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Many times young Muslims decide they want to become scholars and embark on the path of knowledge with little knowledge of what to expect. I was such a youngster who signed up for an
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About Ismail Kamdar
Jazakallahu Khairan for this advice. I really appreciate this. May Allah accept this and give you more good deeds as a result of it.
This is quite possibly the shallowest writing I’ve ever seen on this website. You seem to have a chip on your shoulder about your past and make generalizations based on it.
Bismillah,
I re-read the article after reading your comment. I can not reconcile your coment with the article.
Please re read it again with less emphasis on who the author is and more on what the overall message is calling to.
yahya
http://www.facebook.com/yahya.adel.ibrahim
Barakallah Feek Shaykh
4. People will judge you hehe
JazakAllah for sharing what your learned from your experience brotha! I thought #7 was especially important, even when we’re talking about other fields.
bismillairRahmanirRaheem
assalamu alaikkum warahmathullahi wabarakathuhu,
On the contrary to what u have said above, i thought that this is one of the best articles as each pointer the author has given is absolutely true and what most of the students of knowledge go through.
May Allah,subhanata’ala reward all those who work in His cause immensely and keep all of us in the straight path.
-umm aman
This comment just proved the necessity of articles like these.
I just wanted to echo what the others have mentioned… your comment seems to bear no relation to the article. I found it to be quite accurate myself, and I’ve seen people fall into the traps that it highlights many times.
I would love to read your article iman. You seem to know what would be the best advice to give students of knowledge. Alhamdulillah
As Salaam Alaykum,
Greatly appreciate this article. I’m a new Muslim and though, not yet a full fledged student of knowledge, I’m putting up an effort to learn, Alhamdulillah. Therefore, I can totally relate to your points here. May Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you and may Allah make it easy for you. May Allah bless us all with beneficial knowledge.
MashaAllah! I like this article very much because the author speaks the truth. Many times, muslims can’t differentiate between literacy and scholarship. When this happened, ignorance take over.
Very good one !! Masha Allah. We should read this article EVERY day to remind ourselves.
That’s a good way to put it :)
Jazakallahu khairaan kaseera brother ..Mashaallah .One of the best article. One of the biggest blessing from Allah subahanawtala is understanding of the deen . If you are a student of ilm ,never ever take this naima [blessing ] lightly..
Salam Alaikum Br. Ismail,
Good article… may Allah reward you. How do you manage to do so many things?
Wa Alaikum Salaam Akhi Khader
I can give a few pointers:
1. Make time to fulfill the rights of everyone
2. Plan yourself and make a schedule
3. Make dua for barakah in time
4. Make time for fun and relaxing but stick to your times
Allah knows best
subhanaAllah such a truthful and beautiful article. jazakaAllah kul khair for taking the time and effort in opening the eyes of those who are studying the Deen, those who will study the Deen and those who are not studying at all but try to be good Muslims.
Assalamu’Alaikum:
Jazak’Allah Khairin for this. I can relate to this article and it serves as a reminder to monitor oneself from falling into these “traps”.
-Aly
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Assalam alaikum,
I guess we can add these two also:
1. The knowledge you have gained is not something you own but it was something that was GIVEN to you.
2. Humble one’s self, as that is a KEY for true people of knowledge.
And Allah SWT Knows Best.
Wa Alaikum Salaam
Jazakallah Khair for these. They are also very important.
- a very good reminder
Alhamdulillah very nice article.
and No. 1 is indeed the most important. I see many people who have studied overseas and gotten a few degrees who love to show themselves off as “scholars” even though they are just “students of knowledge”. Even Shaykh Abdul Muhsin Abbaad said regarding those who graduate from Madeenah that they are to be considered only beginners on the path to knowledge. Yet I see people satisfied when others call them “Shaykh” and scholars which only increases their arrogance and riyaa.
The primary objective of these “tullabul ilm” and “daees” apart from teaching people the basics of the deen is to be mere signposts to the real scholars of Islaam. There are no scholars in the West and we should not delude ourselves into thinking so.
Awesome, I really enjoyed & benefited from this article.
An article full of wisdom. Jazak Allahu Khairan. I will definitely share it.
Jazak Allah khair. Excellent reminders.
Point 8 cannot be overstated:
None of us actually guides anyone. If we, or even our arguments, were what guides people then repeating the best arguments should always work. But Allah reminds us (eg surah al layl) “inna alayna lalhuda.”
The most a student of knowledge can be is a good reminder: well mannered, strong of character, mind, and body — and thus a good conveyor of dawah and naseeha.
