Advice to Students of Knowledge and all Those Who Love the Sunnah

by Shaykh Abul-Hasan Al-Ma'rabee ( A noble Shaykh and student of knowledge, initially from Egypt now living and teaching in Yemen).

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Verily the praise is for Allaah; we praise Him, seek His Assistance, and
seek His Forgiveness. And we seek refuge in Him from the evil of our own
selves and the bad results of our actions. Whomever Allaah guides, there is
no one to lead him astray, and whomever is lead astray, there is no guide
for him. I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah,
who is alone without partners, and I testify that Muhammad is His Slave and
Messenger. To proceed:


I ask Allaah, Glorified and Exalted, to accept our righteous deeds, to place
(the reward for) this sitting on our Scale of good deeds, and to keep every
evil and disliked thing away from us.


In this sitting, in shaa' Allaah, I would like to advise myself and my
brothers, those in front of me now, as well as those listening by way of
telephone link - and this is one of Allaah's blessings - with a few points
of advice.


Surely the information available regarding seeking knowledge is abundant,
about the virtues of knowledge, its status, the position of its possessors,
and the nation's need for it. So much so that there is no need for me to go
over it once more.


Rather I would like to simply put forth some points of advice to the
students of knowledge. For verily, the students of knowledge are the elite
members of this nation, the great hope that we look forward to, in shaa'
Allaah. They are the ones we expect Allaah to use to revive the
distinguishing characteristics of this Religion, spreading good virtues by
them, and using them to conquer wickedness.


So this part of our nation deserves more of our concern, careful watch, and
guidance than any other group, since they benefit a great number of people.
As opposed to others, their benefits are not restricted to themselves;
rather they extend to the whole nation, those present in our time and those
yet to come.




Remaining Close to the Scholars


So I say, dear brothers, may Allaah bless you all, take special care to
remain close to the people of knowledge. For taking matters to the people
of knowledge surely keeps one away from fitnah. It secures one from going
astray and protects one from falling into error. No people ever went astray
while continually consulting the people of knowledge. How could they go
astray obeying Allaah's Order and His Guidance (Al-Anbiyaa' 21:7):


So ask the people of knowledge when you do not know


So whoever asks the people of knowledge and consults them, then he has been
granted success, as he has fulfilled what has been asked of him. Whoever
carries out what Allaah has made obligatory on him, then Allaah does not go
back on His Promises (At-Talaaq 65:4):


And whoever has taqwaa of Allaah,
then He gives him ease in his affair


The one who returns to the people of knowledge, going to them in all
affairs, in both the apparent and the confusing issues, is granted success,
in shaa' Allaah. So from this important advice of returning to the people
of knowledge is that taking knowledge is done by way of the akaabir (senior
scholars), and knowledge is not taken from the asaaghir.


(Translator's note - Shaykh Abul-Hasan, in using the word asaaghir, seems to
be alluding to a hadeeth of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam),
"Verily from the signs of the Hour is that knowledge will be sought from the
asaaghir." In Basaa'iru Thawish-Sharaf, Shaykh Saleem Al-Hilaalee calls it
saheeh and traces it to Ibn Mubaarak's Az-Zuhd (p.61), Al-Laalakaa'ee's
Sharh Usool I'tiqaad Ahlis-Sunnati wal-Jamaa'ah (p.102), and Al-Khateeb
Al-Baghdaadee's Al-Jaami' li-Akhlaaqir-Raawee wa Adaabis-Saami' (v.1,
p.137). The forthcoming explanations are for the word asaaghir as found in
the hadeeth, and Allaah knows best.)


The asaaghir, as some scholars have explained, are the people of innovation,
even if their reputation has been magnified to some people. The people of
innovation are lowly and wicked, even if they possess some prestige with
some of the people, those who do not even know the straight path.


Other scholars explained the asaaghir to be those new to seeking knowledge,
those who started seeking knowledge but never became strong in the affair
and never attained the proper fundamentals. Knowledge is not taken from
these kinds of people, since they themselves were not able to master the
affair they began. So how can they help others become to master it?!


