The Virtues of Seeking Knowledge
From the Qur’aan
- In the Noble Qur’aan, Allaah سبحانه وتعالى says: {…Allaah will exalt in degree those of you who believe, and those who have been granted knowledge...} [Al-Mujaadilah 58:11] Allaah سبحانه وتعالى clarifies in this verse that He will raise the believers in levels, those granted knowledge will be raised many levels, and high levels.
- Another verse is the saying of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى : {…Say: "Are those who know equal to those who know not?" It is only men of understanding who will remember (i.e. get a lesson from Allaah's Signs and Verses). } [Az-Zumar 39:9] This is a rhetorical question, there was no response as the aim of this question is affirmation. This issue is one that no one differs in; no one disagrees that ‘those who know are not equal to those who do not know.’
- Another saying of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى is: {…It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allaah…} [Faatir 35:28] What is khashyah ( خشية ) which is mentioned in the verse? Khashyah is the fear of someone you know. So if fear comes together with knowing the one you fear, then this is called khashyah. The `Ulamaa’ are those who best know Allaah سبحانه وتعالى and His Capability and this is why Allaah سبحانه وتعالى described them as having khashyah of Him سبحانه وتعالى.
From the Sunnah
- The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم also said, "Whoever Allaah سبحانه وتعالى wants good for, He gives him fiqh (understanding) of the Deen.” [Bukhaaree]. Also from the understanding of this hadeeth is that ‘those whom Allaah سبحانه وتعالى does not wish good for, then He does not give them understanding in the religion’ . So everyone should be keen to seek knowledge and to gain an understanding of the religion in order to be from those whom Allaah سبحانه وتعالى wishes good for.
- The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم also said, “Whoever traverses a path in order to gain knowledge, then Allaah سبحانه وتعالى will make the path to Jannah easy for him." [at-Tirmidhee]. So if you go to a masjid for a lecture or a class, then it is as though you are going towards Jannah i.e. you are going on a path towards Jannah, this is a great virtue of Knowledge.
- At-Tabaraani narrated a hadeeth from Abu Umaamah that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Whoever comes to a masjid and he did not come to the masjid except with the intention that he would learn something good or teach something good, he will be given the reward of someone who performed hajj.”
- In another hadeeth, the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “The student of knowledge (or the seeker of knowledge), everything will ask forgiveness for him even the fish in the ocean.” [4].
- The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم also said, “There is not a people who gather in a house from the houses of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى (a masjid) to recite the Book of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى or study it except that calmness will descend upon them and mercy would cover them and they would be surrounded by the angels and Allaah سبحانه وتعالى will mention them with good to those near to Him.” [Muslim]. The Shaykh حفظه الله mentioned that the scholars Shaykh Ibn Baaz and Shaykh al-Albaanee رحمهم الله held the opinion that this does not only refer to a masjid, but any place – whether in a classroom or at home, i.e. whoever gathers together in order to study or recite the Book of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى, they will gain this reward.
- Another hadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم is: “Allaah سبحانه وتعالى would say at the end of the gathering of those who gathered to gain knowledge, ‘Get up! You have been forgiven.’ The angels would say ‘O Allaah سبحانه وتعالى there was a servant of yours who only came to that gathering because of a need – he only wanted a person in that gathering.’ Allaah سبحانه وتعالى would respond ‘I have forgiven him as well.’” [Bukhaaree].
Adapted from a lecture by Shaykh Ali at-Tuwayjari حفظه الله
Advice for the Student of Knowledge
Have Patience whilst Seeking Knowledge
The first advice is to have patience while seeking knowledge because seeking knowledge is an act of worship. It is very important to have patience, because patience is from righteous actions. I incite you and I encourage you to be patient while seeking knowledge and don't stay away from these gatherings and don't be lackadaisical regarding these blessed gatherings of knowledge.
Purify Your Intention
We seek to gain the pleasure of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى by all our deeds. These deeds must be done solely for Allaah سبحانه وتعالى because He does not accept deeds except those done and performed only for His Sake. So, purify your intention by sincerely seeking the Pleasure of Allaah, and constantly ask Him سبحانه وتعالى to grant you Tawfeeq (success), and to keep you from falling into showing off or shirk because indeed Shaytaan is an open enemy to mankind and he is diligent and eager to corrupt the deeds of the servant and render the actions useless. But, if the Believer seeks refuge with Allaah سبحانه وتعالى and struggles against the whispers of Shaytaan, He سبحانه وتعالى will make a way out for him from every difficulty, and He will grant him success in making his eebaadah (acts of worship) sincere – not just in seeking knowledge, but in all his acts of worship.
