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Advice to the Seekers of Knowledge
By The Great Scholar His Eminence
Shaikh Abdul-Aziz ibn Baz
(رحمه اللّه)
All praise is for Allah and may peace and prayers be upon His messenger, our prophet Muhammad, his family and companions. To proceed:
There is no doubt that seeking knowledge is from the most virtuous actions that draws one near to Allah, from the causes of success for paradise, and honor for the one who acts by it. And from the most important affairs is sincerity in seeking it (knowledge). That occurs when the seeking (of knowledge) is for Allah and not for any other purpose, as that (sincerity to Allah) is the way to benefit from it and a cause of success in obtaining high levels in this life and the next.
It has been mentioned in a hadeeth of the prophet SAW, “whoever learns a science, from that which is sought by it the face of Allah, not learning it except to obtain some worldly goal, will not smell the scent of paradise” (Abu Dawud with a good chain).
Tirmithi has reported, in a narration containing weakness in the chain, that he SAW said, “whoever seeks knowledge to compete with the scholars, to cause argumentation with the ignorant, or to turn the faces of the people to him, Allah will put him in the fire”. So I advise all the seekers of knowledge and everyone who reads these words, with sincerity to Allah in every action applying what Allah the Glorified and High said, “So whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord” (Al-Kahf-110). And in Sahih Muslim the prophet r said, “Allah the Mighty and Majestic says, ‘I am the most far removed from (and in no need of) being partnered with, whoever does an action associating me with someone else I will leave him and his association (shirk)”.
This is just as I advise every seeker of knowledge and Muslim with the fear of Allah the Glorified, and (knowing that He) is watching you in all things, applying what Allah, the Mighty and Sublime said, “Verily! Those who fear their Lord unseen (i.e. they do not see Him, nor His Punishment in the Hereafter, etc.), theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise ).” (Al-Mulk 67:12) and, “But for him who [the true believer of Islâmic Monotheism who performs all the duties ordained by Allah and His Messenger Muhammad SAW , and keeps away (abstain) from all kinds of sin and evil deeds prohibited in Islam and] fears the standing before his Lord, there will be two Gardens (i.e. in Paradise).” (Ar-Rahman 55:46) Some of the salaf said that “the peak of knowledge is the fear of Allah”, and Abdullah ibn Masud RA said, “the fear of Allah is sufficient for knowledge and to be self-conceited with Him is sufficient for ignorance”, and some said, “whoever is most aware (knowledgeable) of Allah is the most fearful of Him” and the correct meaning of this can be seen in the statement of the prophet r to his companions, “By Allah, I am the most afraid of Allah from amongst you and the most fearful”, so the more the servants knowledge of Allah is increased the more it will be a cause for perfecting (and completeing) his fear, sincerity, stopping at the limitations (set by Allah) and refraining from sin and transgression. For this Allah, the High and Glorified, has said, “It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah.” (Fatir 35:28) so the scholars, with Allah and His religion, are the most afraid of Allah, most fearful, and most straight upon the religion. At the top of them the messengers and prophets e and then those who follow them with perfection.
Accordingly, the prophet SAW has mentioned that from the signs of happiness is for the servant to gain knowledge and understanding in the religion of Allah as he r said, “whoever Allah wants good for, He will grant him understanding of the religion” (this hadeeth is reported in Al-Bukhari and Muslim from Muawiyyah RA) and that is because understanding in the religion motivates the servants to fulfill Allah’s commands, fear him, perform His obligations, refrain from that which displeases Him, and invites him to good manners, good actions, and sincerity with Allah and advice to His servants.
I ask Allah the Mighty and Sublime to grant us, all of the students of knowledge, and the rest of the Muslims understanding of the religion and uprightness in it, and to protect all from the evil within ourselves, and our evil deeds for He is the gaurdian (and keeper) of that and fully capable. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon His servant and messenger Muhammad and upon his family and companions.
Translated by:
Eesa John Starling
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