In every situation, returning to the people of knowledge, and taking from
them, protects one from
fitnah. So be warned about the wicked asaaghir, the people of desires and
straying, the people who make statements that contradict Ahlus-Sunnah
wal-Jamaa'ah! (Be warned about) the people who try to divide and split the
ranks of those who follow the truth!


All of this is closely related to my advice about sticking closely to the
people of knowledge, since remaining close to them prevents one from falling
into these kinds of errors. For keeping distant from the people of
knowledge leads one to fall into these affairs, and with Allaah is the
refuge.




Manners in Seeking Knowledge


It is a must for us to learn the proper manners needed to seek knowledge.
We must not seek knowledge to look down on the people. We must not seek
knowledge to draw attention to ourselves. We must not seek knowledge to
argue with the foolish people, or to gain positions over them. We must not
seek knowledge to argue with the scholars.


We must only seek knowledge for Allaah, and we must be humble. For verily
if a man has been granted some knowledge, then it is binding on him to make
that knowledge a way for him to become humble. As for the one who is
granted knowledge, but he does not become humble, then this is a very bad
sign.


Right now, every one of us is able to interrogate himself, saying, "How well
are you acting according to what you know? How is your humility, your
character, and your humbleness?"


Some students, when given knowledge by Allaah, and He grants them an
abundance of it, deal proudly with their brothers, look down on them, and
view themselves as being far above them and much greater than them. This
kind of man has not received any beneficial knowledge, since he is being
harmed by what he knows. His knowledge, and with Allaah is the refuge, is
causing his destruction.


Ayyoob As-Sakhtiyaanee, as well as 'Abdullaah ibn Mubaarak, may Allaah have
mercy on them, used to say to their companions, "You people are in need of
learning a little bit of manners more than you need to learn a lot of
knowledge."


So good manners to a student of knowledge are like the leaves of a tree that
shield and protect him. Any student who is not well-mannered, nor is he
humble with his brothers, nor have favorable behavior, how can he be
considered a true student of knowledge?! He is running the people away from
knowledge! Verily he is preventing people from following the Religion, from
Allaah's Path! How many call to Allaah's Way but prevent the people from
following it?! And how many are quick to remind the people about Allaah but
are heedless themselves about their own reminders?! We ask Allaah to pardon
and excuse us.


So the student of knowledge must be upon righteous character. He must
behave well with his teacher. He must have good manners with his companions
and brothers, and with those younger than him. He must behave well with his
elders and those over him in authority. He must have good manners with
those who assist him and do favors for him; he must have good manners with
the young and old alike. He must fulfill the rights that Allaah gave all
those around him.


So look to a man's knowledge, if you see him studying this year upon good
moral character, and then two years later you find him with much better
character, know that his knowledge is affecting him, he is benefiting from
it. Whoever benefits from his knowledge, Allaah will benefit the people by
him.


And if you see the opposite in someone, then know that he is on the brink of
destruction, unless, from Allaah's Mercy, He blesses him to not be one of
these ruined people. Allaah says (35:28):


Verily the ones who (truly) fear Allaah
from among His Servants are the scholars


Knowledge cultivates humility and humbleness. Knowledge grants one the
ability to fight desires and gain control over one's self and culture it.
This is how our Salaf were! They used to be very concerned with their own
selves and their relationship with Allaah.




The Thikr (Remembrance) of Allaah


My advice to the students of knowledge also includes that they must remember
Allaah. From the greatest of all mistakes, dear brothers, is that the
students heedlessly abandon the remembrance of Allaah and the acts of
obedience that draw would them closer to Him.


Some students may think that as they seek knowledge they do not need to pray
any of the optional prayers, nor do they need to fast optional days. They
may feel that they are not in need of these kinds of deeds, even though the
Salaf used to be the most concerned of the people about them. And despite
this, they may say, "I follow the manhaj of the Salaf!" The way of the
Salaf involves statements and actions, not simply the refutation of the
people of innovation. This was just one door, from the many great doors of
good that the Salaf opened for this nation.


Just as the Salaf used to refute innovators, they used to have great moments
between them and Allaah, Mighty and Majestic. They used to worship Allaah
privately. They used to have sittings wherein they would take account of
themselves, taking charge of their desires. If we are going to follow the
path of the Salaf, we should love to follow their way in all affairs, open
and private.


