#student of knowledge

[islamicrays]

You must have a structured, academic approach to studying. Go gradually. ⁣⁣I couldn’t care less if you cannot speak, unless you’re going to give lectures in Arabic. You need to be able to understand classical Arabic texts.

Daily schedule⁣⁣:

You need to read on your own at least 4 hours a day. I used to put in 6-8 hours a day.⁣⁣ If you think you’re going to be a scholar and you’re not studying 5 hours a day [you’re wasting your time]. ⁣⁣If your love for your deen does not compel you to study at least 5-6 hours a day, then maybe it’s not for you.

If you want to study deen you need the blessing and permission of Allah. All the books just have information. Only Allah will make it ma’rifah.

You have to wake up for Tahajjud and grow your spirituality. Otherwise you’ll be a monster with knowledge. One hour Tahajjud a day will keep the doctor away. Just 1 hour. You have 24 hours in a day.

Ilm will not bring you closeness to Allah. Ilm is a catalyst to closeness to Allah. Real Ilm is in the heart.

⁣⁣— Shaykh Muhammad bin Yahya Al-Ninowy,

“Spirituality in the Pursuit it Knowledge” Talk and Q&A [15.10.19]

[islamicrays]

Please read this story because it is really important. Shaykh Badr al-Din al-Hasani had memorised Bukhari, Muslim and mastered all the major books of hadith by heart. One day, he walked into the Ummayad mosque with his students who were the most knowledgeable scholars in the Middle East and he saw a little child teaching his young friends. Shaykh Badr al-Din sat on his knees in front of the child and sat like a student - so the child immediately stopped and got really shy before such a great man - but the Shaykh told him to continue on teaching.

The child talked for a while and the Shaykh sat down with his head down, listened attentively, and tears would not stop gushing from the eyes of the Shaykh. He then told his students, "This is today's lesson... This will suffice for today. Benefit from all people - regardless of their age or rank." If Shaykh Badr al-Din was able to humble himself so much whilst he was the greatest scholar of his time then why can't we? Why are we unable to study with our local teachers? Why can't we benefit from all types of people? Why can't we humble ourselves for the sake of Allāh before those who are less than us?

The UK is filled with scholars and students who travelled across the world and devoted their lives to knowledge - so why are classes across the country so empty? Are we too good to humble ourselves before the knowledge they possess? Are they not good enough for us? Are they not famous or celebrity enough? Are they not 'perfect' enough? Do they not look spiritual enough? Is it because they do not dress like us? or follow our Shaykh? or commit to our Tariqa? When I was young - we would desperately travel the entire city to find someone who could teach in English. Now, teachers who speak English desperately travel the country trying to find students who want to study. What a calamity.

Shaykh Mohammad Aslam

[islamicrays]

I have to admit it - I really, really dislike this obsession with celebrity speakers, fake titles and "Hollywood" Islam. A scholar with huge social media following does not make him any better than a scholar who does not have Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, or anything else. It does not automatically make him a wali, a friend of Allah, someone blessed with gnosis, or anything spiritual. Someone who has good oratory skills does not make him more knowledgeable or praiseworthy than a scholar who delivers to a small sized halaqa in his local mosque.

A scholar who can speak English fluently and lives in the West doesn't automatically make him make better or more righteous than someone who can only speak Urdu, Turkish, Bengali, Malay, Arabic, Chinese or anything else. A person who studied in Arab lands doesn't deserve more respect than those who studied anywhere else. Wearing a Syrian juba, an Egyptian cloak, a Yemeni scarf, a Turkish 'imama, or dressing like a Hijazi should not make a person more worthy of respect. Notoriety or geography are not the benchmarks and they don't equal being more gifted or learned. That stuff is superficial and fake.

A scholar who packs out places and delivers to thousands doesn't magically become more beloved to Allah than one who sits at his books and researches day and night. In my opinion, the real heroes are those who sit and dedicate their lives to teaching without desiring to be known. Those who teach thousands and thousands for decades producing the future scholars and students of this nation yet no one notices them. Please support your local scholars. Attend their classes. Study with them. Don't pay a famous speaker or an entertainer thousands of pounds for a few hours of feel-good entertainment whilst your local 'ulema are not used, barely able to pay bills, and having sleepless nights because of worry. May Allah bless all those who are serving this ummah and allow us to benefit from the real people of knowledge.

Shaykh Mohammad Aslam

[islamicrays]

Shaykh Samir was once doing a Q&A session for doctors and those in the medical field. One doctor said to him, "Shaykh, we really need people like you on our minbars. Most of our imams don't make any sense and don't speak anything relevant."

The Shaykh replied, "We have the same problem in Syria but a lot of the blame is to do with you - the people of the community. When you have a genius child you want him to be a doctor, professor, lawyer, engineer, etc. When you have a child who is not academically strong or he gets kicked out school and you know he won't earn much - you send him to the Madrassah and tell him to become an imam or Shaykh as the last option. He then graduates, sits on the minbar and works in the mosque on less than minimum wage - and no can relate to him in the slightest. What do you expect?

You should be thankful that at least someone is sitting on the pulpit. If you want change and you want people speaking sense then give up your smartest children in the way of Allāh and make them 'ulema. Make the position of scholarship attractive for the youth if you want great scholarship. If the community want future leaders then they should support future leaders."

Shaykh Mohammad Aslam

[islamicrays]

Dear student of knowledge and scholar, Sayyid Shaykh Ibrahim al-Ya'qūbi was so poor as a young man that he owned one juba which he wore for 12 years until it became completely worn out. For twelve years, everytime, he got enough money to buy a new pair of clothing, he'd choose to buy books with it. The Shaykh taught in Fath al-Islami, and the teachers said his knowledge was so encyclopedic that he could teach the masterpiece manual in the Hanafi school - al-Hidayah by memory - word for word.

Our teacher, the great wali, Shaykh Abu Hamid owned the same juba for over 40 years. When it would rain, he would shelter himself by wearing a black bag whilst riding a bike to class. The 'ulama said his wilayah was so great that he wouldn't make du'a except that it would be accepted. These are the true inheritors of Rasūlullāh ﷺ who put knowledge before all hardship, ease, fame, titles, glamour, and dunya.

Shaykh Mohammad Aslam

[islamicrays]

A common excuse made by adults about their inability to learn is that they can no longer memorize.

Ibn al-Azraq quoted in Rawḍah al-I‘lam (via al-Tarātīb al-Idāriyyah):

❝Teaching adults is more important than teaching children. Adults shouldn't say, 'I can't learn as I can't memorize.' The companions learned whilst they were adults. They occupied themselves with knowledge and became oceans [of knowledge].❞

If age was ever an excuse, the companions would've largely been excused. Seek help from Allah, sincerely attempt to learn, persevere, and don't give up! You will see wonders inshaAllah.

Abdul Wahab Saleem

[mubosworld]