Be aware of the Obstacles
Knowledge is very noble and the People of Knowledge and their students are the best of people in the Muslim community. Whenever one of you wants to attain great heights in seeking knowledge, the things that may take you away from knowledge will also become greater. This is because nothing becomes precious and expensive except that the things which will take you away from attaining it – the obstacles and the hardships, they become greater in number as well; so pay attention to this.
Follow the Path of the Rightly Guided Predecessors
From the most obligatory things upon the Student of Knowledge, whether male or female, is to follow the path of the rightly guided predecessors and beware of innovations and newly invented matters in this Deen. Likewise, be aware of the people of innovation and the people of desires. Do not take knowledge from them. Do not sit with them. Do not listen to them. You should know that the first problem and difficulty that will face you along this long path of seeking knowledge is encountering the people of desires, opinions, and fitan (trials). Therefore, be extremely aware of them and their evil.
Avoid Hasad (Envy)
Beware of hasad (envy) i.e. having envy of his brothers and sisters. For example; if you see one of your brothers or sisters to whom Allaah has given a great memory so he memorizes a lot, or understands the issues easily, you should praise Allaah سبحانه وتعالى and ask Him for His bounty, and for Him to make you like that individual. Do not envy them and do not be jealous because of that which Allaah سبحانه وتعالى has given them.
Do not be Arrogant
Beware of being arrogant to your brothers and sisters because of that which Allaah has given you. Do not be from those people who think that they are better than others, and do not be proud and look up at yourself. Rather, be modest regarding that which Allaah has given you, and be modest around your brothers and sisters.
Do not be Hasty
Do not be from those who are hasty. Rather, seek knowledge little by little, step by step. The Student of Knowledge has to start with that which is easy, then proceed to the second level and don't be hasty. Rather, what you have to be mindful of is that you understand what you read and what you are studying. Your main concern should not be that you finish the book in the shortest time.
Do not be Lackadaisical or Lazy
Beware of being lackadaisical or lazy. Don't leave off acting upon that which you know, or acting upon that which Allaah سبحانه وتعالى has taught you.
Have Respect for the Scholars
From the major mistakes that many people fall into while seeking knowledge is that they show no respect for the People of Knowledge, the scholars of this Deen. Perhaps they may differ with the People of Knowledge on an issue and they take that which they think is right; this is very dangerous. Undoubtedly, this is a fatal disease which we should all be aware of. Rather, while seeking knowledge we have to show respect and have good manners with the People of Knowledge.
Have Good Manners and Etiquette
Learning etiquette and having an understanding of good manners while seeking knowledge was from the ways of the Salaf and they were diligent in this. It is from good manners to be moderate. We should not be from those people who do not pay attention to these things, nor show respect to the People of Knowledge. Neither should we be from those who mix between having good etiquette and being diligent but not asking the People of Knowledge and the likes of this. It is very important upon the Student of Knowledge to seek knowledge while displaying and learning the etiquette of seeking knowledge and dealing with the People of Knowledge.
Prepare, Review and Try to Memorize the Texts to be Studied
With respect to the Mutoon (texts) which you are about to study with the Mashaayikh, (Noble Scholars) then you must read them, prepare them, and check them before the classes. Read them once or twice and try to understand them. First try to have a general idea of the text, then while the Shaykh is giving the explanation pay attention to what he says. Then after the class, review your notes; review what the Shaykh said. Following that, you may take a notebook and write down the things which you still have a problem understanding in order to ask the Shaykh these things at the next class.
Likewise, from the things that are going to help you attain great benefit from these classes is reviewing the class with your brothers so that you can check with them what you may have missed.
Also, what will help you benefit greatly from these classes is trying to memorize the text of the books if possible.
Organize Your Time
Additionally, organize your days i.e. organize your time in a day. Allocate time for the Qur'aan - memorizing, reciting, and contemplating it; time for the hadeeth of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم – memorizing, reviewing and trying to understanding them; and time for reviewing the texts and classes that you have with the noble scholars.
Supplicate to Allaah
Also make du’aa and supplicate to Allaah سبحانه وتعالى to grant you beneficial knowledge, as Allaah سبحانه وتعالى gave this command to the Prophet Muhammad الله عليه وسلم صلى (who is the best of all creation) when He said:
وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا
{..and say: “O my Lord increase me in knowledge." } [TaaHaa 20:114]
So ask Allaah to grant you beneficial knowledge and righteous actions.
Adapted from a lecture by Shaykh Fahad al-Fuhayd حفظه الله
Recommended Articles on the Topic of Seeking Knowledge