Islamic Knowledge.

1. Islamic Knowledge. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Whomsoever Allah wants good for he makes him understand the religion”.

2. بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم In the Name of Allah the Most Beneficent Most Merciful.

3. What is Islamic Knowledge? • Generally, knowledge refers to understanding any issue, specific or general, in the manner by which it supposed to be understood. • Islamic knowledge therefore refers to having the correct understanding of issues which the Qur’an and the Sunnah have dealt with. • The scholars have divided Islamic knowledge into three broad categories: • Aqeedah (العقيدة) (Worship) • Fiqh (الفقه)(Jurisprudence) • Suluuk (السلوك)(Behaviour)

4. Virtues of Seeking Knowledge • Those who have knowledge truly fear Allah. • Whoever seeks knowledge Allah makes the way to Jannah easy for him. • Allah raises the people of knowledge over those who are ignorant. • Allah ordered the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) to ask for an increase in knowledge and he didn’t order him to ask for an increase in anything else. • Everything in the heavens and the earth makes Du’a for the seeker of knowledge. • The seeker of knowledge is able to distinguish between truth and falsehood in trying times.

5. Branches of Islamic Knowledge • There are two matters that a student must take into consideration when he/she wants to seek Islamic knowledge: • The Goal (المقصود): Understanding Aqeedah, Fiqh and Islamic Conduct according to the Book of Allah and the Authentic Sunnah. • The means (الوسائل): The student must study the sciences that serve as a means to understand the goals that were previously elaborated.

6. Aqeedah (العقيدة) • Aqeedah refers to what one believes and acts upon. • The scholars of Islam have said that this science pertains to the study of the six points of Imaan which are: • Belief in Allah • The Angels • The Books • The Prophets • The Day of Judgment • Divine Decree

7. Aqeedah (العقيدة) • Other scholars such as Shaikh Amaan Al Jaami (رحمة الله عليه) divided this study into three categories: • Knowledge of Allah (إلهيات) • Knowledge of the Messengers (النبوات) • Belief in unseen matters (الغيبيات)

8. Aqeedah (العقيدة) • Matters to note: • In order to understand issues of Aqeedah one must take from the Qur’an, the Sunnah and the Consensus of the Companions. • There is no room for difference of opinion in Aqeedah.

9. Fiqh (الفقه) • Fiqh refers to the knowledge of Islamic rulings according to its clear evidences from the Qur’an and the Sunnah. • The Ulama have divided it into two categories: • Fiqh Ul Ibaadaat :(فقه العبادات) This refers to the pillars of Islam • Fiqh Ul Mu’aamalaat (فقه المعاملات): This refers to other matters in jurisprudence.

10. Fiqh (الفقه) • Note well: • The evidences of Fiqh are from the Qur’an, the Sunnah and Ijmaa’ (consensus). When Ijtihaad (الإجتهاد) is needed then Qiyas (القياس) is utilized. • There is room for differences of opinion once those differences do not oppose clear evidences.

11. Suluuk (السلوك) • This refers to the behaviour and manners of the Muslim and is divided into three main categories: • Manners with Allah: Meaning to fear him in secret and in public. • Manners with Oneself: This is done by following up an evil deed with a good deed. • Manners with Others: To be courteous and kind to the people.

12. Other branches of knowledge • As for the branches of knowledge which are a means to understanding Islam they are: • The Arabic Language. • The Science of Hadeeth(مصطلح الحديث) • The Science of Jurisprudence (أصول الفقه) • The Science of Tafseer (أصول التفسير) • These sciences give the student of knowledge fundamental principles by which he would be able to source authentic information and understand it.

13. The Pillars of Seeking Knowledge • The Pillars of Seeking Knowledge are as follows: • Sincerity (الإخلاص) • Good Manners (الأخلاق الفاضلة) • Diligence (الحرص) • Intelligence (الذكاء) • Patience(الصبر) • Money (المال) • A Teacher’s guidance (إرشاد الأستاذ) • Keeping good company (الصحبة) • Seeking knowledge for a long period of time ( طول الزمان)

14. Sincerity(الإخلاص) • Sincerity is defined as the oneness of Allah in intention. • It is upon the student to seek knowledge in order to get closer to Allah. This is because any worship that is done for other than him is rejected. • His intentions should be the following: • To raise ignorance from himself and others. • To act upon the knowledge he has learnt. • To defend Islam against those who oppose it from the Kuffar and the Ahlul Bid’ah (the people of innovation).

15. Sincerity (الإخلاص) • If a student is sincere it will manifest itself in certain ways: • Action upon knowledge. • Taking knowledge from those who are above and below him. • Being humble to the general people. • Saying I don’t know • Listening attentively when others are speaking about the branches of knowledge.

