إن الحمد لله نحمده، ونستعينه، من يهده الله فلا مضل له، ومن يضلل فلا هادي له ، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، وأن محمدا عبده ورسوله . أما بعد:
The Student Must Preach According to His Ability
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: وَمَا كَانَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لِيَنفِرُوا كَافَّةً ۚ فَلَوْلَا نَفَرَ مِن كُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ طَائِفَةٌ لِّيَتَفَقَّهُوا فِي الدِّينِ وَلِيُنذِرُوا قَوْمَهُمْ إِذَا رَجَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَحْذَرُونَ ﴿١٢٢﴾
❀ Allah Almighty has said:
“And it is not for the believers to go forth all at once. So why does not a group from every sect among them go forth to acquire understanding in the religion, and warn their people when they return to them, so that they may beware (of Allah).”
Hadith 1
عن عبد الله بن عمرو رضي الله عنهما ، قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بلغوا عنى ولو آية ، وحدثوا عن بني إسرائيل و لا حرج ، و من كذب على متعمدا ، فليتبوأ مقعده من النار
“Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Convey from me even if it is one verse. Narrate the incidents of Bani Israel; there is no harm in that. And whoever deliberately lies upon me, let him prepare his place in Hell.”
Understanding of Religion is the Grace of Allah Almighty
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: يُؤْتِي الْحِكْمَةَ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَن يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ ﴿٢٦٩﴾
❀ Allah Almighty has said:
“And He gives wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever has been given wisdom has certainly been given much good. And none will remember except those of understanding.”
Hadith 2
و عن معاوية رضي الله عنه ، قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : من يرد الله به خيرا يفقهه فى الدين ، وإنما أنا قاسم والله يعطى
“And Hazrat Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: When Allah intends good for someone, He grants him understanding of the religion. I am only a distributor of knowledge, while understanding is granted by Allah.”
Being Envious of a Student
Hadith 3
و عن ابن مسعود رضی اللہ عنہ ، قال : قال رسول الله صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم : لا حسد إلا فى اثنتين: رجل آتاه الله مالا فسلطه على هلكته فى الحق ، ورجل آتاه الله الحكمة فهو يقضي بها ويعلمها
“And Hazrat Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: It is permissible to be envious of two types of people: one is the person whom Allah has given wealth and then granted him the ability to spend it in the way of truth. The other is the person whom Allah has given wisdom, and he judges accordingly and teaches it to others.”
A Student Should Make His Knowledge Beneficial
Hadith 4
و عن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه ، قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : إذا مات الإنسان انقطع عنه عمله إلا من ثلاثة أشياء : صدقة جارية ، أو علم ينتفع به ، أو ولد صالح يدعو له
“And Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: When a person dies, all his deeds come to an end except for three: ➊ ongoing charity, ➋ knowledge from which benefit is gained, and ➌ righteous offspring who pray for him.”
The Virtue of Traveling for Seeking Knowledge
Hadith 5
وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : من نفس عن مؤمن كربة من كرب الدنيا، نفس الله عنه كربة من كرب يوم القيامة . ومن يسر على معسر يسر الله عليه فى الدنيا والآخرة، ومن ستر مسلما ستره الله فى الدنيا والآخرة . والله فى عون العبد ما كان العبد فى عون أخيه . ومن سلك طريقا يلتمس فيه علما سهل الله له به طريقا إلى الجنة، وما اجتمع قوم فى بيت من بيوت الله يتلون كتاب الله و يتدارسونه بينهم ، إلا نزلت عليهم السكينة ، وغشيتهم الرحمة وحفتهم الملائكة. وذكرهم الله فيمن عنده. ومن بطأ به عمله لم يسرع به نسبه
“And Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Whoever relieves a believer from some worldly hardship, Allah will relieve him from some hardship on the Day of Resurrection; whoever makes things easy for one who is in difficulty, Allah will make things easy for him in this world and the Hereafter; whoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and the Hereafter; Allah continues to help His servant as long as the servant helps his brother; and whoever travels a path in search of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him the path to Paradise because of it; and when some people gather in a house of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and teaching and learning from it, tranquility descends upon them, mercy envelops them, angels surround them, and Allah mentions them among those with Him; and whoever is held back by his deeds, his lineage will not bring him forward.”
The Student Should Develop Sincerity Within Himself
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: قُلْ إِنِّي أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصًا لَّهُ الدِّينَ ﴿١١﴾
❀ Allah Almighty has said:
“Say! Indeed, I have been commanded to worship Allah, being sincere to Him in religion.”
