5. Seeking Knowledge - Approach & Ettiquetes

The Attributes of the Student of Knowledge

1. Sincerity and Purity of Intentions

• I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: The first of people against whom judgment will be pronounced on the Day of Resurrection will be a man who died a martyr. He will be brought and Allah will make known to him His favours and he will recognize them. [ The Almighty] will say: And what did you do about them? He will say: I fought for you until I died a martyr. He will say: You have lied - you did but fight that it might be said [of you]: He is courageous. And so it was said. Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire. [Another] will be a man who has studied [religious] knowledge and has taught it and who used to recite the Quran. He will be brought and Allah will make known to him His favours and he will recognize them. [The Almighty] will say: And what did you do about them? He will say: I studied [religious] knowledge and I taught it and I recited the Quran for Your sake. He will say: You have lied - you did but study [religious] knowledge that it might be said [of you]: He is learned. And you recited the Quran that it might be said [of you]: He is a reciter. And so it was said. Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire. [Another] will be a man whom Allah had made rich and to whom He had given all kinds of wealth. He will be brought and Allah will make known to him His favours and he will recognize them. [The Almighty] will say: And what did you do about them? He will say: I left no path [untrodden] in which You like money to be spent without spending in it for Your sake. He will say: You have lied - you did but do so that it might be said [of you]: He is open-handed. And so it was said. Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire. It was related by Muslim (also by at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasa’i).

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• We are living in the day and age where this fitna is very easy to spread because of social media.
• A person might start very sincere, but because of the likes & response from the people, his heart might not be in the right place.
• They started wanting to be called a scholar, a Qari, etc.
• It’s all a matter of sincerity, even if its just a small amount of knowledge.

• About One Who Seeks The World With His Knowledge

  حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَشْعَثِ، أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْمِقْدَامِ الْعِجْلِيُّ الْبَصْرِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا أُمَيَّةُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ يَحْيَى بْنِ طَلْحَةَ، حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ ”‏ مَنْ طَلَبَ الْعِلْمَ لِيُجَارِيَ بِهِ الْعُلَمَاءَ أَوْ لِيُمَارِيَ بِهِ السُّفَهَاءَ أَوْ يَصْرِفَ بِهِ وُجُوهَ النَّاسِ إِلَيْهِ أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ النَّارَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ ‏.‏ وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ يَحْيَى بْنِ طَلْحَةَ لَيْسَ بِذَاكَ الْقَوِيِّ عِنْدَهُمْ تُكُلِّمَ فِيهِ مِنْ قِبَلِ حِفْظِهِ ‏.‏

  Narrated Ibn Ka’b bin Malik: from his father that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: “Whoever seeks knowledge to contend with the scholars, or to use it to argue with the fools, and to have people’s faces turn towards him, then he shall be admitted to the Fire.”

  Jami at-Tirmidhi 2654 Grade: Da’if (Darussalam) https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:2654

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• Imam Ahmad said “There is nothing like knowledge, for the one whose intention is correct”. Then they asked him, “How should the intention be corrected O, Abu Abdillah?“. He replied: “He intends to remove ignoracne from himself and from others.”
• The principle of the scholars: Aqwalul ulama yuhtaju laha la yuhtaju biha or “Statement of scholars requires proof, they are not proof on itself.”
• The year before the prophet’s death it was called the year of delegations (waft)

• Hadith on Military Expeditions Led By The Prophet (Pbuh) (Al-Maghaazi): I Order You To Observe Four Things And Forbid You From Four Things: (I Order You) To Believe In Allah, Ie To Testify That None Has The Right To Be Worshipped Except Allah

  The Prophet’s (ﷺ) Orders & Forbiddance

  SUMMARY: This hadith is about the Prophet (ﷺ) ordering a delegation of ‘Abdul Qais to believe in Allah, offer prayers perfectly, give Zakat and one-fifth of the booty they win for Allah’s Sake. He also forbids them from using certain utensils used for preparing alcoholic liquors and drinks.

  Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: The delegation of ‘Abdul Qais¹ came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, “O Allah’s Messenger ﷺ We belong to the tribe of Rabi’a. The infidels of Mudar tribe intervened between us and you so that we cannot come to you except in the Sacred Months, so please order us some things we may act on and invite those left behind to act on. The Prophet ﷺ said, “I order you to observe four things and forbid you from four things: (I order you) to believe in Allah, ie to testify that None has the right to be worshipped except Allah”. The Prophet ﷺ pointed with finger indicating one and added, “To offer prayers perfectly: to give Zakat, and to give one-fifth of the booty you win (for Allah’s Sake). I forbid you to use Ad-Dubba’, An-Naquir, Al-Hantam and Al-Muzaffat, (Utensils used for preparing alcoholic liquors and drinks).

  Footnotes

  1. Abdul Qais’ name came from Jahiliyah. We don’t change the name to preserve the lineage. ↩

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• This hadith serves as a proof for the statement of Imam Ahmad. How? The delegations of Abdul Qais here have the same pure intentions of wanting to remove ignorance from themselves and others.
• The poet said:

Poetry

Seek knowledge for the face of Allah, without showing off or competing. Intend four things before beginning, to learn in order to gain the price of guidance. The first, is to come out of ignorance. The second, to benefit the creation of the owner of Majesty, The third, to bring knowledge to life,¹ And the fourth, to act upon what you know.²

• All these four things are very important for us to keep us reminded of the original intention behind studying the deen. Intentions can change as Sufyan Ats-Tsauri said “I never wrestled with anything harder than my intentions.”

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• Imam As-Syafi’i in his poetry:

Quote

“I complained to Waaqi (his teacher) of my poor memory so he guided me to the abandoning of sins. And he told me that knowledge is light and the light of Allah is not given to a sinner.”

• Waaqi ibn Jarah said “We used to seek help in memorizing by acting upon them (the context of that ayah/hadith)”
• Abdullah ibn Mubarak said ”

1. The first part of knowledge is your intentions,
2. then listening,
3. then understanding,
4. then memorizing,
5. then acting upon it,
6. then spreading it.”

• Imam As-Syafi’i said “Knowledge is not that which is memorized. Knowledge is what actually benefits you.”
• That is why, it is important to study about the correct intentions before you even begin studying the subjects. It all starts with your niyyah.

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2. Being True to Knowledge and Giving it Your All

• Sometimes we call this As-sidqu bil Thalab

• It was narrated from Shaddad bin Al-Had that: a man from among the Bedouins came to the Prophet and believed in him and followed him, then he said: “I will emigrate with you.” The Prophet told one of his Companions to look after him. During one battle the Prophet got some prisoners as spoils of war, and he distributed them, giving him (that Bedouin) a share. His Companions gave him what had been allocated to him. He had been looking after some livestock for them, and when he came they gave him his share. He said: “What is this?” They said: “A share that the Prophet has allocated to you.” He took it and brought it to the Prophet and said: “What is this?” He said: “I allocated it to you.” He said: “It is not for this that I followed you. Rather I followed you so that I might be shot here - and he pointed to his throat - with an arrow and die and enter Paradise.” He said, “If you are sincere toward Allah, Allah will fulfill your wish.” Shortly after that, they got up to fight the enemy, and he was brought to the Prophet, whom he had pointed to. The Prophet said, “Is it him?” They said, “Yes.” He said, “He was sincere toward Allah, and Allah fulfilled his wish.” Then the Prophet shrouded him in his own cloak and out him in front of him and offered the (funeral) prayer for him. During his supplication he said: “O Allah, this is Your slave who went out as a emigrant (Muhajir) for your sake and was killed as a martyr; I am a witness to that.

