Part of Rawnaq Al-Ilm (series completed)
· Lesson 49 of 50
The book of the elegance of knowledge among the wise | Episode (49) | Attractive books
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Transcript
Machine translation — may contain errors
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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 Elegance of Knowledge, according to the wise.
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By Dr. Hamzah Ibn Fayi' Al Fathi.
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May Allah preserve him.
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Engaging Books.
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Voltaire said,
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the French philosopher,
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who passed away in the year 1778 AD,
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that the most beneficial books
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are those that compel the reader to finish them.
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People differ in their interpretation of what makes a book beneficial and captivating.
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Here, that philosopher explains it
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as being those that push you forcefully to complete them,
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such that boredom dissipates from you,
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and you do not taste weariness.
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For they possess such beauty of style and splendor of language,
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such captivating subject matter and exquisite vocabulary,
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that they make you cling to them, love them, and revere them.
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This is the truly beneficial book.
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Yet, attracting people to books
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is not a skill possessed by every writer;
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rather, it is a gift from Allah the Exalted, which He bestows upon certain pens.
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In our era, beautiful and colorful editions
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have become the primary attraction for many,
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more so than true scholarship,
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impactful writing,
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or persuasive style.
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Nevertheless,
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there are groups that still seek benefit
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from masters of refined prose
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and brilliant pens.
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There is a lesson here for writers and authors:
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do not rush into authorship without training and expertise
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in the nuances of influence and appeal.
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Therefore, they must pay attention to two elements in their writing:
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the introduction and the subject matter.
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The stronger and more enchanting the introduction,
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the more likely the book is to spread, be read, and gain popularity among people.
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As for original, non-repetitive subject matter,
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it is something that souls yearn for,
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and spirits speak of to one another,
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wishing they could read it,
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especially if it offers a new solution,
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a sound approach,
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or convincing analysis.
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This is why academic theses are held in high regard,
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because they possess innovative topics
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free from imitation or mimicry.
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Peace.