1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,520 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:10,740 “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) 3 00:00:10,740 --> 00:00:16,940 The Splendor of Knowledge according to the Sages. 4 00:00:16,940 --> 00:00:21,739 By Dr. Hamzah Ibn Fayi' Al Fathi. 5 00:00:21,739 --> 00:00:26,899 May Allah preserve him. 6 00:00:26,899 --> 00:00:32,179 Early Rising for the Sake of Knowledge. 7 00:00:32,179 --> 00:00:36,179 'Abdullah Ibn Ahmad Ibn Hanbal—may Allah have mercy upon them both—said: 8 00:00:36,179 --> 00:00:41,179 He who passed away in the year 241 AH. 9 00:00:41,179 --> 00:00:43,179 I heard my father say: 10 00:00:43,179 --> 00:00:46,179 "I would often intend to set out early for hadith [studies], 11 00:00:46,179 --> 00:00:49,179 but my mother would take my clothes and say, 12 00:00:49,179 --> 00:00:51,179 'Wait until the people have called the adhan,' 13 00:00:51,179 --> 00:00:53,179 'Wait until they have reached the morning.'" 14 00:00:53,179 --> 00:01:00,229 I would often set out early for the gatherings of Abu Bakr Ibn 'Ayyash and others. 15 00:01:00,229 --> 00:01:02,229 Early rising for the sake of knowledge 16 00:01:02,229 --> 00:01:05,230 is a sign of intelligence and high aspiration, 17 00:01:05,230 --> 00:01:07,230 and a path to achievement, 18 00:01:07,230 --> 00:01:09,230 especially at the beginning of the day 19 00:01:09,230 --> 00:01:11,230 and after the dawn prayer, 20 00:01:11,230 --> 00:01:14,230 depending on one's physical and mental energy 21 00:01:14,230 --> 00:01:18,230 and one's mental readiness for memorization and comprehension. 22 00:01:18,230 --> 00:01:22,260 This is how our Imams were, and how their families raised them, 23 00:01:22,260 --> 00:01:26,260 just as the mother of Imam Ahmad—may Allah have mercy on him—did. 24 00:01:26,260 --> 00:01:30,260 As for squandering that time by sleeping until midday, 25 00:01:30,260 --> 00:01:33,260 which some students are afflicted with, 26 00:01:33,260 --> 00:01:36,260 it is a sign of deprivation and the loss of blessing, 27 00:01:36,260 --> 00:01:38,260 and a waste of hours 28 00:01:38,260 --> 00:01:42,260 that those of high ambition and resolve would never accept. 29 00:01:42,260 --> 00:01:45,810 Herein lies the virtue of the Muslim home, 30 00:01:45,810 --> 00:01:47,810 the vigilance of its members, 31 00:01:47,810 --> 00:01:50,810 their concern for the etiquette of their children, 32 00:01:50,810 --> 00:01:53,810 and their upbringing in a righteous manner, 33 00:01:53,810 --> 00:01:56,810 adorned with ambition and diligence, 34 00:01:56,810 --> 00:01:58,810 the investment of time, 35 00:01:58,810 --> 00:02:01,810 and the elevation of the status of knowledge in their souls, 36 00:02:01,810 --> 00:02:05,810 so that they grow up having learned blessed values, 37 00:02:05,810 --> 00:02:09,810 virtuous morals, and noble characteristics. 38 00:02:09,810 --> 00:02:12,319 Rising early for knowledge 39 00:02:12,319 --> 00:02:15,319 is a form of rising early in all affairs of life. 40 00:02:15,319 --> 00:02:18,319 For whoever is accustomed to completing matters quickly 41 00:02:18,319 --> 00:02:20,319 and at the beginning of the day 42 00:02:20,319 --> 00:02:23,319 is granted success in his life and attains blessing, 43 00:02:23,319 --> 00:02:27,319 and he achieves and surpasses many of his peers. 44 00:02:27,319 --> 00:02:29,319 It has been authentically reported in a hadith: 45 00:02:29,319 --> 00:02:32,319 "O Allah, bless my Ummah in its early rising." 46 00:02:32,319 --> 00:02:34,349 He said: 47 00:02:34,349 --> 00:02:36,349 The Prophet—peace be upon him— 48 00:02:36,349 --> 00:02:39,349 whenever he sent out a military detachment or an army, 49 00:02:39,349 --> 00:02:41,349 he would send them at the beginning of the day. 50 00:02:41,349 --> 00:02:44,449 Sakhr was a merchant, 51 00:02:44,449 --> 00:02:46,449 and whenever he sent out a trade caravan, 52 00:02:46,449 --> 00:02:49,449 he would send it at the beginning of the day, 53 00:02:49,449 --> 00:02:51,449 and he became wealthy and his riches increased. 54 00:02:51,449 --> 00:02:54,669 Narrated by Abu Dawud and Al Tirmidhi. 55 00:02:54,669 --> 00:02:58,669 Ibn Al Qayyim—may Allah have mercy on him—conveyed from some reports, 56 00:02:58,669 --> 00:03:02,669 as found in his book *Hadi Al Arwah ila Bilad Al Afrah*, 57 00:03:02,669 --> 00:03:06,669 that the times of the people of Paradise are like the time of dawn, 58 00:03:06,669 --> 00:03:09,669 which is the time from the spreading of light 59 00:03:09,669 --> 00:03:11,669 until just before sunrise. 60 00:03:11,669 --> 00:03:16,669 This time reminds one of the permanence and eternity in Paradise, 61 00:03:16,669 --> 00:03:20,669 and this necessitates that we always witness it. 62 00:03:20,669 --> 00:03:23,669 If it were said that in such-and-such a place 63 00:03:23,669 --> 00:03:25,669 there is a fruit from the fruits of Paradise, 64 00:03:25,669 --> 00:03:28,669 or a house from the houses of Paradise, 65 00:03:28,669 --> 00:03:31,669 we would race to see it, 66 00:03:31,669 --> 00:03:35,669 especially since there is neither sun nor freezing cold there. 67 00:03:35,669 --> 00:03:37,669 Witnessing it brings comfort to the believer, 68 00:03:37,669 --> 00:03:39,669 removes sadness from him, 69 00:03:39,669 --> 00:03:42,669 and gives him hope for entering Paradise. 70 00:03:42,669 --> 00:03:45,060 The hours of the early morning 71 00:03:45,060 --> 00:03:48,060 are the most pleasant for knowledge and the most conducive to memorization, 72 00:03:48,060 --> 00:03:51,060 and the closest to happiness and joy. 73 00:03:51,060 --> 00:03:55,060 But they are only pleasant for the serious, early riser, 74 00:03:55,060 --> 00:03:57,060 the one who abandons staying up late, 75 00:03:57,060 --> 00:03:59,060 the one who is sincere in his pursuit, 76 00:03:59,060 --> 00:04:01,060 and the one who is persistent in his seeking. 77 00:04:01,060 --> 00:04:05,060 As for those afflicted with staying up late these days, 78 00:04:05,060 --> 00:04:08,060 they are deprived of the blessing of the beautiful morning 79 00:04:08,060 --> 00:04:11,060 and its pure, refreshing dew. 80 00:04:11,060 --> 00:04:14,090 And Allah is the Grantor of success and the Helper.