Hadith 6
وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه ، قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : إن أول : الناس يقضى عليه يوم القيامة رجل استشهد ، فأتي به فعرفه نعمته فعرفها ، فقال : فما عملت فيها؟ قال : قاتلت فيك حتى استشهدت. قال: كذبت ، ولكنك قاتلت لان يقال: جرىء، فقد قيل ، ثم أمر به فسحب على وجهه حتى ألقي فى النار. و رجل تعلم العلم وعلمه ، وقرأ القرآن ، فأتي به فعرفه نعمه فعرفها . قال : فما عملت فيها؟ قال: تعلمت العلم و علمته ، و قرأت فيك القرآن قال : كذبت ، ولكنك تعلمت العلم ليقال: إنك عالم ، و قرأت القرآن ليقال : هو قاريء ، فقد قيل ، ثم أمر به فسحب على وجهه حتى ألقي فى النار. و رجل وسع الله عليه و اعطاه من أصناف المال كله ، فأتي به فعرفه نعمه فعرفها ، قال : فما عملت فيها؟ قال: ما تركت من سبيل تحب أن ينفق فيها إلا أنفقت فيها لك . قال: كذبت ، ولكنك فعلت ليقال: هو جواد ، فقد قيل ، ثم أمر به فسحب على وجهه ثم ألقي فى النار
“And Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: On the Day of Resurrection, the judgment of the martyr will be pronounced first. He will be presented, and Allah will remind him of His blessings, and he will acknowledge them. Then Allah will say: What did you do in return (as gratitude)? He will say: I fought in Your cause until I was martyred. Allah Almighty will say: You have lied, for you fought to gain the reputation of bravery and courage. And so it has been said. Then the judgment will be passed that he be dragged on his face and thrown into Hell. The second person, who acquired knowledge and taught it to others and recited the Qur’an, will also be presented. Allah will remind him of His blessings, and he will acknowledge them. Allah will ask: What did you do in return? He will say: I learned knowledge and taught it to others, and I recited the Qur’an for Your pleasure. Allah Almighty will say: You have lied, rather you acquired knowledge so that you would be called a scholar and recited the Qur’an so that you would be called a reciter. And so it has been said. Then the judgment will be passed that he be dragged on his face and thrown into Hell. And the third person, whom Allah Almighty has blessed abundantly with wealth and possessions of all kinds, will be presented. Allah will remind him of His blessings, and he will recognize them. Allah will ask: What did you do in return? He will say: I spent in all those opportunities where spending pleased You. Allah Almighty will say: You have lied; you spent so that you would be called very generous. And so it has been said. Then the judgment will be passed that he be dragged on his face and thrown into Hell.”
A student should refrain from issuing fatwas without knowledge
Hadith 7
و عن عبد الله بن عمرو رضي الله عنهما ، قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : إن الله لا يقبض العلم انتزاعا ينتزعه من العباد، ولكن يقبض العلم بقبض العلماء ، حتى إذا لم يبق عالما ، إتخذ الناس رؤوسا جهالا ، فسئلوا فافتوا بغير علم، فضلوا وأضلوا
“And Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Allah will not remove knowledge from the hearts of the servants, but He will take away the souls of the scholars, and when no scholar remains, people will appoint ignorant leaders as their muftis, and when asked about a matter, they will issue fatwas without knowledge; they will themselves be misguided and will misguide others.”
A student should consider ease when preaching to people
Hadith 8
و عن شقيق ، كان عبد الله بن مسعود يذكر الناس فى كل خميس . فقال له رجل : يا أبا عبد الرحمن لوددت أنك ذكرتنا فى كل يوم . قال : أما إنه يمنعني من ذلك أنى أكره أن املكم ، وأني أتخولكم بالموعظة كما كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يتخولنا بها مخافة السامة علينا
“And Hazrat Shaqiq (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (may Allah be pleased with him) used to preach and advise people every Thursday. Someone said to him: Abu Abdur Rahman! I want you to preach and advise us every day. He replied: Listen! The only thing that prevents me from preaching and advising every day is that I do not want to bore you. I take care of you through preaching and advising just as the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to take care of us with the concern that we should not get bored.”
The Reward of a Student Who Guides Towards Goodness
Hadith 9
و عن أبى مسعود الأنصاري رضي الله عنه رواه ، قال: جاء رجل إلى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال : إنه أبدع بي فاحملني فقال : ما عندي . فقال رجل : يا رسول الله انا ادله على من يحمله . فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : من دل على خير فله مثل أجر فاعله
“And Hazrat Abu Masood Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: My mount has died, please grant me a mount. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: I do not have any mount. A man said: O Messenger of Allah! I know someone who will give him a mount. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Whoever guides to goodness will have a reward similar to that of its doer.”
