Precious Advice for Students of Knowledge

Indeed, it comforts the soul.

It gladdens the heart to see these students of knowledge.

They are keen and they attend.

And this, by Allah ﷻ, is a blessing for me and for them.

Knowledge, brothers, is an honor for its bearer.

and a rise in rank.

If a person is granted sincerity.

Allah ﷻ says, "Allah will raise those who believe among you.

and those given knowledge in ranks.

Brothers, we need genuine students of knowledge.

Not mere claims.

For it is harmful for a person to claim he is a student of knowledge.

and sit at home. He does not seek.

Nor does he know.

As for us, all praise and favor belong to Allah.

In our lands, we live in security, safety, and well-being.

We ask Allah to grant us gratitude for blessings.

and keep goodness firm for us, and increase us from His bounty.

But some seekers of knowledge grow lazy.

Nothing holds them back, neither fear nor lack.

It is only laziness.

Or—Allah forbid—self-conceit.

And this has no place in the heart of a student of knowledge.

For scholars say: The more one knows, the humbler he is.

Knowledge here means beneficial knowledge.

One who learns sound knowledge is not arrogant over people or knowledge.

Rather, the more he learns the more he thinks he is ignorant.

because the extent of what he does not know appears to him, so he grows humble.

Therefore, some scholars say: Whoever thinks he's arrived is ignorant.

Who thinks he's Shaykh al-Islam,

the imam others consult, and he consults no one.

is ignorant.

For Allah ﷻ says to His Prophet.

"And say, 'My Lord, increase me in knowledge.'"

And you, seeker of knowledge, must learn however high your rank rises.

And you should be humble and diligent.

By Allah, arrogance truly kills the student of knowledge fatally.

So he withers, then ends up giving people fatwas without knowledge.

He goes astray and leads astray.

I have become a shaykh. I have become a university professor.

I'm a preacher now.

I've become a preacher. I've become one—that's all I wanted.

Knowledge is an ocean with no shore.

So if a person grows conceited.

And he does not seek knowledge, then he is struck at a fatal point.

Also, brothers, there is consultation.

Consultation with students of knowledge, reviewing and discussing matters.

If a new case arises, or some matter comes up.

A student of knowledge should consult with his brothers.

And study with his brothers, and review what the scholars say.

And reflect.

So a student of knowledge should not be lazy, nor should he be hasty.

He should not be lazy in seeking knowledge.

Nor should he be hasty.

sticking his head into everything.

Rather, Sharia principles taught us, and so did our scholars: patience.

And a person rejoices to be spared in the matter.

He does not stick his head out and say, "I'm ahead of everyone."

He rejoices when he is spared the case.

Praise be to Allah.

So beware of laziness, and beware of haste.

And be very wary of conceit.

Be active in doing good, and be deliberate as Sharia requires.

Be humble, and you will attain good.

O brothers, I ask Allah ﷻ to enlighten all our understanding.

And make us always among the people of these circles.

These are the gatherings Allah loves.

And tranquility descends upon them.

Mercy envelops them. Allah ﷻ mentions them to those with Him.

So I ask Allah ﷻ not to deprive us of this blessing.

and make us among its people.

until

certainty comes to us, and may He spare us and you the harm of obstacles.

And make us of His righteous servants, helpful and helped. Allah knows best.

Please, by Allah.