Category Archives: The Etiquette of Seeking Knowledge

Feb 2012 · Feb

The student of knowledge has contentment with a simple life

Shaykh Muhammad al Ameen ash Shanqeeti rahimahullaah said:

“Indeed I came from my land – Mauritania – and I have with me a treasure which is hardly found at all with anyone. And it is qanaa’ah (contentment).

And had I wanted high rank, I would have known the path to achieve it. But I do not give preference to this worldly life over the Hereafter. And I do not sacrifice knowledge in order to attain worldly goals.”

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah comments on this statement:

The statement from Shaykh ash Shanqeeti, and the like of him from the people of knowledge, was not intended by them to be a declaration of commendation for themselves.

They only intended by this (statement) to benefit the creation, such that the people would imitate them and that they would be upon this path (of theirs) – because we know this from their condition – meaning the condition of the scholars – and because they did not intend to commend themselves. And they were the people furthest from that.

And he (Shaykh ash Shanqeeti) rahimahullaah, as was mentioned by Shaykh Bakr, was from the people of zuhd. If you were to see him then you would not say anything other than he was from the people of the desert, such that you would find upon him an ordinary cloak, which did not accord with fashion; and likewise the clothes (of his).

And you would not find him giving great attention to his own smartness and that of his clothes – may Allaah have mercy upon him.

(Sharh hilyah taalib il ‘ilm p32 of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen, translated by Nasser ibn Najam)

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Feb 2012 · Feb

The student of knowledge has contentment

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah said:

Adorning oneself with qanaa’ah (contentment) is from the most important of the characteristics of the student of knowledge – meaning that he contents himself with that which Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, has given to him.

And that he does not seek to be from the ranks of the rich and those who live luxuriously – (this is) because you will find some of the students of knowledge, and other than them, wishing to be from the ranks of the rich and those who live in luxury.

So (this person) burdens himself with spending on food and drink and clothing and furniture and then he carries the burden through (taking on) debts. And this is an error.

Rather upon you is qanaa’ah (contentment), for indeed it increases the Muslim (in good).

(Sharh hilyah taalib il ‘ilm p30 -31 of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah, translated by Nasser ibn Najam, checked by Abu Talhah Dawood)

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Feb 2012 · Feb

Shyness can prevent a person from learning his religion

In his khutbah (Friday sermon) two weeks ago, Shaykh Saalih al Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him) said:

“… and as for the shyness that prevents a person from acquiring knowledge and from asking about that from the affairs of his religion which is unclear to him, this is timidity and not shyness and it is cowardice and it is blameworthy shyness, not the shyness [encouraged] in the religion.”

(Translator Nasser ibn Najam. Arabic taken from http://www.alfawzan.af.org.sa/node/13687. The Shaykh’s weekly khutbahs are uploaded as audios on this website within hours with Arabic transcription.)

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Jan 2012 · Jan

The student has fine manners

Shyakh al Uthaymeen rahimahullah said:

Adorn yourself with fine personal behaviour, such as abstinence and forbearance and patience and humbly submitting to the Truth – because the station (of being a student of knowledge) necessitates this, that the student of knowledge has abstinence from that which is in the hands of the people and abstinence from that which is linked to looking at forbidden things.

And forbearance, such that he does not hasten towards punishing if someone treats him badly.

And patience upon the harms which occur by way of that which he hears, whether it be from the common folk or from his peers or from his teacher – so let him be patient and anticipate the reward (from Allaah).

And humbly submitting to the Truth, and likewise showing humility to the creation; he humbly submits to the Truth, meaning that when the Truth is made clear to him, he yields to it and he does not seek anything else to take its place.

And likewise towards the creation; so how many a student has opened doors to his teacher which had not occurred to him; and do not belittle anything…

And it is befitting for the student of knowledge that he stay far away from acting frivolously whether that be in the way he walks or in his dealings with the people  – that he is not plentiful in laughing uproariously which (is something) which kills the heart, and removes dignity. Rather he lowers his wing, being one who has the refined manners which are befitting for a student of knowledge.

(from Sharh hilyah taalib il ‘ilm p26 – 27 of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah, translator Nasser ibn Najam, checked by Abu Talhah Dawood)

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Jan 2012 · Jan

Argumentation and opposing the Truth when it comes to you

Shaykh al Uthaymeen rahimahullaah said:

And likewise (from the most important of matters) also is abandonment of argumentation and disputing because argumentation and disputing are a door to blocking the correct path.

For argumentation and disputing  incite a person to speak and try to support himself only; even if the Truth is made clear to him, you will find him either rejecting it or else twisting it in a detestable manner, seeking to support himself and trying to force his opponent to take his statement.

