Who Should A Student Of Knowledge Befriend

Ibn Jamaa’ah said:

“The student of knowledge should not mix except with either those he can benefit, or can benefit from. And if he is offered the friendship of one who will waste his time with him, will not benefit him, will not benefit from him, and will not assist him in reaching his objective, he should politely end the relationship from the start before it progresses to something deeper, as when something becomes established, it becomes more difficult to change it. There is a phrase that is constantly on the tongues of the Fuqahaa’, “Repelling something is easier than removing it.

So, if he requires someone to befriend, let that person be righteous, religious, pious, wary, intelligent, full of benefit, having little evil, good at complying, rarely conflicting, reminding him if he forgets, cooperating with him when he is reminded, helpful if he is in need, and comforting if he is in distress.”

[Tadhkirat As-Saami’ Wal-Mutakallim, p. 83]

The Du’aat Are Not A Substitute For The Scholars, By Sh. Saalih Al-Fawzaan

Shaykh Saalih Al-Fawzaan said:

“The presence of ‘intellectuals’ and ‘passionate speakers’ are not a substitute for the scholars in the Ummah. Such people are only well-read individuals. They are not scholars with understanding. Therefore applying the term ‘scholars’ to them is applying a term in other than its proper place. Consideration is given to the facts and not to ascriptions. So many times you wil find people that have good speech and incite the masses, yet they do not possess (true) understanding (of the religion).

The thing that exposes these people is when an incident occurs due to which the people need to know the religious ruling for that matter, since (at this time) the speakers and zealots reveal the limitations of their understanding. It is at this point that the role of the scholars comes in.

So let us take note of this and give our scholars their right, acknowledge their status and virtue, and give everyone of them the position they deserve.”

[Wujoob At-Tathabbut Fil-Akhbaar Wa Ihtiraam Al-‘Ulamaa’, p.50]

The Importance Of Having More Than One Shaykh

Ayyoob said: “If one wants to know the mistake of his teacher he ought to frequent other teachers as well.” [Daarimee, 1/153]

Ibn Al-Mubaarak said: “To reach an authentic statement, one needs to compare the words of scholars which each other.” [Al-Khateeb Al-Baghdaadee, Jaami, 193]

When Ibn Uyaynah delivered his lectures on hadeeth, he was questioned by students whenever he differed from his colleague (Imaam) Maalik. [Humaidee, 226, 238, 281, 934]

The Superiority Of The Understanding Of The Companions, By Ibn Al-Qayyim

Ibn Al-Qayyim said:

“If we compare our understanding to theirs (the companions), there is no doubt that they were more sincere at heart, had deeper knowledge, were more straightforward and were more likely to understand the text correctly than we can do, because Allaah (swt) blessed them with smarter minds, more eloquence, deeper knowledge, a more straightforward approach to the text, proper and quick understanding, little or no impact from other influences, good intentions and fear of the Lord.

The Arabic language came naturally to them, and the correct meanings and concepts were instilled in their hearts and minds. They had no need to examine the chains of narrations and background of the narrators to see if there were any faults in the hadeeth or to assess the quality of the narrators or to examine the fundamentals of the branches of knowledge and the different views of the experts on the principles of Islamic law. They had no need of all of that. For them there were only two steps to follow: (a) Allaah (swt) said such and such, and His Messenger said such and such. (b) What it means is such and such.

They were the most capable of people to go through these two steps easily, and they were the most qualified because all of their energy, knowledge and quality was focused on these two things only.

In comparison, the energies and focus of the later scholars were scattered. Studying the Arabic language and matters connected to it took up a great deal of their intellectual efforts. Understanding the fundamentals of different branches of knowledge took up further efforts, and knowledge of the chains of narration and the backgrounds of the narrators took up even more, as did their focus on examining the books of the shaykhs from whom they were learning, of whom there were many, and what the meant (in their books and in what they said), and so on.

When they reached the point, after all this effort, of seeing to understand the texts with hearts and minds that were exhausted from examining everything that came before they were in a position to examine the text, and after that they had expended their energy in studying things other than the text, then they would understand the text and what it meant with whatever was left of their energy.”