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• Imam As-Syafi’i said “If you give knowledge your all, it will give you a part of it. If you give knowledge a small part of you, it will not give you anything.” and Ibn Qayyim said regarding this statement “The difference between it (being true) and ikhlas, is that a slave has one that they seek trough their actions (who are you doing it for? Allah), and you have a means to your objective. Sincerity has only one that is sought. You only sought Allah. That’s ikhlas, And being true has only one meas to it, that is giving it your all.”
• What he means is with ikhlas, the one being sought is singular, undivided. With being true, the means are not divided (focus, giving your best effort)

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3. Having High Aspirations & Patience

• Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2531 - Chapters on the description of Paradise - كتاب صفة الجنة عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)

  حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَخْبَرَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، أَخْبَرَنَا هَمَّامٌ، حَدَّثَنَا زَيْدُ بْنُ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ ”‏ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مِائَةُ دَرَجَةٍ مَا بَيْنَ كُلِّ دَرَجَتَيْنِ كَمَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ وَالْفِرْدَوْسُ أَعْلاَهَا دَرَجَةً وَمِنْهَا تُفَجَّرُ أَنْهَارُ الْجَنَّةِ الأَرْبَعَةُ وَمِنْ فَوْقِهَا يَكُونُ الْعَرْشُ فَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُ اللَّهَ فَسَلُوهُ الْفِرْدَوْسَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، نَحْوَهُ ‏.‏

  ‘Ubadah bin As-Samit narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: “In Paradise, there are a hundred levels, what is between every two levels is like what is between the heavens and the earth. Al-Firdaus is ts highest level, and from it the four rivers of Paradise are made to flow forth. So when you ask Allah, ask Him for Al-Firdaus.” Another chain reports a similar narration.

  Jami at-Tirmidhi 2531 Grade: Sahih (Darussalam) https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:2531

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• Do not ask Allah for the lowest Jannah, don't ask him to be the last person to be at the door. Ask Allah for the highest reward for he is the Most Merciful.

• Sa’id ibn Jubayr (rahimahullah) reports that ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) said: “When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) passed away, I told an Ansari man, “Let us go seek knowledge for the Sahabah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) are alive.” He replied, “You are strange O Ibn ‘Abbas, where do you think people will refer to you when there are (senior) Sahabah around?” I left him and began seeking knowledge. When I heard of a Sahabi who had a Hadith which he heard from Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), I would go to him and sit at his door. The wind would blow dust onto my face. When he would emerge, he would say, “O cousin of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), why have you come? What do you require?” I would reply, “I have heard that you have a Hadith which you report from Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).” [i.e. I would like you to report it to me]. The Sahabi would say, “Why didn’t you send for me?” I would reply, “I am the one who should come to you.” [For knowledge is sought]. People then started gathering by ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma). The Ansari man would say, “This youngster was more intelligent than me.”

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• Takeaways:
  1. You come to knowledge, have high aspiration, be patient when waiting for that knowledge
  2. Ibnn Abbas made all this effort ever since he was young. People may say why would you need to study when there are sheikhs who know this and that? But perhaps one day here will come a time where these sheikhs will no longer be here and the people start to turn to you for an answer. And by then, you will be ready.
• Ibn Jawzi in his book Captured Thoughts said from the sign of the perfection of a person’s intellect, is having high aspirations The completeness of a person is completed by these 2 things:
  1. Lofty aspirations that make him rise up
  2. Knowledge that gives him insights and balance For indeed a person only misses out on the levels of happiness & success from these two angles or one of these two.

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• The relationship between this ayah and having high aspirations is because this ayah tells us everything we need to know to achieve anything (by the permission and help from Allah):
  1. Knowledge
  2. Ability
  3. Will And to Allah belongs the greatest example.
• Yahya ibn Abi Kathir said you can’t get knowledge by a relaxed body.
• Al-Sha’bi was asked where did he get all this knowledge from, and he said “by leaving reliance on myself (Putting my reliance on Allah completely), and by travelling through the land and patience live the patience of a donkey/in some narrations like the stave on the ground, and by going out early like the crows go out”
• Imam Malik said “this matter (knowledge) cannot be achieved until a person experience the state of proverty (because of it)”

Footnotes

1. One of the forms of knowledge that has faded in recent times is the difference of qiraat. ↩

2. To be a better muslim than you were yesterday. Ultimately this is what Allah will judge you upon on yaumul qiyamah. He will not judge uou by how much information you accumulate, but what you do with it. ↩