Etiquettes of Seeking Knowledge - II

•Specialization: If a Muslim wants to specialize in one science, he
should choose the most honorable branch of science and the most
beneficent one that suits his abilities. It was said, "If you want to
be a scholar, you should know everything about one thing, but if you
want to be cultured, then know something about everything."
•Memorizing with understanding and reflection: The Prophetsaid:"May
Allaah Brighten the face of the person who hears something from us and
memorizes it until he transmits it to others. Perhaps the one whom it
reaches comprehends it better than the one who heard it. Or perhaps
the one who heard it never comprehended it"]At-Tirmidhi[ This
indicates the importance of memorization.
•Documenting: It was said, "Write down knowledge." It was also said,
"Knowledge is like game that is hunted and writing catches it." Hence,
we should write down knowledge in order not to forget it and carefully
choose what we write. It was said, "There are three categories of
people who listen to the scholar; the first one writes down all that
he hears; the second does not write but only hears, while the third
selects and he is the best among the three".
•Studying and reviewing: Mu'aath ibn Jabal, May Allaah Be Pleased with
him, said:"Seek knowledge as seeking it for the Sake of Allaah leads
to fearing Him, and seeking it is an act of worship, studying it is
Tasbeeh )glorification of Allaah(, searching for it is Jihaad )a
difficult struggle(, teaching it is charity to those who do not have
it, and conveying it to those who deserve to learn it is a good deed."
•Arranging learning hours: A Muslim should always be well organized in
all his affairs and should be keen on organizing his time and spend it
in gaining knowledge and know-how.
•Avoiding shyness in seeking knowledge: Allaah The Almighty Says )what
means(:}So ask the people of the message if you do not know.{]Quran
16:43[ 'Aa'ishah, May Allaah be Pleased with her, said:"The best women
are the women of the Ansaar, shyness did not prevent them from
comprehending their religion."So the Muslim should ask about that
which he desires to know more of and shyness should not prevent him
from asking. For knowledge is a treasure kept in chests and the keys
are questions.
•Traveling to seek knowledge. Jabir ibn 'Abdullaah, May Allaah Be
Pleased with them, said,"It reached me that a man heard a Hadeeth from
the Messenger of Allaahso I purchased a camel and rode it for a month
until I reached Ash-Shaam. I knew that this man was 'Abdullaah ibn
Unays. I told his gate keeper to say to him, 'Jabir is at the door.'
The gate keeper said, 'Jabir ibn 'Abdullaah?' 'Yes,' I replied. So
'Abdullaah rushed out and embraced me and I embraced him. I said, 'It
reached me that you heard a Hadeeth from the Messenger of
Allaahconcerning Qisaas )retribution( and I feared that one of us
might die before I get it. So Abdullaah ibn Unays mentioned to him the
Hadeeth."]Ahmad and At-Tabaraani[
'Ubaydullaah ibn 'Adiyy, May Allaah Be Pleased with him, said: "I knew
about a Hadeeth that was heard by 'Ali, May Allaah Be Pleased with
him, and I feared that I might not find it with anyone else if he
died, so I travelled to him and found him in Iraq." ]Al-Khateeb[
Ibn Mas'ood, May Allaah Be Pleased with him, said: "If I knew of
someone who I can reach by riding my camel and who is more
knowledgeable than me with what was revealed to the ProphetI would go
to him to increase my knowledge." ]Ibn 'Asaakir[
Ash-Sha'bi, May Allaah Have mercy upon him, said, "A man travelled
from the furthest reaches of Ash-Shaam to the furthest reaches of
Yemen to listen to words of wisdom. I do not perceive this travel as a
loss."
•Applying what one learned; Allaah The Almighty Disapproved of those
who do not apply what they know and likened them to donkeys that carry
)heavy loads of( books, but do not understand what they carry. Allaah
The Almighty Says )what means(:}The example of those who were
entrusted with the Torah and then did not take it on is like that of a
donkey who carries volumes ]of books[.{]Quran 62:5[
Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Do you order righteousness of
the people and forget yourselves while you recite the Scripture? Then
will you not reason?{]Quran 2:44[ So a Muslim should know with
certainty that he will be asked about what he put forth for himself
during his life. The Prophetsaid:"The slave will not step forward on
the Day of Resurrection until he is asked about his age and how he
spent it, his knowledge and what he did with it, his wealth and how he
acquired it and spent it, and about his body and how he used
it."]At-Tirmithi[
•Respecting the teacher: a teacher has a great virtue upon his students.
•Listening attentively: Al-Hasan ibn 'Ali, May Allaah Be Pleased with
him, said to his son: "O son, when you sit with scholars, be more
diligent to listen than to speak and learn to listen attentively just
as you learn to be quiet. When you ask, your questions should be for
the purpose of understanding and realizing, not for arguing or showing
deficiency."
•Observing etiquettes during learning sessions: A Muslim should sit
with his teacher politely and calmly. He should not keep turning his
head, pointing or laughing. He should present himself in a pleasant
manner, be clean and avoid speaking or asking questions until taking
permission. One should not belittle his colleagues or mock them,
rather he should know that they are his brothers in knowledge so they
should be shown mercy and respect.
Among the reasons that help in gaining knowledge and studying is to
study in a location that has adequate light, quiet and freedom from
distracting noises. One should avoid studying in bed as this makes one
feel sleepy. Moreover, books should be arranged well and organized.
And one should give his body its right by resting occasionally. He
should choose the right time for studying and divide this time
appropriately to study all branches of science.