[I’laam Al-Muwaqqi’een, 4/149]

True Knowledge Is What Leads To The Fear Of Allaah

Allaah says:

“… It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allaah…” [35:28]

Ibn Katheer said:

“The only ones who truly fear Allaah are the scholars – those who are knowledgeable about Him. This is because every time one’s knowledge and awareness of The Most Great, The All-Able, The All-Knowing, The One ascribed with Perfect Attributes and described by Perfect Names becomes complete and whole, one’s fear of Him becomes greater and increased.” [Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 3/553]

Al-Bayhaqee said:

“Allaah clarifies that (true) fear of Him can only be achieved through knowledge.” [Shu’ab Al-Eemaan, 5/323]

A man said to Ash-Sha’abee:

“Who is a scholar?”

He replied:

“The scholar is the one who has fear of Allaah.”

‘Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood said:

“Knowledge is sufficiency for the fear of Allaah and ignorance is a sufficiency for delusion and being mislead.” [Az-Zuhd of Ibn Mubaarak, p.15]

‘Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood also said:

“Knowledge is not obtaining an abundance of hadeeth, but rather knowledge is obtaining khashyah (fear of Allaah).” [Al-Hilyah, 1/131]

‘Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood said:

“It is sufficient amount of knowledge for a person that he has fear of Allaah and it is sufficient amount of ignorance for a person that he is amazed by his knowledge.” [Ad-Daarimee, 1/346]

‘Abdul A’laa At-Taymee said:

“Whoever is given knowledge and it does not cause him to weep, then it is appropriate (to say) that he has not been given knowledge that benefits him…” [Ad-Daarimee, 299]

‘Abdullaah Ibn AhmAd Ibn Hanbal said to his father:

“Did Ma’roof have any knowledge?”

Imaam Ahmad replied:

“My son, he had the basis of all knowledge and that is the fear of Allaah.” [Siyar Al-A’laam An-Nubulaa’, 1/339]

Hudhaifah (ra) said:

It is sufficient knowledge for a man that he fears Allaah. And it is a sufficient lie that he says, ‘I seek forgiveness and repent to Him,‘ yet he goes back to doing it.” [Kitaab Al-‘Ilm, of An-Nisaa’ee #14]

Knowledge Or Voluntary Action? By Ibn Rajab

Ibn Rajab said:

“The scholars have differed concerning this issue. Which one is better, studying sacred knowledge or performing voluntary prayers and reciting the Quraan and words of remembrance? Knowledge is better for him who studies sincerely for Allaah’s sake and has a good and clear mind. However, this should still be joined with a good amount of prayers and worship. If you find him to be a serious student but notice that he’s lacking in his worship, it is a lazy and worthless person you’re dealing with, and this person is not truthful when he says his intentions are good.

As for when one studies hadeeth and fiqh simply as an intellectual pursuit, worship is better in such a case. In fact, the difference between the two is like the difference between the normative and superlative. This is a general categorization, and by Allaah, I have only seen a few who are sincere in seeking this knowledge.”

[Ibn rajabs explanation to Aboo Ad-dardaa’s hadeeth, p.96]

‘Alee (ra) Said, “From The Rights Of The Scholar Over You Are…”

‘Alee Ibn Abee Taalib said:

“From the rights of the scholar over you are:

– Give the salaams to the generalpopulas and specifying them (i.e. the scholar) by greeting them particularly.
– Sit in front of him.
– Do not point at him with your hand.
– Do not cut your eyes at them.
– Do not say that so and so opposes your statement.
– Do not backbite anyone in front of him.
– Do not walk through his sitting.
– Do not grab him by his garment.
– Do not pester him if he is tired.
– And do not turn away from his companionship.

He is like the date palm and you are waiting for something to befall you. The believing scholar has a greater reward than the warrior in the Cause of Allaah. When the scholar dies, a void is created in Islaam that will not be filled until the Day of Resurrection.”

[Al-Jaami Li Akhlaaq Ar-Raawee Wa Aadaab As-Saami’, 1/199]

Being Free Of All Needs From The People, By Ibn Al-Jawzee

Sacred knowledge raises the status of the lowly. Indeed many scholars used to be unknown and unappreciated before becoming scholars. ‘Ataa Ibn Abee Rabaah (1) for example was black and not pleasant looking. Sulaymaan Ibn ‘Abdul Maalik (2) who was the caliph at that time came to him with his two sons and asked him about the rites of pilgrimage. He answered whilst turning his face away from them. The caliph said to his sons, “Get up and do not be indolent or lazy in seeking knowledge, as I shall never forget this humiliation in front of this black slave.”

Al-Hasan Al-basree (3), Ibn Sireen (4), Makhool (5) and others were slaves as well, but were still given honor and attained high status through knowledge and fear of Allaah.

