The
Messenger of Allah (saws) related two matters to us. I have seen one of
them, and I am waiting for the other. He informed us: "Trustworthiness
was sent down in the depths of the heart of the people, then they
learnt it from the Qur'an, and then they learnt it from the Sunnah." [Al-Bukhari (no. 7086)]
Al-Hafidh Ibn Hajr (825H) said:
"His saying: '... then they learnt it from the Qur'an, then they learnt it from the Sunnah.' So
it occurs in this narration with the repetition of then, which contains
an indication that they would learn Qur'an before learning the details
of the Sunnah. And what is meant by the details of the Sunnah is
anything that they would learn from the Prophet (saws) whether it was obligatory or recommended." [Fath al-Bari (13/39)]
Al-Maymuni said:
I
asked Abu 'Abdullah (Imam Ahmad) which is more beloved to you, that I
should begin teaching my son the Qur'an or the Hadith? He said: "No! The Qur'an." I said: Shall I teach him all of it? He replied: "Unless that is difficult, in which case teach him some of it." Then he said to me: "If he begins reciting first, then he will learn correct recitation and will persevere in it." [Ibn Muflih in Al-Adab ash-Shar'iyyah]
Ibn Muflih said:
"Upon this are the followers of Imam Ahmad right up until our time." [Ibn Abi Ya'la in Tabaqat al-Hanabilah (1/41)]
Ibn Taymiyyah said:
"As
for seeking to memorize the Qur'an,
then this is to be given preference over many of the things that the
people consider to be knowledge, but are - in reality - either totally
useless, or having little benefit. It is also to be given precedence in
learning especially by those who wish to acquire knowledge of the Deen,
its principles and its particulars. Since what is prescribed for such a
person at this time is that he should begin by memorizing the Qur'an,
as it is the foundation of the branches of the knowledge of the Deen.
This is contrary to what is done by many of the people of Innovation
from the non-Arabs and other than them, in that one of them will
pre-occupy himself with superfluous parts of knowledge; such as kalam
(rhetorical speech) and argumentation; or very rare matters of
differences; and blind-following; which there is no need for; or very
strange and rare Ahadith, which are not established, nor of benefit; and
many discussions which do not establish proofs. And he abandons
memorizing the Qur'an which is more important than all of this." [Fatawa al-Kubra (2/54-55)]
Ibn 'Abdul Barr said:
"Seeking
knowledge is
of levels and is of different stages which should not be skipped over.
Whoever skips over them altogether, then he has overstepped the path of
the Salaf. Whoever deliberately takes a path other than this has
seriously deviated. However, whoever oversteps due to an ijtihaad
(a knowledge based judgment that a qualified Scholar makes, intending
to reach the truth), then such a person has erred. So the first
knowledge is memorization of the Book of Allah and seeking to understand
it. And it is obligatory to seek everything which will aid in
understanding it. However, I do not say that is obligatory to memorize
all of the Qur'an, but I do say that it is obligatory and
essential for anyone who wishes to become a scholar - not that it is
something obligatory in itself." [Jami' Bayan al-'Ilm wa Fadlihi (pp. 526-528)]
Seeking Knowledge in Due Amounts
Allah said:
"And
this is a Qur'an which We have divided into parts, in order that you
recite it to men at intervals. And we have sent it down in stages." [17:106]
The Prophet (saws) said to 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn Al-'As (ra): "Read the Qur'an in every month." I said: I find that I have more strength than that. "Recite it in every twenty nights." I said: I find that I have more strength than that. "Then recite it in every seven days and do not increase upon that." [Al-Bukhari (no. 5052) and Muslim (no. 1159) and the wording is from Muslim]
'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn Al-'As (ra) also related from the Prophet (saws) that he said: "He does not understand the Qur'an who recites it in less than three days." [Sahih: Abu Dawud in his Sunan (no. 1394) and it was authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih Sunan Abi Dawud (no. 1294)]
'Umar ibn 'Abdul-Wahid - a companion of Al-Awza'i - said:
We read Al-Muwatta to Malik in forty days, so he said: "A book that took me forty years to compile, you take from me in forty days! How little you understand of it." [Ibn 'Abdul-Barr in At-Tawhid (1/77)]
Al-Khatib Al-Baghdadi said:
"It is fitting that he
take care in acquiring knowledge and that he should not take too much in
one go. Rather, he should take a little at a time, such that he can
bear it, memorize it and be able to understand it. Because Allah says: 'And those who disbelieve say: Why is the Qur'an
not sent down to him all at once? Thus (is it sent down in parts) that
We may strengthen your heart thereby. And We have revealed it to you
gradually, in stages.' [25:32]" [Al-Faqih wa'l-Mutafaqqih (2/101).]
Al-Khatib also said:
"And know that the
heart is an organ from the organs. It is able to bear some things and
unable to bear others - just like the rest of the body. Thus, some
people are able to carry one-hundred pounds, whereas others are unable
to carry even twenty. Some people are able to walk a number of mites in a
day without tiring, whereas others are unable to even walk a mile in a
day before they become tired ... So let each person limit himself to
what he is able without expending all his energies, because that will
better aid him in learning with a good mind, from a arm and proficient
teacher." [Al-Faqih wa'l-Mutafaqqih (2/107)]
Supplicating for an Increase in Knowledge
Allah said:
"Say: My Lord! Increase me in knowledge." [20:114]
Umm Salamah (ra) said:
Allah's Messenger (saws) used to supplicate in the morning Prayer: "O Allah! I ask you for beneficial knowledge, righteous action and pure sustenance." [Hasan: Ahmad (6/305) and At-Tiyalasi (p.224). It was authenticated by Al-Hafidh Ibn Hajr in Nata'ij al-Afkar (2/313)]
Anas ibn Malik (ra) said:
I heard Allah's Messenger (saws) supplicated: "O
Allah! Benefit me with knowledge. Teach me that which will benefit me,
and provide me with knowledge from which I can derive benefit." [al-Hakim (1/510) and he said: "It is
authentic upon the condition of Muslim." Adh-Dhahabi also
agreed]
Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Ja'far said:
I heard Ibn Khuzaymah being asked: From where did you acquire this knowledge? So he said: "Allah's Messenger (saws) said: 'Zamzam water is that for which it is drunk.'
[Hasan: It has been narrated by many different ways. Refer to
Al-Maqasid al-Hasanah (no. 928)] So when I drank the Zamzam water, I
supplicated to Allah for beneficial knowledge." [Adh-Dhahabi in
Tadhkirat al-Huffadh (2/721)]
Shaykh ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said in his Majmu' al-Fatawa (4/39):
"The reality of this
matter is that the servant differs in what he asks of knowledge and
guidance, and of what he seeks to ask. So with remembrance of Allah and
turning towards Him, Allah guides such a person - as He said: 'O My servants! All of you are misguided, except whomsoever I guide. So seek your guidance from Me.' [Muslim (no. 2577)] And as the Prophet (saws) used to say: 'O
Allah! Lord of Jibril, Mikail and Israfil. The Originator of the
heavens and the earths. Knower of the Unseen and the apparent. You judge
between Your servants in that which he differs. So guide me in that
which I differ from the truth - by Your permission. Indeed, You guide
whomsoever You please, to a path that is straight.'" [Muslim (no. 770)]
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