Having Firmness In How You Seek Knolwedge

strong>By Shaykh Muhammad ibn Sâlih al-’Uthaymîn (rahimahullâh)

“There is a difference between thabât (firmness) and tathabbut (verification), and they are two words which are linguistically similar, yet differ in meaning.

As for thabât, then it implies patience and perserverance not to become tired nor bored and not to take a little from each and every book, nor take a little from each and every subject then leave it, as this harms the student of knowledge by wasting away days without benefit.

Generally, this does not assist in seeking knowledge, and even if it does, then all that has been covered are (secondary) issues and not the principles. Aquiring the (secondary) issues is similar to the one who catches a locust (grasshopper) – one after the other; however, that which is important to possess are the qualities of tas’îl (establishing), rusûkh (steadfastness) and thabât (firmness).

So have thabât (firmness) with regard to the books which you read or refer to and also thabât (firmness) with regard to the scholars from whom you seek knowledge. Do not be like the one who goes to a different scholar every week nor one who goes to another scholar every month, but instead, decide from which scholar who wish to seek knowledge, then when you have decided, make firm your decision. Do not be undecided and go to different scholars every week nor every month. There is no harm in you taking a scholar for Fiqh (Sciences of Islamic Law) and continuing with him in this;… another scholar in ‘Aqîdah and Tawhîd and continuing with him in this. The important thing is to continue and perservere, and not be undecided and drift from one scholar to another. This is like the man who is a persistent divorcer. Whenever he marries a woman, he spends some days with her then divorces her and then goes and finds another woman!”

Source: “The Book of Knowledge” pgs. 69-70.

Imâm al-Awzâ’î on Knowledge

Imâm al-Awzâ’î, rahimahullâh, said,

“Knowledge is what comes from the Companions of Muhammad (sall-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and that which does not come from a single one of them is not knowledge”.

Refer to Jâmi’ Bayân il-’Ilm of Ibn ‘Abdil-Barr (rahimahullâh) (2/36).

The Islamic Naming System

By Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips

Taken From Tafseer Surat Al-Hujuraat

Islam places great emphasis on the clear identification of family relationships. The Prophet (SAW) himself said,

“Learn enough about your lineage to know your blood relatives and treat them accordingly.” (At-Tirmidhee)

That is, family lines should be known well enough to prevent marriages within the forbidden degrees and to determine blood and family obligations.

‘Umar is one of the good actions of Abu Bakr

‘Ammar bin Yasir (radiyaLlahu ‘anhu) said:

“The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘Oh Jibril, tell me of the merits of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab.’ He said, ‘Even if I were to tell you his merits for the length of time that Nuh remained among his people the merits of ‘Umar would not be exhausted, and truly ‘Umar is one of the good actions of Abu Bakr.’”
[Imam al-Suyuti, Tarikh al-Khulafa'].

Leaving Doubtful Matters

The grandson of the Beloved Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), Sayyiduna al-Hasan bin ‘Ali (Allah be pleased with them), narrates from his noble grandfather, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), that he said,

“Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt.”
[al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa'i, and Ahmad; al-Tirmidhi deemed it soundly authentic (hasan sahih), and this was confirmed by other hadith masters]

Imam al-Shafi’i on Knowledge From Books

Imam al-Shafi’i said,

“Whoever takes knowledge from books loses the regulations.”
(Man akhadha al-’ilma min al-kutubi dayya’a al-ahkama).

[Reported by Imam al-Nawawi in the introduction to "al-Majmu'"]

Forsaking Three Things

As-salamu ‘alaykum,

A little something from my in-box:

Nasr bin Mahmud al-Balkhi said that Ahmad bin Harb stated:

“I worshiped Allah for fifty years, I wasn’t able to find the sweetness of worship until I forsook three things:

1. I forsook seeking the acceptance of people, so I was able to speak the truth.

2. I forsook the companionship of the sinner, so I was able to accompany the righteous.

3. I forsook the sweetness of the life of this world, so I was able to find the sweetness of the afterlife.”

[Siyar 'Alam an-Nubala]

How to Brew a Perfect Cup of Tea

Here are a few steadfast guidelines to follow in order to achieve the perfect cup.

• Fill a kettle with freshly drawn cold water. We recommend using filtered water because the quality of your water will directly affect the taste of your tea. Many towns have water that has too much chlorine and other minerals. When the water is near the boiling point, pour a little into the teapot, swirl around, and tip away. This leaves a hot, clean teapot.

Imam al-Shafi’i on Imam Malik

Imam al-Shafi’i said,

“When scholars are mentioned, Malik is like the star among them.”

and

“No-one constitutes as great a favour to me in Allah’s Religion as Malik.”

Imam Malik on the Muwatta’

Imam Malik (rahimahullah) said,

“I showed my book to seventy scholars of Madina, and every single one of them approved it for me (kulluhum wata-ani ‘alaih), so I named it ‘al-Muwatta’ (The Approved)’”