PREREQUISITES OF A STUDENT OF ʿILM By SiblingsOfIlm

CONTENTS
 Examples from the lives of scholars
 Virtue of Seeking I’lm
 Niyyah (intention)
 Adab of Teachers
 The Correct Mind-Set
 Spreading I’lm
 Conclusion Words
EXAMPLES FROM THE LIVES OF SCHOLARS
 Imām ash-Shāfiʿī ‫ رمحه هللا‬had split his hours of the night in three: one third
for seeking knowledge; one third for sleeping and one third for worship.

 Imam Bukhari ‫ رمحه هللا‬never ate any curry for forty years. He would suffice on
dry chapatti or four to five almonds.

 Ibn Suhnun’s servant fed him diner whilst he was writing but he didn’t even
realise!

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EXAMPLES FROM THE LIVES OF SCHOLARS
 Imām ash-Shāfiʿī ‫ رمحه هللا‬had split his hours of the night in three: one third
for seeking knowledge; one third for sleeping and one third for worship.

 Only for the acquisition of one ḥadīth – which he had already heard, but
wanted to hear it from a Sahabi who was connected to a higher chain,
Sayyiduna Jābir ‫ ريض هللا عنه‬travelled from Madinah to Damascus, approximately
1500 KM. [Bukhari]

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VIRTUE OF KNOWLEDGE
There are numerous Aḥadīth which state the virtue of knowledge:

 Uthmān ibn Affān ‫ ريض هللا عنه‬narrates that the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said: “The most
superior among you are those who learn the Holy Qur'ān and teach it.”
[Bukharī]

 Abdullah ibn Abbās ‫ ريض هللا عنه‬narrates that the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said: “A single
scholar of religion is more formidable against Shaytān than a thousand devout
people.” [Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah]

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VIRTUE OF KNOWLEDGE
Statements of prominent scholars:

 Abdullah ibn Abbās ‫ ريض هللا عنه‬said: “The scholars have stations which are seven
hundred ranks above the (ordinary) believers, and between each rank is a distance
of five hundred year journey.”

 Imām ash-Shāfiʿī ‫ رمحه هللا‬said: “Seeking knowledge is better than voluntary prayers.”
[Majmu’ Sharh Al-Muhadhab]

 Mu’āwiyah ‫ ريض هللا عنه‬who said, “I heard the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬say: “Whomsoever Allah
wishes well for, He gives him understanding in religion.”
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NIYYAH (INTENTION)
One’s intention should be the attainment of the pleasure of Allah ‫ﷻ‬.

Constantly tell yourself: “I am seeking ʿilm so that I may become aware of

what The Creator and The Sustainer becomes pleased with, And those actions
which displease Him. I shall perform those actions which please him and
distance myself from those actions which displease him. And once knowing this
I will not suffice with acting upon it myself rather I will also inform others.”

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NIYYAH (INTENTION)
 Renew one’s intention at every juncture in one’s study. Before studying,
whilst studying, and after completing studies.

(Agreed Upon) ‫إمنا إ ألعامل ابلنيات‬

(Sahih al-Bukhari) ‫إمنا إ ألعامل ابخلوإتمي‬

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NIYYAH (INTENTION)
 The incident of the King and Imam Ghazālī ‫ رمحه هللا‬.

 An action done purely for Allāh's sake is undoubtedly superior to one that is
coupled with a desire to gain something worldly. However, if the motive for
performing an act of worship is mixed with ostentation, even to the slightest
degree, then the action will not be accepted by Allāh.

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NIYYAH (INTENTION)
What happens if an action is started with a pure intention, but the notion of
ostentation occurs afterwards?

 Imām Aḥmad and Ḥasan al- Baṣrī (may Allāh have mercy on them) have expressed hope
that the person will still be rewarded based on his initial intention in spite of the enter of
ostentation whilst performing the action.

 You’ve completed the first step of realisation, now complete the step of renewing!

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SEEKING ‘ILM – ADAB TOWARDS TEACHERS
 In the past they (the seekers) would go and search out a teacher and take from
him what he knew. Statement attributed to Ibn Sirin ‫رمحه هللا‬:

‫ فانظروإ معن تأأخذون دينمك‬:‫إن هذإ إلعمل دين‬

 As institutions became established, a new set up began. The system we have
today. However many of the principles of etiquettes and foundational bond between
a student and teacher remain the same. Two things are vital for a Student of ‘Ilm:
1. Ita’at (obedience)
2. Khidmat
3. Azmat
Each of the above require a balance.
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SEEKING ‘ILM – ADAB TOWARDS TEACHERS
A student should:
 Follow his teacher and humble himself before him/her.

Knowledge cannot be gained except through humbleness and listening attentively. A student should follow the
advice given to him by his teacher in studying and he should leave his opinion to the side because the mistake
of his teacher will be more beneficial for him than his own correct opinion”. (Imam Gazzali)

 Honour his teacher and praise him/her.

