by Nasser ibn Najam

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Jun 2012 · Jun

The people take more benefit from the actions and manners of the student than from his speech

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al Uthaymeen stated:

I encourage you likewise such that the effect of knowledge is manifested upon you and you know that the outward bearing of the student of knowledge is: dignity and acting in a patient, unhurried manner and fine manners with his companions and with other than them.

So you find the student of knowledge who has taken benefit from his knowledge will be teaching the people by means of his haal (condition) that which they benefit from, (and it is) greater than the benefit they take from his speech – meaning that (the benefit that take from) their imitating his actions and his manners is more than that which they take from his statements.

This is because the actions and the manners of the student of knowledge are a true representation of the student of knowledge.

As for (his) merely acquiring the branches of knowledge but they are not manifested upon him and it is not known “is he a student of knowledge or (just) a man in the street”? Then this (person) has nottaken any benefit from his knowledge.

(Quoted in Wasaayaa wa tawjeehaat li tullaab il ‘ilm pp142 to 143, translated by Nasser ibn Najam)

 

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Jun 2012 · Jun

A person must be gentle without being weak

With regards to the student of knowledge being gentle in speech, the Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah comments:

This is from the most important of the manners of the student of knowledge, regardless of whether he is a taalib[1]– or a matloob[2], meaning a teacher – then (they should have) gentleness,  just as the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said:

“Indeed Allaah is Rafeeq (gentle), He loves gentleness in all the affairs.”

“Gentleness is not present in a matter except that it beautifies it and it is not taken out from a matter except that it disfigures it.”

However a person must be gentle without being weak. As for being gentle whilst being treated in a humiliating manner and not having his statement accepted and not being taken notice of, then this goes against al hazm (being determined and resolute).

But he should be gentle in the situations (necessitating) gentleness and stern in the situations (necessitating) sternness.

And there is no one more merciful than Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic; but along with that, He says with regards to the male and female fornicator:

Flog each one of them with a hundred lashes. And do not let pity hold you back in their case in (a punishment prescribed) in the Religion of Allaah.

Soorah an Noor (24) aayah 2

So for every situation there is (a correct) saying.

(Sharh hilyah taalib il ‘ilm p50 of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah, translator Nasser ibn Najam)

 

[1] One who seeks knowledge

[2] One from whom knowledge is sought

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Jun 2012 · Jun

Not acting on knowledge causes harm to the student and is a proof against him

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al Uthaymeen stated:

Therefore it is a must for the student of knowledge to act upon (his) knowledge. So if he does not act, then knowledge becomes a harm upon him and a proof against him. And therefore the Prophet ‘alaihis salaatu wassalaam said:

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

And know that if you act upon knowledge, you will be earning worship and an increase in your knowledge because Allaah says:

And as for those who accept guidance, He (Allaah) increases them in guidance and bestows upon their taqwaa.

SoorahMuhammad (47) aayah 17

So (as for) knowledge, then Allaah certainly increases people by it and He lowers others. So whoever seeks knowledge forAllaah, obeying His command and wishing to sincerely advise His servants –Allaah will raise him.

Allaah, the Most High, said:

Allaah raises in degree those of you who believe and those who have been granted knowledge.

Soorahal Mujaadilah (58) aayah 11

Therefore I urge you, my brothers, upon acting upon knowledge such that it becomes light for you and a means of increase by which you may be guided.

(Quoted in Wasaayaa wa tawjeehaat li tullaab il ‘ilm p142, translated by Nasser ibn Najam)

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May 2012 · May

The student of knowledge contemplates and is not hasty

With regards to the student of knowledge being thoughtful and not one who is hasty in speech and action, the Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah comments:

What is important is ta-ammul (being someone who contemplates) – meaning being patient and biding one’s time, and that you do not speak until you know what you are saying and what the result (of it) will be.

And therefore they say, “Do not place your foot down except (somewhere) that you know of safety (for it).”

Meaning a person walks and he does not put his foot upon anything about which he does not know whether it is a hole or a thorn or a pebble or ice – until he know where (for certain) he is putting his foot.

So this type of ta-ammul is of great importance. And do not be hasty unless there is a necessity which calls you to that…

Therefore, the issue lies between (two aspects) – do I bide my time and remain patient – or do I act with haste and lead the way?

Which of the two is to be given precedence?

The first is – because a word and an action cannot be taken back once they have come out from you. However, as long as you have not spoken or done an action, then you are still free.

So reflect on what you are saying and what will be the benefit  – the benefit of (your) speech?

And, therefore, the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said:

Whoever believes in Allaah and in the Last Day, then let him speak good or remain silent. [1]

(Sharh hilyah taalib il ‘ilm p51 to 52 of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah. Translator Nasser ibn Najam)

[1] Reported by al Bukhaaree (5672), Muslim and others

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