The one who excels in his search for knowledge, but abandons the optional
prayers, and loses out here and there, he can not truly be considered a
student of knowledge, even though he has knowledge and is able to quote
references from Alfiyyah and other books.


Imaam Ath-Thahabee, when he mentioned the biography of Mis'ar ibn Kidaam
Al-Hilaalee, he talked about his worship, and that he was not only exemplary
in his worship, but in his studies of hadeeth as well a scholar of hadeeth
and, at the same time, an outstanding worshipper! He saw the people
expelling their efforts seeking strange hadeeths and rare additions to
certain narrations that they used to consider points of benefit, some of
them dha'eef, some munkar, some saheeh, and the likes. He saw that the
people used to busy themselves for long periods of time with these things,
so he said, "Verily this hadeeth has diverted you from the remembrance of
Allaah and from prayer. So will you not stop this now?"


Mis'ar used to say this, as Al-Khateeb reported, as well as Ath-Thahabi.
When Ath-Thahabi mentioned it, he explained it saying, "Whoever seeks
knowledge just for the thrill of it, just because he is driven to learn, not
for a religious reason, then we fear for him. And whoever seeks knowledge
and abandons optional forms of worship, he is lazy and despicable. He is
lazy and despicable." Then he mentioned that when the Salaf used to seek
knowledge, they used to give their optional deeds their proper share of
attention.


It is binding on the student of knowledge that he concerns himself with the
thikr of Allaah, those phrases of remembrance for the morning and the
evening, and the thikr that follows the five daily prayers. So many of the
students do not recite the phrases "subhaan allaah" the prescribed 33 times,
nor "alhamdu lillaah," nor "allaahu akbar," nor the likes, as if that is
something for the common people only!


Too many students of knowledge, when you see them coming to the prayer, you
find them in the last rows. The common people are lined up in the first
row, and they are in the last one. It is as if trying to get in the first
rows, or coming early to Jumu'ah prayer, these are things for common people,
not for us - we are special people!


This is not correct, dear brothers! These are things that the Prophet
(sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) guided all the people to. And the
Companions were the most pious of the people after the Messenger
(sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), and they used to take care to consistently
do these things. And the Companions were the most knowledgeable people of
this nation after its Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), and they used
to guard over their performance of these things.


The Athkaar (phrases of Allaah's remembrance) have a great effect on the
cultivation of the heart. They are our provisions, dear brothers, our
provisions for the journey. If a man remembers Allaah, Mighty and Majestic,
and pays attention to his consistent phrases of remembrance, then he has
taken his provisions, that which sees him through his journey to Allaah,
Mighty and Majestic. Provisions that help him get past all the obstacles in
this worldly life, the many problems that will keep him busy. Provisions
that will help him carry his heavy load!


When Shaykh Al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have Mercy on him, used to
pray Fajr, he would sit making thikr until the sun rose. He used to say,
"This is my morning meal, if I don't do this, I would lose my strength," or
something to the likes of this. He used to actually nourish himself with
thikr!


So the man who misses out, not remembering Allaah, the foolish people will
get bold with him! If you miss out on these athkaar, not sticking to them
consistently, the people will boldly go after you this one insults you,
that one is talking about you, this one refutes you, that one takes a stab
at you, etc, with truthful things or with falsehoods!


Abandoning thikr causes a man to exit his fortress. Thikr is a mighty
fortress, whoever enters it will be safeguarded. Abandoning thikr, or being
heedless about it, makes a man susceptible to the attacks of human devils,
as well as those from the Jinn.


As students of knowledge, how many times in our lives have we faced grief
and pain? How many times have we been attacked, talked about, slandered,
and insulted even by those who ascribe themselves to the Sunnah!? Those
biased partisans who ascribe themselves to the Sunnah that cause division to
this nation, busying it with these affairs, and with Allaah is the refuge -
they are the first ones who will talk about you!


How bad is it when you find the closest people to you are the ones talking
about you?! No doubt this is a great burden on the soul, as it has been
said, "The oppression of the close relatives is more severe and more
difficult to deal with within one's soul than the striking of the enemy's
sword." This is such a difficult blow to the soul! So then what about
those not so close to you?!