Strive hard to protect your honor from running after this world and having to lower yourself to its people. Be content and you shall live honorably. A saying goes, ‘Whoever is content with bread and vegetables will not be subjugated by anyone.’

A bedouin passed by Basra and said, ‘Who is the master of this city?‘

It was said to him, ‘Al-Hasan Al-Basree.’

He said, ‘And how did he become their master?‘

They said, ‘He had no need of their worldly effects but they were in need of his knowledge.’

[“Sincere Counsel To Students Of Sacred Knowledge” by Ibn Al-Jawzee, p.70]

Footnotes:

(1) Adh-Dhahabee said, “The Imaam, Shaykh Al-Islaam and the Muftee of Haram… their freed slave from Makkah. He was born during the caliphate of ‘Uthmaan.” [Siyar, 5/78]’Ataa was black, one eyed, snub nosed, lame and limping and finally became blind as well. He was the most knowledgeable concerning the rites of pilgrimage.

(2) Ibn Sireen said, “Allaah have mercy on Sulaymaan. He started his caliphate by reviving the prayer and finished it by appointing ‘Umar Ibn ‘Abdil-‘Azeez as his successor.” [Siyar, 5/111]

(3) Al-Hasan Al-Basree was the freed slave of Zaid Ibn Thaabit. He died in 110H. Ayyoob As-Sakhteeyaanee said, “Had you seen him you would have said that you never sat with a scholar of fiqh.” Aboo Ja’far Al-Baaqir said, “That is a person whose speech resembles that of the Prophets.” [Siyar A’laam An-Nubulaa, 4/563]

(4) Ibn Sireen was the freed slave of Anas Ibn Maalik, he died in 110H. [Siyar, 4/606]

(5) Makhool was from the middle Taabi’een and died around 112, 113 or 114H. Aboo Haatim said, “Nobody in Syria is as knowledgeable in fiqh as Makhool.” [Siyar, 5/115]

Admiring One’s Knowledge, By An-Nawawi

An-Nawawee said:

“The way to rid oneself of self-admiration is to know that knowledge is a blessing from Allaah (swt) and a complete favour. That belongs to Allaah (swt) which He takes away, and that belongs to Him which He gives, and everything has an appointed time with Him, so a person should not develop self-admiration for something that he had nothing to do with and has no control over, and it is not certain that it will last.”

[Al-Majmoo’ 1/55]

Ash-Shaam: Then And Now

In the general masjid of Damascus, Abu Dardaa (ra) conducted a large circle of learning, one that was attended by more than 1600 students. Aboo Dardaa (ra) would teach them in groups, with each group consisting of 10 students. There was a spirit of competition in the air, with each group wanting to spend the most time with, and therefore benefit the most from, Aboo Dardaa (ra).

For his part, Aboo Dardaa (ra) was readily accessible to his students, he would often stand in a designated place in order to answer their questions about how to recite the Quraan.

Of all the Prophet’s Companions, Aboo Dardaa (ra) is deemed to have had the most influence on the inhabitants of Damascus, as he was their faqeeh and their judge.

[Ghaayatun Nihaayah Fee Tabqaat Al-Qurraa, by Ibn Al-Jawzee, p. 1607]

The Importance of Acting Upon Knowledge

“The Lord of Honor would reveal the Quraan one, two, or three verses at a time and would require them to act upon those verses. The Companions of the Messenger of Allaah would take one, two, or three verses – never more than ten at a time – and then go act on them. They would then come back, learn some more, and go act on what they learned. As Ibn Mas’ood said, “We learned knowledge and action with the Quraan.”

Therefore, it is very dangerous for you to have a lot of knowledge while having only a modest level of action. The one who hears you thinks to himself “MaashaaAllaah!” He hears you talking about this verse from the Quraan, this hadeeth, the hadeeth being authentic, the hadeeth being weak, ‘aqeedah, Islamic history, the khulafaa’, ‘Umar said this, Abu Bakr said that – may Allaah be pleased with them all. However, you are ten centimeters when it comes to action, and when it comes to knowledge you are over three meters. There is no balance! This is a disease.

Having a lot of knowledge without action is a disease just like having a lot of action without knowledge.”

[At-Tarbiyyah Al-Jihaadiyyah Wal-Bina, by Shaykh ‘Abdullaah ‘Azzaam, 3/182-183]