- It’s what the scholars called an organization of seeking knowledge. When you don’t have a methodology you don’t seek knowledge the way it should be sought and will lead you to confusion.
- Ibn Qayyim said in his book [Al-Fawaid] (benefits) “Ignorance of the road (path to seeking knowledge), also ignorance of the obstacles (when seeking knowledge) you will be execessively tired and you will not reap the benefits”. So what you need to do is know the methodology of seeking knowledge. This is why people get tired over time and they are left with little benefits. It might even push them away from seeking knowledge.
- Anyone who does not master the foundation, will never reach the goals he is looking for. Houses that are strongly built, it will prove when it’s a bit windy.
- Knowing the obstacles allow you to know what to expect.
- If you are prevented from the evidence, then you become misguided from the path.
- Al-Zarnuji, a hanafi scholar wrote the book Ta’līm al-Muta’allim-Ṭarīq at-Ta’-allum or Instruction of the Student: The Method of Learning. He said “I saw many students of knowledge, they are striving to seek knowledge, and they are not reaching it. And I even saw they were prevented by the benefits of the knowledge. Why? Because they got the methodology wrong.”
Reflections
Imam Ahmad’s halaqah used to be attended by thousands of people. Did they all become scholars?
- What is the benefit of knowing the pathway? Because the scholars had already tried and reached it. They know the mistakes and what you should and shouldn’t do. You should be able to save time learning from their mistakes. This methodology has been tried and tested and sifted by the scholars.
- Ibn Badran said many people spend years of their lives to seek knowledge. And they didn’t achieve anything. People go all their lives and don’t go beyond the level of a beginner. Why might this be? It could be one of two reasons:
- This person might have psychological issue. Their aql is lacking.
- This person does not follow (is ignorant of) the methodology. This is the majority of people.
- Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr said “Knowledge is vast, it is a lot, who can really finish knowledge. No one can but the solution is to try to attain the most beneficial one.” The solution to attain all of that knowledge is try to attain the beneficial ones. Say, when you go to the library, how do you expect to finish all those books and attain all those benefits without knowing where to start?
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Sahih al-Bukhari 39 - Belief - كتاب الإيمان - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ السَّلاَمِ بْنُ مُطَهَّرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ مَعْنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْغِفَارِيِّ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ” إِنَّ الدِّينَ يُسْرٌ، وَلَنْ يُشَادَّ الدِّينَ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ غَلَبَهُ، فَسَدِّدُوا وَقَارِبُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا، وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالْغَدْوَةِ وَالرَّوْحَةِ وَشَىْءٍ مِنَ الدُّلْجَةِ ”.
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded; and gain strength by worshipping in the mornings, the afternoons, and during the last hours of the nights.” (See Fath-ul-Bari, Page 102, Vol 1).
Sahih al-Bukhari 39 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:39
Link to original- Sufyan Ats-Tsauri said “Knowledge is the ease of a reliable person.”
The Concept of Methodology
1. What the student can’t be without
- The book of Allah
- The sunnah of the prophet It is the foundation you need to succeed. Just like what Allah told the prophet :
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- Imam As-Syafi’i said based on those evidences, the truth is connected to the book of Allah and the sunnah of the prophet.
- It is not permissible for a mufti or a judge to pass a fatwa unless they know the book of Allah and the sunnah of the prophet.
- Imam Al Baihaqi mentioned the mufti & scholar must have the book of Allah at his disposal (memorized). If not, their fatwa should be rejected. They should not think they can make fatwa without knowing the rulings Allah has placed.
- Ibn Taymiyyah said “Whoever ponders on the book of Allah, trying to look for guidance, the true path will become clear to you.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 5027 - Virtues of the Qur'an - كتاب فضائل القرآن - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)
حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ مِنْهَالٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَلْقَمَةُ بْنُ مَرْثَدٍ، سَمِعْتُ سَعْدَ بْنَ عُبَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ السُّلَمِيِّ، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ” خَيْرُكُمْ مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ وَعَلَّمَهُ ”. قَالَ وَأَقْرَأَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ فِي إِمْرَةِ عُثْمَانَ حَتَّى كَانَ الْحَجَّاجُ، قَالَ وَذَاكَ الَّذِي أَقْعَدَنِي مَقْعَدِي هَذَا.
Narrated Uthman: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 5027 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5027
Link to originalSahih Muslim 403a - The Book of Prayers - كتاب الصلاة - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رُمْحِ بْنِ الْمُهَاجِرِ، أَخْبَرَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، وَعَنْ طَاوُسٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُعَلِّمُنَا التَّشَهُّدَ كَمَا يُعَلِّمُنَا السُّورَةَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ فَكَانَ يَقُولُ ” التَّحِيَّاتُ الْمُبَارَكَاتُ الصَّلَوَاتُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ لِلَّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ” . وَفِي رِوَايَةِ ابْنِ رُمْحٍ كَمَا يُعَلِّمُنَا الْقُرْآنَ .
Abdullah ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to teach us tashahhud just as he used to teach us a Surah of the Qur’an, and he would say: All services rendered by words, acts of worship, and all good things are due to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. Peace be upon us and upon Allah’s upright servants. I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. In the narration of Ibn Rumh (the words are): “As he would teach us the Qur’an.”
Sahih Muslim 403a https://sunnah.com/muslim:403a
Link to original- Al Hafidz Ibn Hajar said There is a benefit in this hadith the sahabah used to learn the Qur’an first before the Sunnah
- Ibn Taymiyyah said “The reason Allah raised Imam As-Syafi’i in knowledge is because his madzhab is based on Al-Kitab (Qur’an) and Sunnah”
In AMAU the stages:
- First Stage: memorize 5 juz
- Second Stage: memorize 10 juz
- Third Stage: memorize 15 juz You shouldn't move to the next stage unless you have memorized.
2. Opinions of the Scholars
- This is the cherry on the cake
- Example: two scholars differ on what book that should be taught
- AMAU chooses books based on those, Why?
- Program recommended by great scholars who has reached that level of understanding.
- These books have explanations can easily be found, which means they are universally agreed upon.