The aim of acquiring knowledge is to create zeal to learn and put into practice of all the commandments of Allah by the listing or reading the virtues of our deeds and what punishment is store for us if we disobeyed Him.

The Ilm (knowledge) means the acquisition of Knowledge of Islam, is one of the most essential requirement of human being. It raises him to the heights of goodness and gives a noble position and real happiness in the two worlds, and above all it helps to attain the Divine Approbation. Allah likes only that knowledge which helps a man in becoming a true obedient servant of Him. He has promised great rewards for those who seek such knowledge.

Allah says in Holy Quran:

Even as We have sent to you a messenger from among you, who reciteth to you Our revelations and causes you to grow, and teacheth you the Scripture and wisdom, and teacheth you that which you knew not. (2:151)

He giveth wisdom to whom He will, and he to whom wisdom is given, he truly has received abundant good But none remember except men of understanding. (2:269)

And that those who have been given knowledge may know that it is the truth from your Lord, so that they may believe therein and their hearts may submit humbly to Him. Surely! Allah verily is guiding those who believe to a right path. (22:54)

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) says:

” He who leaveth home in search of knowledge walketh in the path of Allah.” He also says:

“For him who goes out in search of religious knowledge Allah shall make easy the way to Heaven”

To acquire an amount of knowledge that enable a man to perform his religious duties correctly is incumbent upon all Muslims, men and women. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) says:

” The acquisition of knowledge is incumbent on every Muslim.”

When we have affirmed faith in the Lordship of Allah we became bound to follow His Commandments in every walk of our life. This naturally can only be done when we have necessary knowledge of His Laws. If we do not know what deeds please Allah and what deeds displease Him we are most likely to fall into the abyss of error and commit great sins. We have therefore to acquire sufficient knowledge of Allah’s Commandments relating to our Aqaa-id (beliefs); Ibaadaat (worship) Muamalaat (mutual dealings and transactions) Akhlaaq (Moral character) Aadaabul Muasharat (Social Etiquette). It maybe borne in mind that to exert oneself for the sake of obtaining an adequate knowledge of the Faith is also an act of worship that very often supersedes the Nafl (supererogatory prayers). The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) says:

” It is better to spend an hour in learning and teaching knowledge than to pray (supererogatory) Salaat the whole night”

Hence, it is our duty to acquire knowledge and instil it into others in order to earn our title to the Divine Rewards. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) says:

” Whoever seeketh knowledge and findeth it will have two reward one of them the reward for desiring it and the other for obtaining it; therefore even if he who doth not attain it, for him is one reward.”

He also said

“That person who shall die while he is in search of knowledge in order to receive the knowledge of the religion will be only one degree inferior to the Prophets.”

The cultivation of religious knowledge is binding on all Muslims, rich and poor, educated and uneducated, male and female, old and young. We must take every opportunity to learn the religion and to teach it to others. It must, however, be remembered that only reading of books cannot suffice at all. We have to practise whatever we learn. ‘Umar (Radiallahu Ta’ala ‘Anhu) was once asked who were the Learned and he replied: ” Those who practise what they know.”

A man who is favored by Allah and acquires knowledge of the religion is discarded if he does not practise it. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) says:

” The best of human being is a good learned man and the worst of them is bad learned man. (i.e. one who does not practise what he knows.”

We should therefore make up our minds that we will strive earnestly to equip ourselves with adequate knowledge of the Faith and with its proper execution.

a special attention should be paid to create an inner urge for acquiring sufficient knowledge and practising it in actual life. To achieve this purpose, virtues of the prayers and moral behaviour should be explained in detail.

Knowledge and Remembrance of Allah are two such basic virtues on which the real Islamic idealism is based. in effort to establish the divine law will be to no avail if, along with them, we do no pay proper attention to Ilm
(Learning) and Dhikr (Rememrance)

Ilm and Dhikr are the two wings without which one cannot fly in these surroundings. What is more, if Ilm and Dhikr are neglected, this effort may become a new source of mischief. Without Ilm, Islam or Imaan are a mere formality, and without Dhikr , Ilm is pure darkness. Effulgence is producted in Ilm by Dhikr and real fruits of Dhikr are gained only when Ilm too is there. Remembrance of Allah purifies our heart and polishes it while knowledge of the religion enlightens the right way for us and enables us to follow the right path. The Holy Quran and the Hadith have laid great stress on these two qualities. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi Wasallam) says:

” Curse is this world and cursed is all that is in this word except the Remembrance of Allah and that which aideth thereto and the seeker of the religious knowledge.”

