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 Splendor of Knowledge according to the Sages.
By Dr. Hamzah Ibn Fayi' Al Fathi.
May Allah preserve him.
The Qualities of the Chosen Teacher.
Ibn Jama'ah, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
Who passed away in the year 733 AH.
One should choose the most knowledgeable, the most pious, and the most senior.
Just as Abu Hanifah, may Allah have mercy on him, chose:
Hammad Ibn Sulayman, may Allah have mercy on him.
After contemplation and reflection.
He said:
I found him to be a dignified teacher,
forbearing and patient.
He said:
I remained steadfast with Hammad Ibn Sulayman, and thus I flourished.
Not everyone who has studied or assumed the role of a teacher is fit to be taken from as a source of knowledge.
Rather, one must observe the necessary scholarly qualifications,
and his true standing.
Among these is his mastery of his specialization,
and that he be the most knowledgeable of the people of his time in that discipline,
so that when you sit with him, you benefit from him,
and acquire a refined body of knowledge,
the likes of which one would travel to attain.
Among the qualities of the teacher:
The maturity of his age in the pursuit of knowledge,
such that he is seasoned, having grown grey in the process of acquiring and compiling it.
Knowledge should not be taken from the young and inexperienced,
due to their lack of expertise and limited experience in scholarly instruction.
Likewise, he should be the most pious in religion, God-fearing, and observant of sacred boundaries,
holding the Sharia in high esteem,
and distancing himself from base character traits.
He knows the value of knowledge,
and upholds its conditions and etiquette.
In the authentic hadith:
"The excellence of knowledge is dearer to me than the excellence of worship."
"And the best of your religion is piety."
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said in Majmu' al-Fatawa:
"As for piety, it is refraining from that which may cause harm."
This includes both prohibited matters and doubtful ones,
because they may cause harm.
For whoever avoids doubtful matters,
protects his religion and his honor.
And whoever falls into doubtful matters,
falls into the prohibited,
like a shepherd grazing around a sanctuary, who is soon to fall into it.
Whoever remains steadfast with a dignified, knowledgeable teacher,
and adheres to his methodology and lessons,
will flourish with a beautiful growth,
just as it happened for Abu Hanifah, may Allah have mercy on him, with his teacher Hammad Ibn Sulayman.
He was sincere with him, so Allah opened the way for him.
And Allah is the Grantor of success.