In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
“Is he who payeth adoration in the watches of the night, prostrate and standing, bewaring of the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, (to be accounted equal with a disbeliever)? Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Are those who know equal with those who know not? But only men of understanding will pay heed.” (39:9)
The Splendors of Knowledge for the Wise.
By Dr. Hamzah Ibn Fayi' Al Fathi.
May Allah preserve him.
The Keys to Knowledge.
Imam Al-Zuhri, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
He who passed away in the year 124 AH.
Knowledge is a treasury,
And it is opened by inquiry.
Knowledge is like stored jewels,
And hidden treasures,
Which have keys in this life,
Such as attendance and reading,
Collecting books, research, and extraction.
Among these keys is asking scholars questions,
Sitting with the sheikhs,
And drawing out the brilliance and understanding from their minds,
As well as their intelligence and sagacity.
In the Qur'an, there is the legitimacy of questioning and the encouragement of it,
"And they ask you..."
"So ask the people of the message if you do not know."
However, this questioning
Has its own etiquette and ethics,
Such as being gentle with the sheikh,
Observing the appropriate time,
Like at the end of the lesson,
Not interrupting him,
Avoiding argumentation,
And supplicating for him at the beginning and the end,
Such as saying,
"May Allah treat you with goodness," and similar phrases.
One must not dismiss his opinion,
Or bring up the opinions of others in a crude manner.
One must honor scholars in general.
Ibn Jurayj, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
"I did not extract the knowledge that I extracted from 'Ata'
Except through my gentleness with him."
Do not be excessive in your questioning out of desperation,
Unless he permits it and finds it pleasing.
Do not isolate yourself from the rest of the students,
For they have questions and rights.
One should ask about what he needs.
The scholar Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said regarding knowledge and its acquisition:
"Some people are deprived of it
Due to their poor questioning,
Either because they do not ask at all,
Or they ask about something while something else is more important for them,
Like one who asks about trivialities whose ignorance does no harm,
While leaving what he cannot do without knowing.
This is the state of many ignorant students.
Some people are deprived of it due to their poor listening,
For speech and disputation are more preferred by them,
And more beloved to them than listening.
This is an affliction latent in most souls seeking knowledge,
And it prevents them from much knowledge,
Even if they possess good understanding."
Peace.