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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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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May 2012 · May

The importance of learning the manhaj

With regards to the importance of learning the manhaj, Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah comments:

And our encouraging the students upon (following) the manhaj of the salaf necessitates our urging them to have knowledge and awareness of the manhaj of the salaf – is this not so?

So let us look at the books which have been written about this, such as siyyar a’laam an nubalaa and others besides it, such that we become aware of their path; and we proceed upon this upright path.

As for if we were to say, “We follow the salaf!” and yet we do not know what they used to do, then this is a deficiency (in us) without doubt.

(Sharh hilyah taalib il ‘ilm p22, translated by Nasser ibn Najam)

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May 2012 · May

The student of knowledge trains himself upon fine manners

With regards to the student of knowledge working hard to acquire al muroo-ah (fine and honourable manners), Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah comments:

So if a person were to try to gain those (correct manners), and his inherent nature were not (naturally) like that, then he would encounter difficulty.

However with practice, he can improve his condition.

And this is something shown by experience. For we have heard of a person who was far removed from al ‘ilm (knowledge) and from seeking knowledge, having evil manners.

Then when Allaah bestowed upon him the blessing of knowledge and guidance, his manners became good because he trained himself upon these manners until they became just as if they were from his inherent nature and his natural disposition.

(Sharh hilyah taalib il ‘ilm p40 of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah, translated by Nasser ibn Najam)

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Apr 2012 · Apr

TEST YOURSELF – awliyaa

QUESTION: What is the response to the person who claims that he calls upon the awliyaa (beloved servants of Allaah) only as intermediaries between him and Allaah, and that he acknowledges that it is Allaah alone who is the Creator and the Sustainer?

ANSWER: Then this misguided person is just like the mushriks of old who also acknowledged tawheed ur ruboobeeyah, but made shirk in their worship by calling upon other than Allaah – claiming that their objects of worship were merely intermediaries between them and Allaah.

«Is it not that the religion of pure tawheed is for Allaah (alone)?

And those who take awliyaa other than Allaah (claim): We worship them only so that they might bring us closer to Allaah!»

Soorah az Zumar (39) aayah 3

And Allaah passes the verdict of kufr upon these people in the same aayah.

«Indeed, Allaah does not guide the liar, the disbeliever.»

Soorah az Zumar (39) aayah 3

(Taken from the Kashfush Shubuhaat Questions and Answers available on this website. This question was prepared using Shaykh Saalih al Fawzaan’s explanation.)

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Apr 2012 · Apr

The student of knowledge is known for his fine and honourable behaviour

With regards to the student of knowledge adorning himself with muroo-ah (honourable and fine behaviour), Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah comments:
And what is muroo-ah?
The scholars of fiqh – may Allaah have mercy upon them – have established what it is in the Book of shahaadaat (bearing witness).
They said:  it is doing that which beautifies him and adorns him and avoiding of that which would dishonour him and disgrace him.
And this is an expression which is general (in its nature) – everything which will beautify you in the eyes of the people, and adorn you and which will be a cause for your being praised, then this is muroo-ah, even if it is not from the acts of worship.
And everything which is opposite (to this), then it is something that opposes muroo-ah.
Then (the author) strikes an example for this, by saying that (from muroo-ah) is having noble manners. So what are noble manners? They are that the person is always forbearing, that he is forbearing when it is the occasion for forbearance; and that he acts with firm resolve when it is the occasion for firm resolve.
And therefore the Islaamic Religion has come being justly balanced between forbearance – by which rights may be lost – and acting with firm resolve, which may sometimes lead to oppression.
(Sharh hilyah taalib il ‘ilm p36 of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah, translated by Nasser ibn Najam)

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Apr 2012 · Apr

Knowledge slips away from the person who does not strive in studying

The noble scholar Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah said, addressing students at the Imam Muhammad ibn Sa’ood Islamic University at al Qaseem on 25th Jumaada al Oolaa, 1417AH:

At this moment you are in this place at (your) differing levels – from them the high (levels) and from them lesser than that.

However regardless of where the person reaches in knowledge, then he is (still) in need of knowledge – as per the statement of Allaah, the Blessed and Most High:

But over all those endowed with knowledge is the All Knowing One (Allaah).