The Daa'iyah, the one who calls to Allaah's Way, and this is to be expected
when one ascribes himself to the Sunnah, is being refuted by this one, and
that one is talking about him, and some are distorting his reputation, this
one is setting people against him, and there are people trying to kill him
or jail him, and some are trying to make his life difficult - all of these
things happen. So you will not be able to become strong in the midst of
this surging, restless ocean and its tidal waves of fitnah, except with the
thikr of Allaah.


The thikr of Allaah is security and a mighty fortress for you. So be
warned! Be warned about failing to take advantage of this fortress and thus
exiting from it, making yourself vulnerable to the devils, or simply opening
your door and your enemies from the human devils and those from the
Jinn enter upon you, disturbing and frustrating you tremendously, and with
Allaah is the refuge!


So I advise all the students of knowledge, as well as all those who love the
Sunnah, to consistently recite the phrases of Allaah's remembrance that come
to us by way of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), in
their correct forms, at their correct times, repeating them the correct
number of times, at the occasions that the Sunnah specified, so that we may
become, with Allaah's Permission, from (Al-Ahzaab 33:35):


And those who remember Allaah much


For when Allaah, Glorified and Exalted, ordered us to make thikr, He did not
merely say, "Remember Allaah," rather He said (Al-Ahzaab 33:41):


Remember Allaah with a great amount of remembrance!


So a man may make thikr, but he may not necessarily be from Those who
remember Allaah much . He said, Remember Allaah with a great amount of
remembrance! .


And truly Allaah made thikr one of the main reasons for a person's
stability, as He says (Al-Anfaal 8:45):


O you who believe! When you meet a group (of the enemy),
then be firm and remember Allaah with a great amount
of remembrance so that you might be successful


The remembrance of Allaah in times of fear, when you prepare to face the
enemy and fight their strong ones, is a factor that leads to victory.


So dear brothers, do not look at thikr as the common people do, as if it is
a simple task of counting some words of praise on their fingers and then
they are finished with it. No, the remembrance of Allaah is with the heart,
as you remember Allaah in the whole of your heart, saying words that the
Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said and thinking about their
meanings, especially when these small words carry great and numerous
meanings.


I mean to say that you should remember Allaah with these concise but
meaningful phrases, those that are established on the Prophet (sallallaahu
'alayhe wa sallam), and that you should not bring some phrases from your own
self, despite the fact that it is permissible to do that. Rather the
phrases used by the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) are more concise
with deeper meanings, the first and the last of them have a great benefit.
So guard closely your adherence to the athkaar of the morning so that you
will be in the protection of Allaah until the nightfall, and then
consistently make the athkaar of the evening so that you will be in the
protection of Allaah until the morning.


Guard closely over your supplications to Allaah, those that Allaah will
remove your distresses because of them. The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa
sallam) told us about the farewell advice of the Prophet Nooh
('alayhis-salaam) to his son. Nooh said, "I order you with two things and I
forbid you from two things. I order you with laa ilaaha ill-Allaah and
subhaan allaahi wa bihamdihi (glorified is Allaah and to Him is the praise)
by way of it the entire creation is provided for."


(Translator's note - The two things the Prophet Nooh, 'alayhis-salaam,
prohibited his son from were shirk and pride. The hadeeth is found in the
Musnad of Imaam Ahmad.)


So saying subhaan allaahi wa bihamdihi causes one to be provided for. So
let the poverty-stricken, troubled man increase his use of this phrase,
subhaan allaahi wa bihamdihi, let him increase his tasbeeh. Subhaan allaahi
wa bihamdihi - by way of it, the entire creation is provided for! Allaah
says (Al-Israa' 17:44):


There is nothing that exists except that it glorifies and praises Allaah


So this tasbeeh, brothers, all of the creation is making it. So please
recite this phrase frequently and consistently, subhaan allaahi wa
bihamdihi.


And also "subhaan allaahi wa bihamdihi 'adada khalqihi wa ridhaa nafsihi"
and all the athkaar of the morning, dear brothers, are a great bounty, the
doors to much good!