God said: “God will raise in rank those of you who believe as well as those who are given knowledge.”
The Prophet said, “The best of men is the learned believer who, if he is needed, he will be useful; and if dispensed with, he will be self-sufficient.” The Prophet also said, “God said unto Abraham, ‘O Abraham! Verily I am knowing and I love every knowing person’.” Again he said, “Should the day come wherein I increase not in knowledge wherewith to draw nearer to God, let the dawn of that day be accursed.”
Concerning the superiority of knowledge to worship and martyrdom, the Prophet said, “The superior rank the learned man holds in relation to the worshipper is like the superior rank I hold in relation to the best of men.” See how he placed knowledge on an equal footing with prophethood and belittled the value of practice without knowledge, despite the fact that the worshipper may not be ignorant of the worship he observes. Moreover, without this knowledge there would have been no worship.
‘Ali ibn abi Talib said: “Learning is the glory of mankind, The wise are beacons on the road to truth; Man is worth his knowledge, nothing more- The fool will be his inveterate foe, Knowledge is man’s hope of life immortal, Man may die but wisdom liveth ever.”
Umar said, “O men! Seek ye knowledge. For verily God has a mantle of love for which He casts upon him who seeks knowledge even of a single section. Should he then commit an offence, God will remonstrate with him thrice in order not to rob him of his mantle, even tough that offence may persist with him until he dies.”
Fath al-Mawsili said enquiring, “Would not the sick die if he is given no food or drink or medicine?” They said, “Yes”. To which he said, “Similarly the heart will perish if it is cut off from wisdom and knowledge for three days.” He did indeed speak the truth, for the nourishment of the heart, on which its life depends, is knowledge and wisdom, just as the nourishment of the body is food.

Exerpts from Hujjatul Islam Imam abu Hamid al-Ghazzali’s

On Acquiring Knowledge :

You should have a wird of reading useful knowledge, which is that which increases your knowledge of the Essence of God, His Attributes, Acts and Favours, makes you aware of His commands and prohibitions, leads you to renounce the things of this world and wish only for the hereafter, and brings you your faults, the defects in your acts and the plots of your enemy to your notice. This knowldege is present in the Book, the sunnah, and the writings of the leaders[imams].

Excerpt from Imam Abdullah ibn Alawi al-Haddad’s

There is nothing wrong with this phrase as it is denoting a present and a past, i.e. going back 1400 from the present day Saudi Arabia. Today’s Saudi Arabia does not necessitate the same geographic or political entity 1400 years ago. We should be less sentimental about these things…

Jazakumullahu khayran, it’s been fixed.

How can i download the lectures, or even listen, evrytime i try to play it doesnt work. is there any way you can fix it? JazakAllahu khairun

BTW – i LOVE THIS BLOG/SITE. MAY ALLAH REWARD YOU ALL WITH JANNAATUL FIRDAWSEL 3′ALA

For those who are interested in why you need to know and trust your shaykh–even if he gives you daleel–study Aqeedah. And study Kitaab at-Tawheed by Yasir Qadhi; Allahu ‘alim, he gives lots of examples of other shuyookh who give legitimate daleel to back up illegitimate opinions.

I dont see why a person is called a shaykh or has to be a shaykh to give a lecture, all a person needs is knowledge of that subject they are discussing refrences and so on, no where does it say one must be a scholar in order to give a talk, as long as the person is speaking the truth and has daleel, no need to be a scholar, giving a lecture is different then giving a verdict so please do not confuse the 2.

Da’waa is an obligation upon us all and the proof is

The Prophet said,

‘Balighu ‘Ani walaw Ayah’

So its upon you to understand that its not obliged to be a scholar to give a talk, as long as you are speaking the truth, and not giving verdicts.

May Allah bless those who are trying to give beneficial talks, and do not pay attention to those who have negative things to say.

jazakum allahu khairan