Ants and Fish Praying for Students of Knowledge
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:الَّذِينَ يَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَيُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ رَّحْمَةً وَعِلْمًا فَاغْفِرْ لِلَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَاتَّبَعُوا سَبِيلَكَ وَقِهِمْ عَذَابَ الْجَحِيمِ ﴿٧﴾ رَبَّنَا وَأَدْخِلْهُمْ جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ الَّتِي وَعَدتَّهُمْ وَمَن صَلَحَ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَزْوَاجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ ﴿٨﴾ وَقِهِمُ السَّيِّئَاتِ ۚ وَمَن تَقِ السَّيِّئَاتِ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَقَدْ رَحِمْتَهُ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ ﴿٩﴾
❀ Allah Almighty has said:
“The (angels) who bear the Throne and those around it exalt their Lord with praise and believe in Him, and ask forgiveness for those who have believed, saying: ‘Our Lord, You have encompassed all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who have repented and followed Your way, and save them from the punishment of the blazing Fire. Our Lord, and admit them to the Gardens of perpetual residence which You have promised them and whoever was righteous among their fathers, their spouses, and their offspring. Indeed, it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.’ And protect them from the evil consequences [of their deeds]. And whoever is protected from the evil consequences on that Day – it is those who will be the successful.”
Hadith 10
و عن أبى أمامة الباهلي رضي الله عنه ، قال: ذكر لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم رجلان : أحدهما عابد والآخر عالم، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : فضل العالم على العابد كفضلي على أدناكم . ثم قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : إن الله وملائكته وأهل السماوات والأرض حتى النملة فى جحرها ، و حتى الحوت ، ليصلون على معلم الناس الخير
Al-Muhaddith Al-Bani has declared it authentic.
“And Abu Umamah رضي الله عنه narrates that two men were mentioned to the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, one of whom was a worshipper and the other a scholar. The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: The superiority of the scholar over the worshipper is like my superiority over the least of you. Then the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: Indeed, Allah, His angels, the creatures of the earth and the heavens, even the ant in its hole, and the fish, pray for the one who teaches people good and beneficial knowledge.”
Advice to the Student of Knowledge to Speak the Truth
Hadith 11
و عن أبى هريرة رضی اللہ عنہ ، قال : قال رسول الله صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم : من سئل عن علم علمه ثم كتمه، الجم يوم القيامة بلجام من نار
Muhaddith Albani has graded it as Hasan Sahih.
“And Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: Whoever is asked about knowledge that he knows and then conceals it, on the Day of Resurrection, a bridle of fire will be placed on him.”
The Reward of Seeking Knowledge for the Pleasure of Allah Almighty
Hadith 12
و عن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه ، قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : من تعلم علما مما يبتغى به وجه الله، لا يتعلمه إلا ليصيب به عرضا من الدنيا، لم يجد عرف الجنة يوم القيامة
Muhaddith Albani has graded it as Sahih.
“And Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: Whoever learns knowledge by which the pleasure of Allah is attained, but only for the sake of worldly wealth and possessions, then on the Day of Resurrection he will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise.”
Hadith 13
و عن ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه ، قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : نضر الله عبدا سمع مقالتي فحفظها و وعاها وأداها ، فرب حامل فقه غير فقيه ، ورب حامل فقه إلى من هو افقه منه . ثلاث لا يغل عليهن قلب مسلم: اخلاص العمل لله، والنصيحة للمسلمين، ولزوم جماعتهم، فإن دعوتهم تحيط من ورائهم
“And Hazrat Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: May Allah keep fresh the face of the person who hears my Hadith, remembers it, preserves it, and then conveys it to others. Sometimes the people of knowledge are not jurists, and sometimes a jurist conveys the matter to someone more knowledgeable than himself. There are three qualities about which the heart of a Muslim does not betray: that the action is purely for the pleasure of Allah, that there is goodwill for the Muslims, and that one remains attached to their community, for their invitation will protect them from all sides.”
The Student Should Convey According to His Knowledge
Hadith 14
و عن عبد الله بن مسعود رضي الله عنه ، قال : يا أيها الناس! من علم شيئا فليقل به ، ومن لم يعلم فليقل : الله أعلم ، فإن من العلم ان تقول لما لا تعلم : الله أعلم . قال الله تعالى لنبيه: قل ما أسألكم عليه من أجر وما أنا من المتكلفين
“And Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: O people! Whoever has knowledge about something should speak about it, and whoever does not have knowledge should say: (Allah knows best). Because saying ‘Allah knows best’ about something you do not know is also a matter of knowledge. Allah Almighty said to His Noble Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم: Say: I do not ask you for any reward for it, nor am I one of the pretenders.”