The conditions of time we live in have overtaken us to the point where our
minds often only think about tangible, material things! Where is the
spirituality, the use of the hearts, the relying on Allaah the Mighty and
Majestic?! Where are those who understand and actualize thikr and
du'aa'?! Du'aa' is a great avenue to seek after what you want.


How well are we utilizing it? How many diseases strike the people, and they
run here and there, frantically seeking the cure? Perhaps someone may seek
medical treatment for years, but has he sat just one time allowing his heart
to flee to Allaah, making a firm request of Allaah that He heals this
sickness?! Has he sat one time and emptied the affairs from his heart and
soul, raising his hands to Allaah, Mighty and Majestic?!


Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allaah have Mercy on him, mentioned that if a man calls
on Allaah the Mighty and Majestic at the times when his supplication is
likely to be answered according to the Sunnah, facing the qiblah, raising
his hands with humility, beginning by praising Allaah and sending
salutations on the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), thinking well of
Allaah and being persistent in his request, then rarely would his
supplication go unanswered. I say that we have great doors in front of us,
doors that lead to plenty of benefits.


It has occurred that many people today understand that the way of the Salaf
is not to talk about these kinds of affairs, nor busy one's self with these
kinds of issues. That they only talk about "so-and-so is this and so-and-so
is that," and this is not correct! The call to the way of the Salaf
includes discussions about the spirituality of the heart! It includes
discussions about healing the heart, and the things that harm the heart.


Read the works of Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allaah have Mercy on him! Read the
works of Shaykh Al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have Mercy on him! Read
the Speech of Allaah the Mighty and Majestic! Read the narrations of the
Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) about how he used to supplicate to
Allaah; these narrations carry tremendous meanings, meanings that will stir
up the heart! If people would only read these supplications with a live
heart, with an attentive heart, not with an absent, heedless, unmindful
heart, and with Allaah is the refuge!


It could be that a person mentions Allaah in such a way that he falls into
disobedience with this
thikr, and with Allaah is the refuge! It has been narrated that one of the
rulers was sitting with another man. Some people came and said, "So-and-so
has said such-and-such!" So a man from those present stood up and said to
the ruler, "Subhaan allaah! O subhaan allaah, he said that?!" His saying
subhaan allaah in this fashion was only to incite the ruler's anger against
that man. So someone from those present said, "I never knew that subhaan
allaah could be used to disobey Allaah until now!"


Do you see how the phrase subhaan allaah was used to disobey Allaah? He
only wanted to incite the ruler to try and get revenge against the one who
said the statement. "O subhaan allaah, he said that?!" He did not intend
thikr by it. He did not intend to remember Allaah with it, nor to glorify
Allaah the Mighty and Majestic by it. He only intended mischievous slander
and provocation by it, hoping to provoke the ruler against that man.


So thikr, dear brothers, must be intended for Allaah the Mighty and
Majestic. And the students of knowledge must be the foremost people who
remember Allaah. There were men from the
Salaf, whenever they were seen, Allaah would be mentioned, wherever they
were seen! Wherever they were seen! That has been reported about
'Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Abee Haatim; when he was seen, Allaah would be
remembered. Ayyoob was also described this way, and Ibn Seereen as well,
and Hammaad ibn Salamah. Simply by looking at them, Allaah would be
remembered. One of them was sought after to seek rain, another was sought
after to end calamities. The people used to understand that by their mere
presence, Allaah would remove their calamities! They used to believe that
Allaah would send down rain because of their presence amongst them.


So, brothers, where are the people of hadeeth like this?! Imaam
Ath-Thahabee said, "I am not able to see them, except in the books or in
their graves!" And that was in the time of Ath-Thahabee! He said, "I am
not able to see them, except in the books or in their graves!" We ask
Allaah to excuse us and to grant us security. Where are the people of
hadeeth like this?!


The people of hadeeth were the ones who, due to their presence, Allaah
removed trials from the places they went, as Ibraaheem ibn Adham said.
Allaah had removed calamities from the places they traveled to because of
their journey there!


The people of hadeeth are the blessed possessors of virtues on this earth,
after Allaah Glorified and Exalted. The people of hadeeth are those who
memorized and preserved the Religion and conveyed it to the people. For
this, they journeyed far, and were seen as strangers, and because of this
they were harmed. And every businessman stands behind his business. Every
king stands behind his kingdom. And every owner of some worldly thing
stands behind his piece of the dunyaa. And every follower of desires stands
behind his cravings.