16. Sincerity (الإخلاص) • The student should not seek knowledge in order to: • Debate with the scholars. • Fool the common people. • Speak about it in sittings. • Gain authority over others.

17. Sincerity (الإخلاص) • Insincerity manifests itself in many ways: • Not accepting the truth when it comes. • Belittling the common-folk. • Arguing with the scholars. • Covering the truth with falsehood. • Desiring accolades and titles from others. • Not acting upon it.

18. Good Manners (الأخلاق الفاضلة) • It is upon the student of knowledge to purify himself from any blameworthy characteristics when he is threading the path of knowledge. • Good manners are the fruits of knowledge that is sought. • It makes the student successful in seeking knowledge because of the following: • The student would respect his/her teachers. • He/She would have respect for fellow students of knowledge. • The people would not run away from him/her but rather would gravitate toward the student who has noble characteristics.

19. )الأخلاق الذميمةBad Manners ( • A student must stay away from blameworthy characteristics. • If the student has bad manners the following would result: • Lack of respect for his teacher. • Lack of respect for his fellow students • Lack of respect for the common people. As a result of this last point the people may gravitate to those who are ignorant rather than those who are knowledgeable.

20. Diligence (الحرص) • A student must be diligent in seeking Islamic knowledge and this diligence has three pillars: • Attending the gatherings of the scholars. Memorizing, learning, understanding and revising one’s lessons. • Making Du’a asking Allah’s help and guidance in seeking knowledge. • Avoiding procrastination. The student should not leave off today’s lesson for tomorrow.

21. Intelligence (الذكاء) • The student of knowledge must be someone who is intelligent. • He must have the ability to memorize as well as to understand his lessons. • This intelligence is divided into two categories: • Intelligence that is natural. • Intelligence that is given by Allah ta’ala.

22. Patience (الصبر) • Patience refers to restraining oneself from the disobedience of Allah. • A student of knowledge is a Mujahid and hence he must have patience upon four matters: • Seeking knowledge. • Action upon it. • Calling toward it. • Being patient toward what may come as a result of it.

23. Patience (الصبر) • The student must endure hardships while seeking knowledge. And this is manifested in three ways: • Traveling in order to seek knowledge. One has to sacrifice his/her time and energy in order to do so. • Going from one level of knowledge to the next. Which is called At Tadarruj (التدرج). The student learns the basic issues before delving into more complex issues. This requires him to learn for many years • Having patience with the scholar who is teaching him. For whomsoever does not taste the humiliation of seeking knowledge for one hour he will carry the cup of ignorance for his whole life. • Having patience to remain a seeker of knowledge. He should have high hopes one day and none the next.

24. Money (المال) • The student of knowledge should have money for the following reasons: • To make trips to countries where the scholars are. • In order that he remains independent of others who may want to use him as a ‘rubber stamp’.

25. The Guidance of a Scholar(إرشاد أستاذ) • Seeking knowledge under the scholars is the Sunnah of our Salaf. • The scholars are the key toward comprehending the books of knowledge. • The student of knowledge should try to travel to countries where the major scholars are as often as he is able to. • If he is unable to do so then he should get recordings of classes taught by the scholars.

26. The Guidance of a Scholar(إرشاد أستاذ) • The scholar should have certain qualities: • He should be Salafi. Neither an innovator nor a Hizbi. • He should be pious • He should be known to have knowledge in what he is teaching. • He should be elderly in age. This is because he would have more experience in dealing with issues in knowledge.

27. Having good Company (الصحبة) • A student of knowledge should have the following as good company: • Those who are upon Salafeeyah. • Those who are pious with good manners. • Those who are hardworking students of knowledge. • Those who share what they have learnt and are not selfish with what Allah has given them.

28. Studying for a long period of time (طول الزمان) • The student of knowledge seeks it from the cradle to the grave. Imam Ahmad said: “With the inkpot to the grave”. • The Ulama have said: If you give knowledge all of yourself you would only remain with some of it. • The student doesn’t stop seeking knowledge. Rather he continues to read, memorize research and travel in order to do so. • On returning to his country he should maintain a connection with the Major Scholars so that he would be able to ask questions about doubtful matters.

29. Conclusion • Seeking knowledge is incumbent upon every Muslim. • Muslim brothers and sisters should make effort to come out to classes where they can gain Islam knowledge. • They should all act upon the knowledge and call toward it with understanding and insight. • Teachers should teach with the intention to take others from darkness into light. • They should teach the simple issues of knowledge before those that are complicated. • They should maintain a link with the Major Scholars of this time. Whether through reading their works, listening to them or having tele-links with them. • And last and not least. It is a must to be sincere in our intentions. • و الله أعلم و صلى الله على نبينا محمد و على اله و صحبه و سلم