Counsel on Acquiring Knowledge -- Imam Al-Haddad (Book of Assistance)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Counsel on Acquiring Knowledge

You should have a wird of reading useful knowledge, which is that which increases your knowledge of the Essence of Allah, His Attributes, Acts and favors, makes you aware of His commands and prohibitions, leads you to renounce the things of this world and wish only for the hereafter, and brings your faults, the defects in your acts and the plots of your enemy to your notice. This knowledge is present in the Book, the Sunnah, and the writings of the leaders [imams]. It was collected by the imam al-Ghazali in his highly valuable books. Those who have religious perspicacity, are well steeped in knowledge and have complete certitude have great esteem for his books. If you wish to travel the path and arrive at the levels of Realization you must make it a habit to read them. The Ghazali books are unique among the writings of correct sufis in that they are comprehensive, explicit and greatly effective within a short time.

You must read extensively in books of hadith and tafsir [Qur'anic commentary] and those of the ‘People’¹ in general, for this is where a comprehensive opening and perfect traveling are to be found, as a gnostic once said. However, you must be wary of whatever their treatises include by way of obscure matters and bare Realities. These are present in most of the writings of Shaykh Muhyi al-Din ibn Arabi, and a few of the Imam al-Ghazali treatises such as al-Mi'raj (The Ascent)" and al-Madnun bihi (The Withheld). Shaykh Zarruq gave in his Ta'sis al-Qawaid (The Rules) a warning about such books (read it if you wish), but did not mention the writings of Shaykh 'Abd al-Karim al-Jili, for he was a latecomer; however, all of his writings should, for the sake of safety, be voided. Should it be said: 'There is no harm in reading such hooks, for I take that which I understand and leave alone that which I do not,' I would say: 'You speak fairly; however, what we fear for you is that that which you [think you] understand, you understand incorrectly and 'thereby diverge from the Straight Path', as has happened to some who were assiduous readers of those books, and ended up in heresy and unbelief, and talked about incarnation [hulul] and union [ittihad].' There is neither ability nor power save by Allah the High, the Formidable.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

¹ The 'People' (Al-Qawm) is an expression used to designate the Sufis, particularly the masters among them. It was originally taken from a hadith qudsi where the descent of angels to gatherings of dhikr is described, with Allah's forgiveness embracing all present, including those who just happened to be there for incidental worldly reasons, because the people of dhikr are 'the people whose companions never subtler wretchedness.

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), who said:

“Allah (glorified and exalted be He) has supernumerary angels who rove about seeking out gatherings in which Allah’s name is being invoked: they sit with them and fold their wings round each other, filling in that which is between them and between the lowest heaven. When [the people in the gathering] depart, [the angels] ascend and rise up to heaven.” He (the Prophet - peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Then Allah (mighty and sublime be He) asks them - [though] He is most knowing about them: ‘From where have you come?’ And they say: ‘We have come from some servants of Yours on Earth: they were glorifying You (Subhana llah), exalting you (Allahu akbar), witnessing that there is no god but You (La ilaha illa llah), praising You (Al-Hamdu lillah), and asking [favours] of You.’ He says: ‘And what do they ask of Me?’ They say: ‘They ask of You Your Paradise.’ He says: ‘And have they seen My Paradise?’ They say: ‘No, O Lord.’ He says: ‘And how would it be were they to have seen My Paradise!’ They say: ‘And they ask protection of You.’ He says: ‘From what do they ask protection of Me?’ They say: ‘From Your Hell-fire, O Lord.’ He says: ‘And have they seen My Hell-fire?’ They say: ‘No.’ He says: ‘And how would it be were they to have seen My Hell-fire!’ They say: ‘And they ask for Your forgiveness.’” He (the Prophet - peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Then He says: ‘I have forgiven them and I have bestowed upon them what they have asked for, and I have granted them sanctuary from that from which they asked protection.’” He (the Prophet - peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “They say: ‘O Lord, among then is So-and-so, a much sinning servant, who was merely passing by and sat down with them.’” He (the Prophet - peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “And He says: ‘And to him [too] I have given forgiveness: he who sits with such people shall not suffer.’”

It was related by Muslim (also by al-Bukhari, at-Tirmidhi, and an-Nasa’i).