As for the people of hadeeth, they were the ones who traveled through the
Earth from the East to the West, gathering the Religion from the chests of
men, organizing chapters and arranging them, authoring books, and
propagating the Religion amongst the people. And from the characteristics
of the people of hadeeth they were the people of thikr. They used to
remember Allaah much. They were also the people of hard work and
perseverance (which leads us to the next piece of advice)...




Perseverance


I advise my brothers to be people of hard work and perseverance, doing good
deeds and acts of obedience. It is not for a man to do some act of
obedience, and then allow it to dwindle away and leave it, no! If Allaah
makes a way for you to perform an act of obedience, then stick to it! If
you have been granted to ability to pray at night, then do not abandon it!
If you are able to fast, then do not abandon it! If you were able to
perform an act of worship, then do not leave it off! "For verily the most
beloved of deeds to Allaah are those performed consistently, even if they
are few." (As the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said in a hadeeth
found in Al-Bukhaaree, Muslim, and others, on the authority of 'Aa'ishah,
may Allaah be pleased with her - Translator)


Some people become active, and soon after weaken until they become inactive.
They are active for a month and then stagnant for years! The most beloved
deeds to Allaah are the consistent ones, even if they are few.


Patience has, as the scholars say, three main categories: Patience upon
obedience, patience against disobedience, and patience through trials.
Patience upon obedience means to continue and be consistent in your good
deeds, and that you do not do something and then leave it off. It means
that you do not persist with a good action and then abandon it. Patience in
against disobedience means that you restrain yourself from falling into acts
of disobedience, and patience though trials needs no explanation.


The most difficult of these categories is patience upon obedience; indeed
the most difficult of them is patience upon obedience. For example, a man
may pray Dhuhaa prayer for a week and then abandon it for months. A man may
become consistent with certain athkaar or he dedicates a certain time
consistently to private worship, and then he becomes busy and no longer does
it.


My advice to the students of knowledge is that, if they become acquainted
with a beneficial action, they must stick to it, guard their performance of
it, and continue with it. For verily this is a great indication for a
believer and a good sign for him. A great sign for the believer is that he
increases in something good every day, every day he increases in goodness.




The Real Fiqh


I advise the student of knowledge to look to the kinds of gatherings that
increase him in his
eemaan. He must sit in the gatherings that cause his faith to increase.
And the gatherings that decrease his faith, he must stay away from them. Be
warned about sitting in gatherings that cause your faith to diminish! Be
warned about your companionship with a man who causes a decline in your
faith!


Look to the meaning of fiqh, my brothers! This is the real fiqh! The
faqeeh is the one who is aware of the reasons for the increases and
decreases of his faith. This is the real faqeeh! The
faqeeh is not the one who only knows the points of differing in certain
issues, and that this person said this and that one said that, and the
correct opinion is such-and-such. This one is the faqeeh regarding the
orders of Allaah. But if he does not combine this with an understanding of
the affairs of the heart, then he is ignorant about Allaah, but
knowledgeable regarding the orders of Allaah.


The Jews used to have knowledge, but it was merely information to them.
Meanwhile they used to be ignorant about Allaah the Mighty and Majestic.
They were bold in their dealings with Allaah, inventing lies against Him.
They used to accuse Allaah, Glorified and Exalted, of having ugly
characteristics, saying that His Hand is tied up, or that He is poor and
they are wealthy. They used to make these horrible statements about Allaah
while they had knowledge of Him! They were possessors of knowledge and
awareness (despite these statements)!


So the student of knowledge must keep close watch over this. He must
concern himself with this moral excellence and become from the people of
righteousness, those firmly established upon good, those who stop at the
limits of Allaah, Glorified and Exalted. Do not transgress Allaah's
limits - you are students of knowledge, dear brothers! You are the youth of
today and the elders of tomorrow. Today you are listening and tomorrow the
people are listening to you, yes today you are listening and tomorrow you
will be listened to!


