Tadhim Al-'ilm 3 Flashcards
By Shaykh Sālih ibn ‘Abdillāh Ibn Hamad al-‘Usaymī
What is the sixth principle that the shaykh mentions?
“Taking into consideration the different sciences that there are when acquiring/taking knowledge, and giving precedence to them in order of importance/giving precedence to that which is more important over that which is important”
What is an example of something that it is important and something that is more important?
Ilm ul-Qira’at (knowledge of the different types of recitations of the Qur’an) and aqeedah. Knowing how the Qur’an was revealed upon the messenger ﷺ is important (مُهِمّ: Muhim), but aqeedah is more important (أَهَمُّ: Aham) So, if a student wants to start memorising the 10 different qira’at, then that is good but not at the expense of learning tawheed, where a person may easily fall into shirk
What are the 3 types of shirk?
1) Shirk Akbar - Major shirk
2) Shirk Asghar - Minor shirk (e.g., showing off certain acts of worship, swearing by other than Allah, and saying if Allah and so-and-so wills (verbally making someone equal to Allah). What should be said instead is what Allah wills, THEN what so-and-so wills. Give Allah’s right and privilege first) - still a major sin
3) Shirk Khafiyy - Hidden shirk (can occur in both minor shirk (like showing off acts of worship in front of people, seeking praise from others) and major shirk (like the shirk committed by hypocrites who reveal belief whilst concealing their false beliefs for fear of being killed))
Finish the lines of poetry by Ibn-ul-Jawzī (may Allāh have mercy on him) - “Take from every science, __________________________
and do not be ignorant of it”
In these lines imam ul-Jawzī is encouraging the student of knowledge to study different sciences. E.g., So, a person shouldn’t say that their speciality is fiqh so someone should ask someone else about tawheed ul-ibadah because they themselves require this knowledge about tawheed ul-ibadah.
What does the shaykh say is the best way to take from every science that which is beneficial?
1) Give precedence to them in order of importance, according to that which a student requires in order in order to serve Allah سبحانه وتعالى.
2) That the intention at the beginning of seeking knowledge is to study a summarized text/short book in in each science e.g., usool ath’thalaatha. Once a student does that and is well rounded in all of the different sciences, then he looks at that which he has an inclination towards and specialises in that field
What is the seventh principle that the shaykh mentions?
“Taking the initiative to attain knowledge, and taking advantage of your childhood and youth/seeking knowledge whilst you are still young”
Finish the hadith - The messenger ﷺ said: “Take advantage of 5 before 5: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, __________________________
your riches/wealth before your poverty, your free timebefore your work/preoccupation/busyness, and your life before your death.”
(Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 1077)
Finish the statement of Imam Ahmad - “I would not compare youth __________________________
except to something that was in my sleeve and fell out.”
This means that your youth moves and passes by so fast so we should take advantage of our youth.
Finish the statement by al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī (may Allāh have mercy on him) - “Knowledge at a young age is like
engraving on stone.”
What is the eighth principle that the shaykh mentions?
“Adhering to being unhurried and not hasty in seeking knowledge and leaving off rushing”
Finish the statement by Imam az-Zuhri (may Allāh have mercy on him) -
“Whoever seeks (to learn) knowledge in one go,
it will leave him in one go (it will leave as quick as it came). Rather, knowledge is only sought by the passing of nights and days.”
Why do the scholars say that knowledge should be taken in stages?
Because knowledge is weighty.
Allah سبحانه وتعالى said: “Indeed, We will cast upon/reveal to you a heavy/weighty word”
Surah Al-Muzzammil, ayah 5
(73:5)
إِنَّا سَنُلْقِى عَلَيْكَ قَوْلًۭا ثَقِيلًا
If this is the description of the Qur’an of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, in which Allah سبحانه وتعالى also said: “And we have certainly made the Qur’ān easy for remembrance/to remember”
Surah Al-Qamar, ayah 17
(54:17)
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِلذِّكْرِ
,then think about/ imagine trying to learn and remember all the other forms of knowledge
The shaykh then says that this is in accordance with how the Qur’an was revealed, in stages.
Allah سبحانه وتعالى said: “And those who disbelieve say, “Why was the Qur’ān not revealed to him all at once?” __________________________
We have revealed it in this way (in stages) so that we may strengthen thereby your heart. And we have spaced it distinctly/revealed it at a deliberate pace/revealed it little by little”
Surah Al-Furqan, ayah 32
(25:32)
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ جُمْلَةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنُثَبِّتَ بِهِۦ فُؤَادَكَ ۖ وَرَتَّلْنَـٰهُ تَرْتِيلًۭا
This āyah is a proof for adhering to being unhurried in seeking knowledge; taking it in stages, and leaving off rushing.
Finish the lines of poetry that Imam Ash-Shafi’i (may Allāh have mercy on him) mentioned: “O my brother, you will not attain knowledge except through six things. I will inform/tell you about them in detail: Intelligence/understanding, eagerness, persistent effort, __________________________
sustenance (sufficient means necessary for acquiring knowledge), the company of a teacher, and the passing of a long period of time (The pursuit of knowledge is a lifelong endeavor)”