The Student Should Teach People the Book and Sunnah
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: قُلْ هَٰذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ ۚ عَلَىٰ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي ۖ وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ﴿١٠٨﴾
❀ Allah Almighty said:
“(O Prophet!) Say: This is my way; I call to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me. And exalted is Allah; and I am not of the polytheists.”
Hadith 15
وعن أنس رضي الله عنه ، أن أهل اليمن قدموا على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قالوا: ابعث معنا رجلا يعلمنا السنة والإسلام ، قال: فأخذ بيد أبى عبيدة، قال: هذا أمين هذه الأمة
“And Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Yemeni people came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: Send with us a man who will teach us the Sunnah and Islam. He took the hand of Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: He is the trustworthy one of this Ummah.”
Along with acquiring knowledge, action is necessary
Hadith 16
وعن عباس رضي الله عنه ، قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : يظهر هذا الدين حتى يجاوز البحار ، وحتى تخاص بالخيل فى سبيل الله ، ثم يأتى أقوام يقرءون القرآن، فإذا قرأوا قالوا: قد قرأنا القرآن، فمن أقرء منا؟ من اعلم منا؟ ثم التفت إلى أصحابه، فقال: هل ترون فى أولئك من خير ؟ قالوا: لا – قال: فأولئك منكم ، وأولئك من هذه الأمة ، وأولئك هم وقود النار
“And Hazrat Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: This religion will become apparent and will cross the seas, until horses will plunge (into the sea) in the way of Allah. Then people will come who will recite the Quran and after reciting it will say: We have recited the Quran, who is more reciter than us? Who has more knowledge than us? Then turning to his companions he asked: What do you think, will there be any good in them? They said: No. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: These people will be from among you, these people will be from this Ummah, and these people will be the fuel of the Fire.”
Explanation of Knowledge but with Evidence
Hadith 17
وعن أبى عثمان النهدي ، قال: كنت عند عمر وهو يخطب الناس فقال فى خطبته ، فذكره مرفوعا: إن أخوف ما أخاف على أمتي كل منافق عليم اللسان
“And Abu Uthman Nahdi says: I was with Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), he was addressing the people, and he said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: I fear for my Ummah the most from the hypocrite who is eloquent with his tongue.”
Adopt the methodology of the Quran, Sunnah, and the understanding and practice of the noble Companions
Hadith 18
وعن العرباض بن سارية ، قال: وعظنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم موعظة ذرفت منها العيون ، ووجلت منها القلوب، فقلنا: يارسول الله! إن هذه لموعظة مودع، فما ذا تعهد إلينا؟ قال: قد تركتكم على البيضاء ليلها كنهارها ، لا يزيغ عنها بعدي إلا هالك ومن يعش منكم فسيرى اختلافا كثيرا ، فعليكم بما عرفتم من سنتي، وسنة الخلفاء الراشدين المهديين ، عضوا عليها بالنواجذ ، وعليكم بالطاعة وإن عبدا حبشيا ، فإنما المؤمن كالجمل الأنف ، حيثما قيد انقاد
“And it is narrated from Hazrat Arabadh bin Sariyah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) gave us such a sermon that tears flowed from our eyes and our hearts were filled with fear. We said: O Messenger of Allah! This feels like a farewell sermon, so what will you advise us? He (peace be upon him) said: I have left you on the white (and clear Shariah), whose night is as bright as its day. Now, only the one who is doomed will be misguided. Whoever among you lives will see much disagreement. So hold firmly to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided Caliphs according to your understanding, and hold it tightly. Obedience to the (Caliph) is obligatory upon you, even if he is an Abyssinian slave. Indeed, the believer is like a tethered camel; when its tether or rein is held and guided, it moves accordingly.”
Protect People from Innovations and Superstitions
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَائِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَّا يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ ﴿٦﴾
❀ Allah Almighty has said:
“O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.”
Hadith 19
وعن أبى هريرة مرفوعا: ترد على أمتي الحوض ، وأنا أذود الناس عنه ، كما يذود الرجل إبل الرجل عن إبله – قالوا: يانبي الله أتعرفنا؟ قال: نعم، لكم سيما ليست لأحد غيركم تردون على غرا محجلين من آثار الوضوء – وليصدن عنى طائفة منكم، فلا يصلون ، فأقول: يارب هؤلاء من صحابي؟! فيجيبني ملك فيقول: وهل تدرى ما أحدثوا بعدك
“And Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: My Ummah will come to me at the Pond (Hawd). I will reject some people from it as a man drives away the camels of another from his own camels. The Companions said: O Prophet of Allah! Will you recognize us? He (peace be upon him) said: Yes, you will have a sign that others will not have; you will come to me with your foreheads, both hands, and both feet shining due to the effect of ablution. But a group among you will be stopped from reaching me. I will say: O my Lord! Are these my companions? An angel will reply to me: Do you not know that after you they introduced innovations (bid’ah) in the religion.”
