In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Our personalities and aptitudes may be different but one thing we should share in common is in pursuit of guidance. The first step to guidance is in pursuit of knowledge.
Knowledge is an integral part of Islam. In one example, Allah tells us in Surah Az-Zumar, verse 9:
هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ[Qur'an, Az-Zumar 39:9]
... Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?"...
And we are familiar with the first word of revelation in Surah Al-Alaq, verse 1:
اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ[Qur'an, Al-Alaq 96:1]
Read, in the Name of your Lord who created.
It’s not just important to have knowledge; traversing the path to acquire knowledge is in itself highly regarded in Islam.
Seeking knowledge is one of the great acts of worship that leads one to the path of Paradise. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) told us: Whoever treads a path seeking knowledge, Allah will make easy for him the path to Paradise. [Ibn Majah and others]
However, the aim behind seeking knowledge is more important than the knowledge itself. Seeking true knowledge with a Divine aim, for the pleasure of Allah and serving His creatures, leads one to Paradise in the company of Prophets and the righteous. But seeking knowledge for personal, mundane, or worldly motives leads a person to ignorance, sins against the creatures of Allah, and ultimately, Hell.
Be sincere towards Allah in seeking knowledge – and indeed in all your affairs; if you intend to dispel ignorance from yourself and from others, and to draw closer to Allah first of all, then this is worship. And you should not seek to show off to people with your knowledge or to argue with the foolish.
One must follow the right way of acquiring knowledge, starting with what is easy before embarking on difficult matters. It is also essential to use a balanced approach and not to take on more than you can handle so that you will not give up.
There is no excuse not to seek knowledge especially in this technological and information age. Allah has given us many ways nowadays that make it easy to seek the knowledge without any hardship and without having to leave the comfort of your home; that is by means of electronics (computer, smartphones, etc) and the internet/wifi.
To begin the path...
You should allocate time for reading Qur'an and for all other branches of knowledge everyday. Read a little about Tawheed and about hadeeth and fiqh and all other branches of knowledge. If you can't travel and study at traditional or formal Islamic schools, there are various sources available online that provide guided study and you should enroll in their program.
You should memorize some of the Qur’an. This can only be achieved by following and sticking to a daily program of memorizing a certain amount.
You should read summaries of all branches of knowledge, and leave the detailed works until later. In almost every branch of knowledge there are books which give a gradual approach, starting with brief discussions and ending with lengthy and detailed analysis. Strive to memorize these texts if you can, because memorizing evidence, whether from the Qur’an or Sunnah, and memorizing the texts of knowledge will help you to follow the correct path to knowledge. The scholars said, “Whoever memorizes the texts has excelled.” You should strive to study the commentaries on these books.
Seek Allah's help always, putting your trust in Allah, pursuing the appropriate means, and praying to Him to make things easy are all among the greatest and most beneficial means of reaching one's goal. Shyness should not prevent you from seeking knowledge and asking questions.
One of the salaf said, “No shy or arrogant person will ever seek knowledge.” So shyness should not stop you from asking questions about Islam. And arrogance is harmful in this world and in the Hereafter; one of its harmful effects in this world is that it keeps a person from asking and learning.
O Allah teach us what is beneficial to us and benefit us by what you have taught us and increase us in knowledge. Ameen.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazak Allahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassallam
Recommended Online Institutes
Free Online Courses: SeekersHub
Free Arabic Course: Institute of the Language of the Qur'an
Bayyinah
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