Tadhim Al-'ilm 2

Question 1

Who are the first 3 people to be punished on Yawm al-Qiyāmah?

Answer 1

These people will be people who performed actions that were great in the sight of the people:

1) The first was a person who went to Jihad and died as a martyr, however it was so that the people could say he was a brave warrior

2) The second was a person who sought knowledge, however it was so that it can be said that he is a scholar

3) The third was a wealthy person who was generous when giving, however it was so that the people could say he was a generous person

These 3 are mentioned in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1905a

Question 2

Why is the issue of correcting our niyah when seeking knowledge an important one?

Answer 2

Seeking knowledge could be a punishment and a proof/hujjah against you rather than for you if sought for other than Allah سبحانه وتعالى

Question 3

What are the four principles a person must uphold in order to attain ikhlas in their knowledge/four principles of intention in seekingknowledge?

Answer 3

1) Removing ignorance from yourself - The person learns/seeks knowledge in order to know how to serve Allah
and also to learn the objectives of the commands and prohibitions of Allah سبحانه وتعالى

2) Acting according to the knowledge that you learn. This is a sign that a person learns for the sake of Allah سبحانه وتعالى and has ikhlas.

3) Removing ignorance from amongst the people e.g., you learn and go on and teach the people

4) Reviving knowledge and protecting it from being lost.

Question 4

Finish the hadith - The messenger said “Verily, Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it from the people __________________________

Answer 4

but He takes away knowledge by taking away the scholars/by the death of the scholars”

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2673a)

Question 5

Why should students of knowledge refrain from flaunting/telling people/getting the attention of the people about their accomplishments and levels of knowledge?

Answer 5

The salaf used to fear the loss of sincerity in their seeking knowledge , so they would refrain from claiming to have it. There are many examples in which the salaf used to run away from people who knew them to the extent that they would leave a city when they become known. Imam Ahmad used to wish that he could live in the valley’s of Makkah without anyone knowing him.

Question 6

Finish the statement by Sufyān ath-Thawrī (may Allāh have mercy on him): “The hardest thing that i have tried to correct __________________________

Answer 6

is my niyah”

Question 7

What is the third principle that the shaykh mentions?

Answer 7

“Focusing all of your attention and having high aspirations when seeking knowledge”

Question 8

What does the shaykh say are the 3 things that must be checked in order to focus all of your attention to seeking knowledge?

Answer 8

1) Rushing towards that which will benefit you

2) Seeking the help of Allah سبحانه وتعالى

3) Not being put off and lazy in trying to attain your goal. Don’t turn away from it as soon as it gets hard

Question 9

These 3 things have been combined in the hadith of the messenger ﷺ where the messenger ﷺ says: “Strive for/hasten towards that which will benefit you, seek the help of Allah, and do not feel helpless/do not give up”. Where is this hadith located?

Answer 9

Sunan ibn Majah, Hadith 79

Question 10

How can a person have high aspirations when seeking knowledge?

Answer 10

Looking at and reading the biographies of those that have preceded (the salaf) help a person to have high aspirations when seeking knowledge as they will have confidence that if they can do it then so can they.

Question 11

What is the fourth principle that the shaykh mentions?

Answer 11

“Focusing your attention on the Qur’an and the Sunnah when seeking knowledge”

Question 12

Where does Allah affirm his istiwa (rising) over the throne?

Answer 12

Surah Taha, ayah 5
(20:5)

“The Most Merciful who is established above the Throne”

ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱسْتَوَىٰ

Question 13

A man came to Imam Malik (may Allāh have mercy on him) and said “kayfal istiwa? - meaning “How did Allah rise (over/above his Throne)?” What were the 4 things that Imam Malik responded with with (which became a principle for ahlus sunnah in regards to all of the other attributes of Allah سبحانه وتعالى)?

Answer 13

1) “Al-istiwa’ ma’lum” - The concept of istiwa (rising) is known because it is mentioned in the Qur’an.

2) “Wal kayfu majhul” - The manner or ‘how’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى rose above his throne is unknown to us. Allah سبحانه وتعالى didn’t tell us. The messenger ﷺ didn’t tell us. And, the sahaba didn’t ask the messenger ﷺ how Allah سبحانه وتعالى rose above his throne so we understand it how they understood it.

3) “Wal imaanu bihi waajib - Believing in it is obligatory because if you don’t then you are a kaafir

4) “Was su’aallu ‘anhu bid’ah” - Asking about it (meaning asking about how this happened/ asking about the how) is a bid’ah

ٱلْٱسْتِوَاءُ مَعْلُومٌ، وَٱلْكَيْفُ مَجْهُولٌ، وَٱلْإِيمَانُ بِهِ وَاجِبٌ، وَٱلسُّؤَالُ عَنْهُ بِدْعَةٌ

Question 14

What is the fifth principle that the shaykh mentions?

Answer 14

“Taking the proper path to seeking knowledge/the “how” of seeking knowledge needs to be known”

Question 15

What are the 2 characteristics the shaykh mentions that the teacher should have?

Answer 15

1) He has to be able to benefit you, meaning he has to be a person who has knowledge/is qualified in this knowledge. He has to be a person who is known for seeking and attaining knowledge

2) The person needs to be a person who knows how to teach and is sincere in advising and teaching. He has to be a person who you are able to copy/emulate and is a good example and he has to know how to teach/how to get the knowledge across to the specific person

Question 15

Seeking knowledge has a way/methodology which is based upon 2 things. What are these 2 things?

Answer 15

1) Memorising a matn/text that contains the stronger opinion in the majority of issues. The shaykh says that it is a must that the student memorises and whoever thinks that he can gain knowledge without memorisation, is seeking/trying to attain something which is impossible/unattainable

2) Taking that text/learning it from a person who can benefit and sincerely advise/teach you. Then, you rush towards this person who can help you understand the book that you are studying

(Whoever takes these 2 things sincerely will be someone who reveres/glorifies and honours knowledge because he has taken the correct path, and in return, they will attain the knowledge that they want.)

Question 15

What are the principles to siff out what is a Bid’ah and what isn’t?

Answer 15

1) The Asl/default ruling for every single ibadah is that it is haram to perform EXCEPT with evidence

2) “Every newly-invented/introduced thing is an innovation and every innovation is going astray/a misguidance, and every going astray/misguidance is in the Fire” (Sunan an-Nasa’i, Hadith 1578)

3) “Whoever introduces into this matter of ours (i.e., Islam) that which is not a part of it, it will be rejected” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 2697)

4) If there was any goodness in it/if it had been good, they (the salaf) would have preceeded us in doing it (If it was khair (good), then Allah سبحانه وتعالى and his messenger ﷺ would NOT have left it out.)

5) Saying there is disagreement in an issue (khilaaf) in not a proof/an evidence