So if you see argumentation and disputing from your brother, in that the Truth (in that matter) is something clear but he does not follow it, then flee from him as you would flee from a lion. And say, “I don’t have anything except this (information which I have told you)” and leave him…

So from those matters of importance for the student of knowledge is that he leave off argumentation and disputing and that he leave off those ideas which come to his mind; leave these matters and do not be obstinate. Make your knowledge be something simple and easy – meaning (like) the Arab who came, he came upon his camel and asked the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam about matters of the Religion, then he (the Arab) departed without arguing because he had nothing with him except tasleem (submission).

As for arguing and disputing and quarreling then this is something that harms the person.

(Sharh hilyah taalib il ‘ilm p19 to 20 of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah. Translated by Nasser ibn Najam)

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Jan 2012 · Jan

Why learn?

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al Uthaymeen, rahimahullaah, said:

“The foundation of knowledge is khashyah (fear and awe) of Allaah, the Most High”. And this statement of Imaam Ahmad is correct: the foundation of knowledge is khashyah of Allaah.

And khashyah of Allaah is fear of Allaah which is built upon knowledge and glorification (of Him). And for this reason, Allaah the Most High, said:

It is only the people of knowledge from amongst His servants who have khashyah of Allaah. [Soorah Faatir (35) aayah 28]

So if a person has true knowledge of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, and if he has true awareness and knowledge of Him, then khashyah of Allaah will inevitably be established in his heart. (This is) because if he has knowledge of that, having knowledge of a Lord who is ‘Adheem (Tremendous), of a Lord who is Qawee (Perfect in strength), of a Lord who is Qaahir (Invincible Subduer), of a Lord who is All Knowing of that which the person keeps secret and hidden, then you will find him (that person) establishing obedience to Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic in a complete manner.

It is only the people of knowledge from amongst His servants who have khashyah of Allaah. The scholars have said: The distinction between khashyah (fear and awe) and khawf (fear) is that khashyah occurs due to tremendous greatness of the one being feared – and khawf occurs due to the weakness of the one who has the fear, even if the one being feared (with khawf) is not tremendous and great… So in summary, khashyah is more tremendous than khawf – but sometimes it is said, ‘have khawf of Allaah’. He, the Most High, said:

So do not have khawf of them, but rather have khawf of Me if you truly believe. [Soorah aale ‘Imraan (3) aayah 175]

And this is (being said) in direct opposition to the action of those who have khawf of the people.

(Sharh hilyah taalib il ‘ilm p23 of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah, translator Nasser ibn Najam, checked by Abu Talhah Dawood Burbank)

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Jan 2012 · Jan

How do you purify your intention when seeking knowledge?

So if someone says to you: How does ikhlaas in seeking knowledge come about? It comes about through a (number) of matters:

1 – It is that in doing that (seeking of knowledge), you have as your intention that you are complying with Allaah’s command because Allaah, the Most High, commanded with that (seeking of knowledge). So He said: “Have knowledge that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah. And seek forgiveness for your sin.” (Soorah Muhammad (47) aayah 19) And he – sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam –  encouraged [us] upon knowledge; and encouraging upon a matter necessitates loving it and being pleased with it and commanding with it.

2 – It is that in doing that, you intend to preserve the Sharee’ah (Islamic legislation) of Allaah, because preserving the Sharee’ah of Allaah occurs through learning, and it comes about through preserving [it] in the chests [of people], and it comes about through writing down, writing down the books.

3 – It is that in doing that, you intend to protect the Sharee’ah and defend it, because were it not for the people of knowledge, then the Sharee’ah would not have been protected and no one would have defended it. And therefore you find, for example, Shaykh ul Islaam ibn Taymiyyah and other than him from the people of knowledge who resisted and blocked the people of innovation and clarified the false and futile nature of their innovations, we see that they (these people of knowledge) attained a great deal of good.

4 – It is that in doing that, your intention is to be following the Sharee’ah of Muhammad – sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam – because you are not able to follow his Sharee’ah until you have knowledge of this Sharee’ah.

(From The Explanation of the Etiquette of Seeking Knowledge of Shaykh al Uthaymeen, p14, translator Nasser ibn Najam)

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Jan 2012 · Jan

Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal on the intention behind learning

And Imaam Ahmad said: Al ‘ilm (knowledge) – nothing is equal to it, for the person who makes his niyyah  correct.

They said: How is the niyyah made correct, O Aboo ‘Abdillaah?

He said: (The person) has as his intention removing ignorance from himself and from other than himself.

(Sharh hilyah taalib il ‘ilm p13 of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah, translated by Nasser ibn Najam)

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Jan 2012 · Jan

Intention

“Indeed actions are only in accordance with their intentions.”

[needs Shaykh al Uthaymeen’s explanation at the beginning of Riyaadus Saaliheen]

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