So the student of knowledge, his task is an extensive one, his phase is
lengthy. And no one will pass through it successfully except those who bear
through the entire length of the phase, without stumbling. Do not think
that you are on the right path even if Allaah willed that you study for 50
years and you are in the 49th year. You may slip in the 50th year and then
the first 49 years will be no benefit for you! I mean to say that the 49
years did not preserve your reputation. And I do not mean to say that your
deeds will be lost with Allaah.


And the student's personal history is widely circulated, as if it is printed
on his forehead, and it can not be hidden from view. Every time he falls
into error, a black dot is placed in his personal history, one that can
hardly be forgotten. So, no doubt, the student of knowledge guards
carefully over this issue. He must be careful and stick closely to right
guidance and judge properly in his affairs.


For verily among the supplications the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa
sallam) used to make was, "Allaahumma Innee As-Alukal-Hudaa was-Sadaad!"
(Which means, "O Allaah verily I ask you for guidance and correctness!
'Alee reported it, and it is found in Saheeh Muslim in the Chapter of
Ath-Thikru wad-Du'aa'. - Translator) So a man should ask Allaah for
guidance, correctness, direction, and success in his affairs.




Wisdom, Understanding, and Lenience


The students of knowledge and all those who love the Sunnah are also advised
to have wisdom, to carry out their affairs with wisdom. They should go
about their affairs with deliberateness and carefulness, and they should
have leniency, may Allaah bless you all, in their call to Allaah the Mighty
and Majestic. Likewise they must look to the long-term results of their
affairs, the benefits and harms that may occur. They must not simply act
according to the present situation in a way that leads ultimately to the
demise of the da'wah, or its isolation or restriction. We ask Allaah to be
excused and pardoned.


So the successful student of knowledge is the one who is wise is his call,
kind and merciful to Allaah's Creation, knowledgeable about the Truth, and
with all of that, lenient and nice with the people. For verily the call of
Ahlus-Sunnah, as Shaykh Al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah mentioned, is the call to
the Truth, the invitation to the Truth based on knowledge and mercy to the
creation.


So if a man has knowledge of the Truth, but he is harsh and rough with the
people, then he is not fulfilling what Allaah made obligatory on him! It
would be better for him to focus on working on himself and establishing his
own self, and not to become a caller to Allaah. That is because Allaah,
Glorified and Exalted, warned us against that. He warned His own Prophet
against that (Aali 'Imraan 3:159)!


If you had been severe and hard-hearted, they would have fled from you


And he was the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam)! So be warned about
being severe and harsh-hearted! Be warned about being rough and difficult
with your brothers! So do not add to the difficulties of this age that your
brothers are already facing! Do not add your own set of difficulties,
adding calamity after calamity upon what they are already facing in this
time! Be compassionate with your brothers, taking them by their hands,
correcting and guiding them! Be patient with them, and make excuses for
them! They are the ones being pressured, day and night, by the people of
falsehood and desires, due to their adherence to the Sunnah of the Prophet
(sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam)! So then it is binding on you to be patient
with them, to correct them, bearing their companionship, taking them by
their hands toward Allaah, Glorified and Exalted!


The student of knowledge who has no wisdom causes more harm than benefit, so
it is not expected for him to become an imaam for the Muslims, nor one that
his brothers refer to, if he is not a man having wisdom. So having said
this, it is binding on the student to be wise, intellectual, and aware. The
Salaf used to say about a man who is wise and intelligent that his intellect
is greater than his knowledge. But if a man is reckless and feebleminded,
displaying rashness and indiscretion, then they would say about him that his
knowledge was greater than his intellect. He may have knowledge, but his
intellect or understanding is limited.


So our affair, dear brother, is not simply gathering knowledge of the
various sciences of the Religion, rather it is coupling this knowledge with
understanding. Understanding and leniency must accompany knowledge, so that
Allaah, Glorified and Exalted, will benefit you by it, and then benefit
others by you.


These are the points of advice that I wanted to advise myself with, as well
as my brothers, those present as well as those listening in. I ask Allaah
to grant me, and all of you, keys to goodness and shields against evil, and
to save us all from the trials of evil sayings and actions. May Allaah
raise the rank of our Prophet Muhammad, and that of his family and
companions, and may He grant them security.





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