Choosing correct knowledge, teacher and companion and the need for steadfastness
A student should choose the best knowledge. Then he should consider studying that knowledge which is most essential for him from a religious point of view and which he requires for comfort in the hereafter.
Firsts comes the subject of tauhid [1] and the recognition of Allah by means of proof. Although the belief of a muqallid is acceptable in our view, he is sinful if he abandons proof. [2]
He should choose the old narrations [3] and abandon innovations. The scholars have said, “Adopt the old narrations and beware of the new ones.”
A student should refrain from involving himself in those issues which arose after the cream of the Ulama left this world. These masail distance him from jurisprudence, destroy his life, create mutual enmity and are signs of qiyamah and of knowledge and jurisprudence leaving the world. This has been mentioned in a hadith.
As for choosing a teacher, he should choose one who is most learned, the most pious and senior in age, just as imam Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him) chose Hammad Ibn Abi Sulaiman (may Allah have mercy on him) [4] after pondering and reflecting. Imam Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him) said, “I found him to be a dignified and forbearing teacher who was patient in all matters.” [5]
He also said, “I remained steadfast by him. As a result, my knowledge was germinated by him.”
Imam Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him) said, “I heard one of the sages of Samarkand saying, ‘A student came to consult me regarding study. He had resolved to go to Bukhara to study’.”
Similarly, one should consult in all matters. Allah I ordered Rasulullah e to consult in manners, although there was no one with greater understanding than him. In spite of that, he was told to consult. He consulted the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) in all matters and even regarding the necessities of his household.
Ali said, “No person who consulted was ever destroyed.”
It is said that people are of three types: a perfect person, a half person and a nonentity. A perfect person is one who has a correct opinion and consults those who are intelligent. A half person is one whose opinion is correct but does not consult or who consults but has no opinion. A nonentity is one who neither has any opinion nor consults.
Jafar As Sadiq (may Allah have mercy on him) said to Sufyan Ath Thauri (may Allah have mercy on him), “In your matters, consult those who fear Allah.”
The seeking of knowledge is one of the higher of matters and the most difficult. Accordingly, consultation regarding it is more important and more essential.
The wise man continued, “When you go to Bukhara, do not be hasty and move from one teacher to the next. Remain for two months until you have pondered and then choose a teacher. For if you go to a particular teacher, you may not be pleased with his instruction and in that case you will leave him and go elsewhere. In this way, you will have no blessings in your seeking of knowledge.
Therefore ponder for two months regarding a teacher. Consult so that there is no need for you to leave him and turn away from him. Remain steadfast by him so that there are blessings in your knowledge and you will benefit much from this knowledge.
Remember that patience and steadfastness are great fundamentals in all matters but are rarely found. As it has been said,
“Every person makes a move in desiring to reach heights However, to have steadfastness is extremely difficult.”
There is a proverb that bravery is to be patient for a while.
It is therefore essential to remain steadfast by a teacher and to commit oneself to studying a book and not abandoning it. Once you are involved in a certain subject, do not preoccupy yourself with another until you have mastered the first. Do not travel to another city unnecessarily because such things disperse your thoughts, preoccupy your heart, waste time and hurt the feelings of one’s teacher.
Completely abandon all your carnal desires. A poet said,
“Submitting to one’s carnal desires is the greatest disgrace The greatest honour is to overcome one’s desires.”
Endure all calamities and difficulties. It is said that treasures of favours are to be found on the heaps of trials and tribulations. The following verses were recited to me and are probably the statement of Ali : “Remember, you cannot achieve knowledge except through six factors. I will inform you of them all: intelligence, desire to study, sufficing with little, guidance of a teacher, a long period of studying and choice of a companion.”
As for choosing a colleague, it is essential to choose one who is diligent, pious and who has the correct temperament and understanding. Always avoid from one who is lazy, idle, neglectful, gossips and causes corruption and dissension.
A poet said,
“Before finding out about person, examine the condition of his friend. A companion follows the ways of his friend. If he is an evil companion, keep away from him immediately. If he is good, accompany him for you will be correctly guided.”
These verses were also recited to me:
- “Do not befriend one who is lazy.
- How many good persons were spoilt due to the corruption of others.
- The filth of a filthy mind rapidly affects the intelligence of an intelligent
- one Just as a burning ember is extinguished when placed in sand.”
Nabi said, “Every child is born with the nature of Islam inherent in him. However, it is parents who make him either Jew, Christian or Magian”. It is mentioned in a Persian couplet,
- “An evil friend is worse than a poisonous snake.
- Besides the pure being of Allah, there is no one.
- The evil friend drags you towards hell.
- Therefore search for a pious friend by means of which
- your hopes of attaining heaven can be fortified.”
It has been also said,
- “If you are searching for knowledge from the upholders of knowledge,
- or you are searching for a person who knows about someone that is absent,
- then the condition of the land can be gleaned from its citizen’s names
- and the condition of a person can be gained from his companions.”
References
1. Tauhid – the oneness of Allah
2. The best proof is that which appeals to the nature of man and which he is naturally forced to accept. An excellent proof was tendered by a Bedouin who forcefully said, “Dung indicates the presence of a camel and footprints indicate the presence of a traveler. Then why is it that the earth with all its valleys and the sky with its galaxies do not indicate the presence of a Being that is lofty and all powerful”.
3. Old narrations refer to those facts which have been unanimously accepted by the scholars as being correct through the correctness of proofs. Innovations refer to those assertions in which there are always discrepancies and about which opinions always clash regarding them.
4. He was from among the Tabiin. He had encyclopedic knowledge and was a jurist per excellence. Imam Abu Hanifah learnt most of his knowledge from him and stayed with him for eighteen years. He passed away in 120 A.H. (738 C.E.).
5. He also said, “I have not found anyone more learned in jurisprudence than him”.
FROM THE BOOK “TEACHING THE STUDENT THE METHOD OF STUDYING”
by Sheikh Burhanul Islam Az-Zarnuji