If there is a good reciprocal for point 8, for the person who has cultivated patience: “only Allah decides when someone has had enough reminders or opportunities to repent.” If you truly wish good for the person to whom you give dawah or naseeha, then realize that today’s denier of the deen may be tomorrow’s reviver of Islam. it helps to remember and be grateful to Allah for His patience with you during your own weakness(es).
great comment…mashallah fantastic insight
i think it would have been beneficial if there was a reminder for the dangers of Riya (showing off).
Otherwise good article
You are right, I should have mentioned Riya specifically.
Although the first point does deal with Riya, it would have been better to mention it by name as it is one of the major diseases that students of knowledge can easily fall into.
As Salaamu Alaikum Sheikh,
This is by far one of the best articles in recent times published at muslimmatters. Your lessons hit me right in the heart, and I felt some parts of my life being reflected in these words. I am by no means a scholar, not even that good of a student of knowledge. I try, but have the capacity to do more…and May Allah guide us all and unlock for us the strength and endurance to learn and strive for the truth as he unlocked these abilities for the nabi’s, and the saliheen of the past.
I have one question regarding this article. On number4 you said that we would be judged. Subhanallah, your explanation popped right out of the paper, and I felt it in my life. When I started to practice Islam (as before religion was not a concern of mine) my family first of all started to judge me. My family saw me keeping a beard, and they saw me reading qur’an late into the night – and all of a sudden I became sort of an outcast. More ofen than not my parents would tell me to shut of the lectures, as they were effecting my studies (which they were not as my grades were fine) and they told me to stop going to the masjid so often as it was effecting my studies (again, my grades were fine)…and it was okay until I once, just once, never after that – I told my sister who is in her mid twenties, “aapi (as we call sisters in our language) allah commands the believing muslim women to cover themselves, (i.e. Hijaab).” The words were not even completely out of my mouth that I heard a barrage of judgement. “You’re not perfect. Look at all your mistakes. You are this and you are that. You don’t at once always listen to your parents (which is for a small part a true statement yet I am trying.) She goes on…” How many verses does Allah balance, and you aren’t you becoming extreme? You think you’re a know it all now? How much of that do you follow? Don’t talk about religion to me! If I want to learn more about it, I will go research it myself.” I promise by Allah that this is a lot of my recollection of what she said. My parents whom may Allah bless with al Firdaus, were also a little judgmental. He, my father told me, Son – you speak a lot about what you don’t know. I used to be part of tabligh, and I have seen those maulanas to whom you listen to in all those lectures. On one hand they speak nice – but they are lying, mean people. They will tell you to do good, but do evil themselves. My father, may Allah bless him, is in his 60′s and comes from a gangster part of the world where he has nearly been killed many times – in part because of some corrupt maulanas, and people he used to hang with. Now he paints all those “sheikhs, and maulanas” with the same “gangster” picture.
Anyways, I know that this is a long post, and I am sorry for that, but for number 4 you mentioned we should deal appropriately with this judgement. That is really bugging me, because I would love to know what and how a student of knowledge should deal with judgement – especially from those closest to us. This is especially important since many of our parents are immigrants to this country who fled the in essence corrupt muslim rule of other countries. Now they stray from their deen after coming to this country, and judge those reverting to their deen as extremist – or hypocrites. How should we deal with them, sheikh? Please if you find the time – reply, as this would greatly benefit me, and some other people. Once again, may Allah bless you for this article – it is a wonderful reminder, and may Allah bless me, you, and the believing men and women with Jannatul Firdaus, the best of the best of Jannah.
Salaam
Excellent article- and subhan Allah all the points were great but number 4 especially hit me too. I think this is a similar case across the board when one family member becomes practicing the other members start to judge. In my opinion being judged by outsiders is soo much easier to deal with but when it is your family it really hurts. Recently a member of my family told me to be “take my hijab off and lead a normal life!”
I have found that the best dawa with family is to be an example rather than verbal preaching.
I think it would be great to have more detailed articles based around these points insha Allah.
ws
Wa Alaikum Salaam
I agree with Hira.
When it comes to family, it is best to first lead by example. Many of us make the mistake that when we first start practicing, we become harsh towards family members who do not, this just makes things worse, chases them away and makes them think that Islam makes peopel harsh and rude.
Rather our practice of the Deen should increase our good manners and kindness towards them.
Be a role model, and find wise and friendly ways to get your message across to them without coming across as judgemental. The book “Enjoy Your Life” by Shaykh Muhammad Al-Arifi is a good guide on how to do so, you can find it online by clicking here.
