Part of Rawnaq Al-Ilm (series completed)
· Lesson 28 of 50
The book of the elegance of knowledge among the wise | Episode (28) | Characteristics of the chosen sheikh
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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 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.