Avoidance of Fabricated Stories and Anecdotes
Hadith 20
وعن خباب، عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: إن بني إسرائيل لما هلكوا قصوا
“And Hazrat Khabbab (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: The Children of Israel were destroyed because they began to tell fabricated stories.”
Prohibition of Concealing Knowledge
Hadith 21
وعن أبى هريرة، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: مثل الذى يتعلم العلم ثم لا يحدث به ، كمثل الذى يكنز الكنز فلا ينفق منه
“And Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Whoever acquires knowledge but does not convey it (to people), his example is like a person who collects treasure but does not spend from it.”
Make Efforts to Spread Islam in Every Language
Hadith 22
وعن خارجة بن زيد ، عن أبيه ، قال : لما قدم النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم المدينة ، أتي بى إليه ، فقرأت عليه ، فقال لي: تعلم كتاب اليهود ، فإنى لا آمنهم على كتابنا – قال: فما مر بي خمس عشرة، حتى تعلمته ، فكنت أكتب للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وأقرأ كتبهم إليه
“And Khārijah bin Zaid narrates from his father, who said: When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ came to Madinah Munawwarah, I was brought to him. I recited some things to him. He ﷺ said to me: Learn the script of the Jews, because I do not trust them with my correspondence. Not even fifteen days had passed when I had learned their script. Then I used to write the letters for the Prophet ﷺ and read their letters to him.”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ Welcomes Students of Knowledge
Hadith 23
وعن عبد الله بن مسعود رضي الله عنه قال: حدث صفوان بن عسال المرادي قال: أتيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو متكي فى المسجد على برد له أحمر فقلت له: يارسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ! إنى جئت أطلب العلم ، فقال: مرحبا بطالب العلم، إن طالب العلم لتحفه الملائكة وتظله بأجنحتها ، ثم يركب بعضهم بعضا، حتى يبلغوا السماء الدنيا، من حبهم لما يطلب – قال: قال صفوان: يا رسول الله! لا نزال نسافر بين مكة والمدينة ، فأفتنا عن المسح على الخفين – فقال له رسول الله صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم : ثلاثة أيام للمسافر ، ويوم وليلة للمقيم
“And Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says that Safwan ibn Assal al-Muradi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was leaning on his red cloak in the mosque (the Prophet’s Mosque), I went to him and said: O Messenger of Allah! I have come to you seeking knowledge. He (peace be upon him) said: Welcome, indeed the angels surround the seeker of knowledge and shade him with their wings and, due to their great number, they ride upon one another until they reach the heaven of the world, because they love what the seeker of knowledge is acquiring. Safwan (may Allah be pleased with him) said: O Messenger of Allah! We remain traveling between Makkah and Madinah, so please give us a ruling about wiping over socks. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: For a traveler, it is permissible for three days, and for a resident, one day and night (to wipe over the socks).”
Allah Almighty Wishes Goodness and Welfare for the Student
Hadith 24
وعن معبد الجهني، قال: كان معاوية قلما يحدث عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم شيئا ويقول هؤلاء الكلمات قلما يدعهن أو يحدث بهن فى الجمع عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: من يرد الله به خيرا يفقهه فى الدين ، وإن هذا المال حلو خضر فمن يأخذه بحقه يبارك له فيه، وإياكم والتمادح ، فإنه الذبح
“And Ma‘bad Jahni says that Hazrat Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated fewer hadiths from the Prophet (peace be upon him), and he rarely omitted these words (or the narrator said) he used to mention in the Friday sermons that the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Allah Almighty grants the one with whom He intends goodness and welfare deep understanding in the religion. This wealth is sweet, lush, and attractive; whoever acquires it with its due right, it will be blessed for him. And you people should avoid praising one another, for doing so is equivalent to slaughtering.”
Remaining Silent When Angry
Hadith 25
وعن ابن عباس مرفوعا: علموا ويسروا ولا تعسروا ، وبشروا ولا تنفروا وإذا غضب أحدكم فليسكت
“And it is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Teach, make things easy, do not make things difficult, give glad tidings and do not cause hatred, and when someone becomes angry, let him remain silent.”
Advice to the Student to Write Books
Hadith 26
وعن أنس مرفوعا قيدوا العلم بالكتاب
“And Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in a raised (marfu’) statement: Restrain knowledge by writing it down.”