Soorah Yoosuf (12) aayah 76

Therefore I urge you to have a general eagerness in pursuing (your) studies; and that you know with certain knowledge that the person who does not strive with all his efforts in attaining knowledge, then knowledge in its entirety will slip away from him.

And therefore it is said: indeed knowledge is the most miserly thing there is! For if you give it your all, you will attain (only) some of it; and if you give it only some (of your all), then it will elude you entirely.

And therefore I urge you, O young people, to have a complete eagerness for knowledge.

(Quoted in Wasaayaa wa tawjeehaat li tullaab il ‘ilm pp 139 to 140, translated by Nasser ibn Najam)

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Mar 2012 · Mar

The student of knowledge does not have al hasad; rather he loves that knowledge be spread by himself and by other than himself

The noble scholar Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al Uthaymeen rahimahullaah commented:

And if you were asked about (the meaning) of al hasad (envy), then the answer would be:

That from the scholars are those who said:

Al hasad is to wish for Allaah’s blessing upon someone to come to an end.

This is how most of the scholars have explained it.

And Shaykh ul Islaam ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullaah said:

Al hasad is that he hates that which Allaah has blessed someone else with, even if (the one with hasad) does not wish that (blessing) to come to an end.

So if a person hates that which Allaah has blessed someone else with, by way of knowledge or status or wealth or offspring or family, then this is al hasad, this is al hasad  – that you hate that which Allaah has blessed someone other than you with.

If you wish that you should have this blessing – meaning that you have the like of that which Allaah has blessed someone other than you with, then listen carefully to the reply:

Allaah,the Most High, said:

And do not wish for that with which Allaah has blessed some of you over others. For the men is the reward of that which they have earned, and (likewise) for women is the reward for that which they have earned. And ask Allaah of His Bounty.

Soorah an Nisaa (4) aayah 32

This is the solution. That with which Allaah has blessed some of us with over others, then we should not wish that we have it to the exclusion of people other than us – nor should we hate that which Allaah has blessed (that other person) with.

But rather ask Allaah of His Bounty – the One who gave to someone other than you has Full Ability to give the like of that to you (as well).

So if you see that Allaah has given knowledge to a person then do not hate that, especially if that is knowledge of the Sharee’ah  – because if Allaah has bestowed the blessing of Sharee’ah knowledge upon a servant and he fulfils that which is obligatory upon him by way of spreading the knowledge and calling people to goodness, then this is from Allaah’s blessing upon you yourself.

This is because you (also) love that the Sharee’ah of Allaah should be propagated amongst the servants of Allaah – is this not the case?

So if it is propagated by you or by other than you, then this is (all) good –so why should you hate it?

But if Allaah has favoured him over you with knowledge and calling to goodness,then ask Allaah from His Bounty.

(Quoted in Wasaayaawa tawjeehaat li tullaab il ilm p48 – 49 of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah, translated by Nasser ibn Najam)

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Mar 2012 · Mar

The student of knowledge is known for being cheerful and plentiful in smiling

The noble scholar, Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah stated:

And it is befitting for the student of knowledge that he be a person of beautiful manners and temperament, constantly (a person) of happiness, constantly (a person) of relaxedness – because (this) was from the characteristics of the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam which Allaah created to be in his natural disposition and with which He blessed him.

And He said about him:

And indeed you (Muhammad) are of exalted manners, the manners of the Qur-aan.[1]

Soorah al Qalam (68) aayah 4

From his characteristics was that he was constantly (a person) of joy, plentiful in smiling – may Allaah’s salaat and salaam be upon him.

And there is no doubt that if a person is always joyful and plentiful in smiling then the person who meets him will feel happiness from (meeting) him.

But if you were to meet a man, frowning and gloomy, would you be happy due to meeting him? No. Therefore my brother, be always happy, plentiful in smiling, with a bright and cheerful face.

And therefore from the characteristics of Eemaan is that you meet your brother with a cheerful face. And know with the knowledge of certainty that if you possess this characteristic, you will be a person who is calm and relaxed, (both when) standing or sitting, in your house and in the market. And be constantly happy with your brothers, with a cheerful face and plentiful in smiling.

(Quoted in Wasaayaa wa tawjeehaat li tullaab il ilm p49 of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah, translated by Nasser ibn Najam)

[1] Refer to Tafseer at Tabaree

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