Jazakum Allahu khayran…a very thoughful,educational and enjoyable read :)
@Iman plz reread the “Manners come first” bit then try again
Jazak Allah Khair Ustad Ismail,
Excellent article. A must read for all students of ilm. May Allah make us all humble in the path of ilm and sincierly work for His sake while being patient with the tests along the way. Ameen.
Masha Allah! Sheer words of wisdom! May Allah reward you.
Jazakallah Khair to everyone for your kind comments. :)
A Really Good Article, masha Allah. may Allah accept it from u. I found the first three points the most beneficial.
Just one thing though: Didn’t really like the point 7. Referring to moulanas, shaikhs as “donkeys” carrying books. If not only being disrespectful, that’s kind of being judgmental about them. And as far as I know the purpose/intention behind seeking knowledge should be the worship of Allah…
baarak Allahu feekum. please remember me in ur du’a. may Allah guide me and all muslims. ameen.
The comment about donkeys carrying books was referring to Surah Jumuah (62:5) in which Allah describes those who know the Torah but do not practice or preach it to be like donkeys carrying books, the same applies for anyone with religious knowledge who does not benefit from it. So this was not meant to offend anyone, rather it was meant to be a warning to myself and other students not to go against this Qur’anic warning.
بسم الله رØمن رØيم
أسلام عليكم Ùˆ رØمة الله Ùˆ بركاته
We must remember that علم belongs to الله alone & what ever man acquires is بي إذن الله
In that case what right has man to be haughty!!
If Khidr AS said that his knowledge is not even as much as the drop of water held in the beak of a bird & remembering that الله S W T sent His Prophet Musa A S to seek knowledge from him
How humble should we be!!!
Isn’t Øكمة wisdom?
علم is knowledge
Yes, that is correct
Barak Allahu Feek, great article.
Jazakallah Khair for sharing the article.
Insha Allah, it will be beneficial for all brothers and sisters
Important Points particularly point no. 1, may Allah keep students of knowledge on correct islamic intentions. Also, since students of knowledge are more susceptible to satanic traps, one has to elevate themselves more than before (when they were not a student of knowledge) and keep on guard
Jazakallah Khair for this wonderful article! i was really in need of it. May Allah Bless you for sharing your expreiences and advice. May Allah make us all learn from our past mistakes and may He make us sincere seekers and protectors of authentic knowledge. Ameen.
JazaakAllahu khairan. A timely reminder indeed!
I have written in details about point number two last year.
Here is the link:
http://caller2islam.blogspot.com/2010/08/students-of-knowledge-we-need-to-watch.html
great article mashallah barakallah feekum all
good points to ponder about as students of knowledge
Jazakallah Kheyran & Allah Barik Fyka for such an informative article. May the Almighty Allah grant us Goodness & in this Life & Hear after & May he Grant you more knowledge to guide us . Amin
Salam Alaikum. Brother ismail kamdar. Really love your articles. They are so informative and inspiring. May Allah Azza Wajjal enrich you with more authentic knowledge and make it of benefit to yourself first for this world and the hereafter and make it of benefit to Muslims.
Jazakallah khair wa ameen!
‘Allāh loves you and wants to test your love for Him’ – really love this!
Assalamulaikum Sheikh Ismail,A very thoughtful article that resonates with many of us. May Allah grant us all guidance. Aameen.
JAZAK ALLAHU KHAIR shaikh very nice article..thanx for your advice
jazakallah khair very nice n informative alhamdullilah…..
its really nice site to help not only students but to all Muslims in general. MASHALLAH, JAZAKOMULLAH, …but is there any way to propagate and project this side to as many Muslim as we can …so that every body could be benefited of it…..i think it should be advertised on all major websites which are visited the most on daily bases.
gr8 work done! MASHALLAH ..The Mukharij topic really helped me to good extent but..i think the way English phonetics worked out …we need to work more on ARABIC mukharij…the pronunciation of arabic alphabets in sounds and with different words is not available. one can understand the it may take time…never the less its good initiative. i want udru mukharij …or udu pronunciation….can any one help me out???
urdu mukharij …urdu pronunciation…..yes
Interesting article with many good tips to remember.
Assalaamu ‘alaykum. Jazaakallaahu khair for the informative article and may Allaah make it an evidence for you on the Day of Judgement.
I just wanted to add and ask – financial stability is pretty hard to maintain when seeking knowledge and teaching and this is a big put off for many people I know. How do the students of knowledge and daa’ees provide for themselves and their families given that they’ve only studied Islaam? We know that Allaah provides from where we do not expect if we fear him and keep our duty to him but how do these daa’ees provide for themselves if Islaam is all they have studied?
Baarakallaahu feekum.