 Not forget his teacher’s favours.
 Be patient when being reprimanded by a teacher.
 Thank our teachers for their guidance.

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SEEKING ‘ILM – ADAB TOWARDS TEACHERS
Some practical examples:
 Not point one’s feet in the direction of the teacher.
 Not to sit with one’s back facing the teacher.
 Not to engage in arguments, debates or disagreements with the teacher.
 Maintaining good punctuality.
 Having the presence of the mind and soul during lessons ensuring that full
concentration is given.
In general scenarios look at what the situation dictates. Remember, each teacher has
their own personality, so respect each one accordingly.

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SEEKING ‘ILM – ADAB TOWARDS TEACHERS
How do you respect a teacher when studying online? Like right now! (Although I’m not your
teacher!)

 The manner in which you address/write to your teacher.

 Behave as though you are in their presence.
 Respect for teacher, as well the dars of Qur’an and ḥadīth he is delivering can be shown just
as you would if you were in front of him/her by creating your working space as an
environment of learning.

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THE CORRECT MIND-SET
Maintaining the correct mind-set whilst studying is extremely important. Why did you
start? What motivated you?

 Write these things down and constantly remind yourself.

 A student of i’lm is a Shaytān’s workshop, you’re prone to the whispers of Shaytān

because of the field of work you’re into – be more vigilant and prepared.

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THE CORRECT MIND-SET – PUNCTUALITY
A student can be deceived into believing that if he was to miss a lesson he can catch
up by attending other lessons or get notes from a fellow student or read one of the
many books available on the topic. This thought is in fact a big deceit from Shaytan
because the method of attaining the knowledge from other than a teacher cannot be
compared with the blessings which are attained by taking the knowledge directly
from a teacher.
 Example of Shaykh Muhammad Zakariyyah ‫رمحه هللا‬.

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SPREADING I’LM
Remember what we learnt in the intention section? I’lm is not only to implement
yourself, rather to also share with others.

We have many tools today that create ease of spreading the I’lm we learn – you
would obviously share the appropriate subjects.

If every student that has attended the course today writes a post worth one
paragraph on the same topic for a week, we would have our own book consisting of
over hundred pages!

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SPREADING I’LM
We have:

 Social Media (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook etc)

 Messaging Services (WhatsApp, MSN Messenger etc)

 Word of Mouth

 Your actions

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TAZKIYYAH – SPIRITUALITY
Tazkiyah refers to the cleansing of one’s heart from the spiritual illnesses – and this is
detrimental for a student in order for the pure I’lm to seep into one’s heart.
Imam Shafi ‫ رمحه هللا‬to Waki` ibn Jarrah ‫( رمحه هللا‬his teacher)

‫َش َك ْو ُت إ ََل َو ِكيع ٍ ُس َوء ِح ْف ِظي فَأأ ْر َشدَ ِِن إ ََل تَ ْر ِك إمل َعايص‬
‫نور هللا اليؤىت لعايص‬ ُ ‫َو أأخ َ ََْب ِِن بأَ َّن إل ِع ْ َمل ن ُور و‬
I complained to Waki’ about my poor memory:
“Give up your sins!” was his advice to me;
“For knowledge is a light from Divinity,
and the Light of God is veiled by iniquity.”
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 CONCLUDING WORDS
 Go over these notes constantly.
 You’re the heir of the ambiya, remember that! The title comes with great
responsibility.
 Constantly ask Allah for assistance, make du’a. Bring the dhikr of Allah into your
life.
‫ إن َِك عَىل َما تَشَ ا ُء قَ ِد ُير َو َأن َْت َح ْْ ِِ َو ِن ْع َم َإلو ِكيل‬،‫ فَ ُرضُ ُه عَ ِيل ِع ْندَ َحا َج ِِت إلَي ِه‬،‫ إللَّهُ َّم إ ِِن َأ ْس َت ْو ِدعُ َك َما قَر أأ ُت َو َما َح َف ْظ ُت‬
ِ ِ ِ
‫ئت َسهْ ًال‬َ ‫ إللَّهُ َّم َال َسهْ ًال إ ِ َال َما َج َعل ِ َته َسهْ ًال َو َأن َِت َ َِت َع َل إحل ََز َن إ َذإ ِش‬
ِ ِ
‫َش ٍء قَ ِد ْير‬
َْ ‫ك‬ ً َ َ ‫ َإل ّٰل ِهُ َّم إ ْج َع ْل ِ ِْل ِ ِْف قَلْ ِ ِْ ن ُْو ًرإ َو ب‬
ِ ُ ‫َصإ َو فَهْ ًما َو ِعلْ ًما ِإن ََّك عَ ّٰىل‬

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Siblings Of I’lm