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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

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“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)

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The Splendor of Knowledge according to the Sages.

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By Dr. Hamzah Ibn Fayi' Al Fathi.

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May Allah preserve him.

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The Qualities of the Chosen Teacher.

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Ibn Jama'ah, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

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Who passed away in the year 733 AH.

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One should choose the most knowledgeable, the most pious, and the most senior.

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Just as Abu Hanifah, may Allah have mercy on him, chose:

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Hammad Ibn Sulayman, may Allah have mercy on him.

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After contemplation and reflection.

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He said:

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I found him to be a dignified teacher,

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forbearing and patient.

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He said:

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I remained steadfast with Hammad Ibn Sulayman, and thus I flourished.

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Not everyone who has studied or assumed the role of a teacher is fit to be taken from as a source of knowledge.

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Rather, one must observe the necessary scholarly qualifications,

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and his true standing.

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Among these is his mastery of his specialization,

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and that he be the most knowledgeable of the people of his time in that discipline,

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so that when you sit with him, you benefit from him,

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and acquire a refined body of knowledge,

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the likes of which one would travel to attain.

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Among the qualities of the teacher:

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The maturity of his age in the pursuit of knowledge,

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such that he is seasoned, having grown grey in the process of acquiring and compiling it.

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Knowledge should not be taken from the young and inexperienced,

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due to their lack of expertise and limited experience in scholarly instruction.

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Likewise, he should be the most pious in religion, God-fearing, and observant of sacred boundaries,

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holding the Sharia in high esteem,

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and distancing himself from base character traits.

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He knows the value of knowledge,

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and upholds its conditions and etiquette.

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In the authentic hadith:

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"The excellence of knowledge is dearer to me than the excellence of worship."

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"And the best of your religion is piety."

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Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said in Majmu' al-Fatawa:

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"As for piety, it is refraining from that which may cause harm."

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This includes both prohibited matters and doubtful ones,

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because they may cause harm.

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For whoever avoids doubtful matters,

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protects his religion and his honor.

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And whoever falls into doubtful matters,

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falls into the prohibited,

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like a shepherd grazing around a sanctuary, who is soon to fall into it.

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Whoever remains steadfast with a dignified, knowledgeable teacher,

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and adheres to his methodology and lessons,

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will flourish with a beautiful growth,

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just as it happened for Abu Hanifah, may Allah have mercy on him, with his teacher Hammad Ibn Sulayman.

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He was sincere with him, so Allah opened the way for him.

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And Allah is the Grantor of success.