The Student Should Make Effort to Pray at Night
Hadith 27
وعن ابن الأدرع ، قال: كنت أحرس النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم ذات ليلة فخرج لبعض حاجته ، قال: فرآني فأخذ بيدي ، فانطلقنا، فمررنا على رجل يصلى يجهر بالقرآن فقال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم : عسى أن يكون مرائيا قال: قلت: يارسول الله يجهر بالقرآن، قال: فرفض يدى ، ثم قال: إنكم لن تنالوا هذا الأمر بالمغالبة :قال ثم خرج ذات ليلة وأنا أحرسه لبعض حاجته ، فأخذ بيدي ، فمررنا برجل يصلى بالقرآن، قال: فقلت: عسى أن يكون مرائيا ، فقال النبى صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم : كلا إنه أواب قال فنظرت فإذا عبد الله ذو البجادين
“And it is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Adra’ (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: One night I was guarding the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and he went out for some need. When he saw me, he also took my hand, so we set out and passed by a person who was reciting aloud in prayer. Upon seeing him, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: He is close to becoming a show-off. I said: O Messenger of Allah! He is reciting the Qur’an aloud, (what is wrong with that)? The Prophet (peace be upon him) released my hand and said: You cannot establish this religion with dominance. He said: Then one night it happened that the Prophet (peace be upon him) went out for some need while I was guarding. (Similarly) the Prophet (peace be upon him) took my hand (and we set out) and passed by a person who was reciting the Qur’an aloud in prayer. This time I said: He is close to becoming a show-off. But the Prophet (peace be upon him) (rejecting my statement) said: Absolutely not, he is one who often turns (to Allah) in repentance. When I looked, it was Abdullah Dhul-Bajadain.”
A student should not speak without research
Hadith 28
وعن أبى هريرة قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : كفى بالمرء إثما أن يحدث بكل ما سمع
“And Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: It is sufficient for a man to be a sinner that he conveys whatever he hears.”
The livelihood of a student is blessed
Hadith 29
وعن أنس، قال: كان أخوان على عهد النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فكان أحدهما يأتى النبى (وفي رواية: يحضر حديث النبى ومجلسه) والآخر يحترف، فشكا المحترف أخاه إلى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: يارسول الله! إن هذا أخي لا يعينني بشي فقال : لعلك ترزق به
“And Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: During the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), there were two brothers; one of them used to come to the Prophet (peace be upon him) regularly, and in one narration it is mentioned that he used to listen to the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) speech and attend his gatherings, while the other brother earned a livelihood. The earning brother came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and (complaining) said: O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)! This is my brother; he does not help me at all. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Perhaps you are provided sustenance because of him.”
A student should not misinterpret the Quran and Sunnah
Hadith 30
وعن عقبة بن عامر الجهني ، قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: هلاك أمتي فى الكتاب واللبن – قالوا: يارسول الله ما الكتاب واللبن؟ قال: يتعلمون القرآن فيتأولونه على غير ما أنزل الله عزوجل ويحبون اللبن فيدعون الجماعات والجمع ، ويبدون
“And it is narrated from Hazrat Uqbah bin Amir Jahni, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, say: The destruction of my Ummah will be through (Allah’s) Book and milk. The Companions asked: O Messenger of Allah! What is this Book and what is this milk (we did not understand)? He, peace be upon him, said: They will learn the Quran, but will interpret it in a way for which Allah did not reveal it. And they will love milk so much that they will abandon congregational prayers and Friday prayers and will go out to the forests (and villages).”
Acquire knowledge and strive to spread it in the world
قال الله تعالى: كنتم خير أمة أخرجت للناس تأمرون بالمعروف وتنهون عن المنكر وتؤمنون بالله ۗ ولو آمن أهل الكتاب لكان خيرا لهم ۚ منهم المؤمنون وأكثرهم الفاسقون ﴿١١٠﴾
❀ Allah Almighty has said:
You are the best nation raised for the good of mankind; you enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. And if the People of the Book had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are some believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient.”
Hadith 31
وعن أبى موسى قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : إن مثل ما بعثني الله عزوجل به من الهدى والعلم كمثل غيث أصاب الأرض ، فكانت منه طائفة قبلت فأنبتت الكلا والعشب الكثير ، وكانت منها أجادب أمسكت الماء فنفع الله عزوجل بها ناسا فشربوا فرعوا وسقوا و زرعوا وأسقوا، وأصابت طائفة منها أخرى، إنما هي قيعان لا تمسك ماء ولا تنبت كلا، فذلك مثل من فقه فى دين الله عزوجل ونفعه الله عزوجل بما بعثني به ونفع به فعلم وعلم ، ومثل من لم يرفع بذلك رأسا ولم يقبل هدى الله عزوجل الذى أرسلت به
Sheikh Hamza Zain has declared it “Authentic Chain.”
“And it is narrated from Hazrat Abu Musa that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: The guidance and knowledge that Allah Almighty has granted me and sent me with is like this rain that falls on the earth. One part of the earth accepted its water and grew abundant grass, and another part was hard; it stopped the water. Allah Almighty benefited many people through it, so they drank the water, gave it to their livestock, cultivated crops, and irrigated the land. Then the same rain fell on that land which was barren; it neither stopped the water nor grew grass. So the former is like the person who gained understanding in religion (i.e., understood the religion and acquired its knowledge), and Allah Almighty benefited through what He sent me with and then benefited people through him. Thus, he himself acquired knowledge and taught it to others. The latter is like the person who did not even raise his head to accept knowledge and guidance, and did not accept the guidance of Allah with which He sent me.”
Students of knowledge should honor and respect
Hadith 32
وعن عبادة بن الصامت رضی اللہ عنہ أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: ليس من أمتي من لم يجل كبيرنا و يرحم صغيرنا و يعرف لعالمنا حقه
Sheikh Hamza Zain has declared it authentic.
“And it is narrated from Hazrat Ubada bin Samit (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: A person is not from my Ummah who does not honor our elders, show mercy to our young ones, and recognize the rights of our people of knowledge.”
People of knowledge are the inheritors of the Prophets (peace be upon them)
Hadith 33
وعن أبى الدرداء رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: فضل العالم على العابد كفضل القمر على سائر الكواكب، إن العلماء هم ورثة الأنبياء ، لم يرثوا دينارا ولا درهما وإنما ورثوا العلم ، فمن أخذه أخذ بحظ وافر
Sheikh Hamza Zain has declared it authentic.
“And it is narrated from Hazrat Abu Darda (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: The one who has knowledge has superiority over the worshipper like the moon has over the rest of the stars. Indeed, the people of knowledge are the inheritors of the Prophets. They did not inherit dinars and dirhams, but they inherited knowledge. So whoever acquires knowledge has taken a great share of the prophetic inheritance.”
Acquiring knowledge is a command from Allah
Hadith 34
وعن عياض بن حمار المجاشعي رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فى خطبة خطبها: إن الله عز وجل أمرني أن أعلمكم ما جهلتم مما علمنى يومي هذا، وأنه قال: إن كل ما نحلته عبادي فهو لهم حلال
Sheikh Hamza Zain has declared it authentic.
“And Hazrat Iyad bin Himar Mujashi رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said in a sermon: Indeed, Allah Almighty has commanded me to teach you the matters of which you are ignorant. Among the matters He has taught me today, He has also said that everything I have given to My servants is lawful for them.”
Description of the Assemblies of Knowledge and the Etiquettes of the Learner
Hadith 35
وعن أبى واقد الليثي رضي الله عنه قال: بينما نحن مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذ مر ثلاثة نفر ، فجاء أحدهم فوجد فرجة فى الحلقة فجلس وجلس الآخر من ورائهم وانطلق الثالث ، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : ألا أخبركم بخبر هؤلاء النفر؟ – قالوا: بلى يا رسول الله قال: أما الذى جاء فجلس فأوى فآواه الله ، والذي جلس من ورائكم فاستحى فاستحى الله منه، وأما الذى انطلق رجل أعرض فأعرض الله عنه
Sheikh Hamza Zain has declared it authentic.
“And it is narrated from Hazrat Abu Waqid Laythi (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: We were sitting with the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, and three individuals passed by. One of them noticed an empty spot inside the gathering and sat there, the second person sat behind the people, and the third one walked away. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: Shall I not tell you about these three individuals? The Companions said: Why not, O Messenger of Allah! He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: The one who advanced and sat took a place, and Allah granted him a place; the one who sat behind you felt shy, and Allah also felt shy of him; and the one who walked away turned away, and Allah also turned away from him.”
Hadith 36
وعن جرير أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال له فى حجة الوداع استنصت الناس فقال لا ترجعوا بعدي كفارا يضرب بعضكم رقاب بعض
“And it is narrated from Hazrat Jarir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said to him during the Farewell Pilgrimage: Make the people silent. Then He said: Do not become disbelievers after me, lest you begin killing one another.”
Encouragement to Ask the People of Knowledge
Hadith 37
وعن ابن عباس رضي الله عنه أن رجلا أصابه جرح فى عهد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فأمر بالاغتسال فمات ، فبلغ ذلك النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: قتلوه قتلهم الله ، ألم يكن شفاء العي السوال
Ahmad Shakir has declared it authentic.
“And it is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man was wounded during the Prophetic era, so he was ordered to perform ghusl (ritual bath) due to janabah (state of major impurity), and he died from that ghusl. When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) heard about this, he said: The people have killed him, may Allah destroy them. Is there not a cure for ignorance in asking?”
Students Should Lead a Life of Practice
Hadith 38
وعن شقيق عن أسامة بن زيد رضي الله عنه قال: قيل له: ألا تدخل على هذا الرجل وفي رواية : ألا تكلم عثمان قال: فقال: ألا ترون أني لا أكلمه إلا أسمعكم، والله! لقد كلمته فيما بيني وبينه مادون أن أفتح أمرا لا أحب أن أكون أنا أول من فتحه ولا أقول لرجل أن يكون على أميرا إنه خير الناس وفي رواية : ولا أقول لرجل إنك خير الناس وإن كان على أميرا بعد ما سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: يؤتى بالرجل يوم القيامة فيلقى فى النار ، فتندلق أقتاب بطنه فيدور بها فى النار كما يدور الحمار بالرحى ، قال: فيجتمع أهل النار إليه ، فيقولون: يا فلان أما كنت تأمرنا بالمعروف وتنهانا عن المنكر؟ قال: فيقول: بلى قد كنت آمر بالمعروف فلا آتيه وأنهى عن المنكر وآتيه
Sheikh Hamza Zain has declared it authentic.
“And Shaqiq says that someone asked Sayyiduna Usama bin Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him): Do you not go and talk to this man, meaning Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him)? He said: Do you think that whenever I talk to him, I will tell you? By Allah! I have spoken to him without announcing anything, while only he and I were present in that gathering. I do not like to announce such matters beforehand. After hearing this hadith, I will not say about any person that he is the best among people, even if he is my leader. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: A man will be brought on the Day of Resurrection and thrown into the fire. His intestines will come out, and he will start circling in Hell like a donkey circling a millstone. Seeing his condition, the people of Hell will gather around him and say: Did you not enjoin us to do good and forbid us from evil? He will say: Yes, but I used to enjoin you to do good while I did not do it myself, and I forbade you from evil while I used to commit it myself.”
Mention of the Prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for Students
Hadith 39
وعن عبد الرحمن بن أبان بن عثمان عن أبيه أن زيد بن ثابت رضي الله عنه خرج من عند مروان نحوا من نصف النهار فقلنا: ما بعث إليه الساعة إلا لشيء سأله عنه ، فقمت إليه فسألته فقال: أجل، سألنا عن أشياء سمعتها من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: نضر الله امرء سمع منا حديثا فحفظه حتى يبلغه غيره ، فإنه رب حامل فقه ليس بفقيه ورب حامل فقه إلى من هو أفقه منه ، ثلاث لا يغل عليهن قلب مسلم أبدا، اخلاص العمل لله ومناصحة ولاة الأمر ولزوم الجماعة ، فإن دعوتهم تحيط من وراء هم – وقال: من كان همه الآخرة، جمع الله شمله وجعل غناه فى قلبه وأتته الدنيا وهى راغمة ، ومن كانت نيته الدنيا فرق الله عليه ضيعته وجعل فقره بين عينيه ولم يأته من الدنيا إلا ما كتب له – وسألنا عن الصلوة الوسطى وهى الظهر
Sheikh Hamza Zain has declared it authentic in chain of narration.
“And Aban bin Uthman says: Hazrat Zaid bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) left Marwan’s place around midday. We said: He must have called him to ask about something at that time. So I got up and went to him and asked him about it. Hazrat Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Yes, he asked me about things which I had heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: May Allah keep fresh the servant who heard a hadith from us, then remembered it, until he conveys it. Many carriers of jurisprudence are not jurists, and many carriers of jurisprudence convey this jurisprudence to those more knowledgeable than themselves. If three things are present, a Muslim’s heart does not betray: one, acting sincerely for the sake of Allah; two, sympathizing with the leaders; and three, adhering to the community, because the prayers of the believers surround them from behind. Also, the Prophet ﷺ said: Whoever has his sight and concern for the Hereafter, Allah arranges his affairs and places richness in his heart, and the world comes humiliated to him. But whoever’s intention and determination is only for this world, Allah increases his distractions and places poverty on his forehead, and he gets only as much of the world as is written in his destiny. He asked us about the middle prayer, and the Prophet ﷺ said: It is Zuhr.”
Near the Day of Judgment, knowledge will be taken away
Hadith 40
وعن أنس بن مالك رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : من أشراط الساعة أن يرفع العلم ويثبت الجهل وتشرب الخمر ويظهر الزنا
Ahmad Shakir has declared it authentic.
“And it is narrated from Hazrat Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: Among the signs of the Day of Judgment is that knowledge will be taken away, ignorance will spread, alcohol will be consumed, and adultery will become widespread.”
وصلى الله تعالى على خير خلقه محمد وآله وصحبه أجمعين
