Salafus-Saaliheen سلف صالحين

By:Shaikh Ahmed Najmee (hafidhahullaah)

The Questioner says: “I’m weak in my reading the books of benefit
and when I begin to read some of the books of `ilm (knowledge) I
feel weakness and boredom; so what is your advice for me, and what
is the correct path in reading the books which contain beneficial
knowledge; benefit us (those seeking reward)?”


Firstly: It is a must for the one who seeks knowledge to purify
his intention for Allaah the Lord of the worlds, and make his
seeking the `ilm (knowledge) being only for the purpose and goal of

obtaining the pleasure of Allaah; and in order to know the truth, to
act by it, and to know falsehood so as to refrain from it.

Secondly: To act by that, which he has learned from knowledge within
in himself, and to try and teach what he has learned from knowledge
to others.

Thirdly: To safeguard what he has learned by memorizing it, and
reviewing the `ilm (knowledge) so it does not escape him.

Fourthly: To be steadfast in learning what he does not know, so to
add knowledge on top of knowledge.

Fifthly: To ask Allaah constantly to bestow & grant him with
beneficial knowledge and provisions that are vast, and actions that
are accepted; and the Prophet (SallAllaahu `Alaihi Was Salaam) would
say if he prayed the fajr prayer after he would make tasleem (salaam
to the right then the left) this du’aa:
” O Allaah, I ask you for knowledge which is beneficial and
sustenance which is good, and deeds which are acceptable.” (To be
said after making salaam for the fajr prayer)

Sixthly: If he was to
feel tired and weak when he is in front of knowledge and ready to
study, then he should ask Allaah to make for him will power and a
desire to gain knowledge and dedicate himself to it.

Seventhly: Its obligatory on the student of knowledge to refrain
from disobedience, for indeed disobedience kills the heart and
weakens the understanding and its narrated about Imaam Shaafi’ee he
said: “I complained to my teacher Wa’kee about my weak memory so he
directed me to leave of sin and then he said, `know!!!! That
knowledge is light; and the light of Allaah He does not give it to a
disobedient person.” And I say the proof for that is found in the
Book of Allaah when He Glorified be He Says,

O you who believe! If you obey and Fear Allaah, He will grant you
Furqaan a criterion, and will expiate for you your sins, and forgive
you, and Allaah is the Owner of Great Bounty.

O you who believe Fear Allaah, and believe too in His Messenger
(SallAllaahu `Alaihi Wa Sallam), he will give you a double portion
of His Mercy, and he will give you a light by which you shall walk
(straight), and he will forgive you. And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving,
Most Merciful.

So what is important is that the student of knowledge needs
consistent striving, striving against himself and against ones
passions and lower desires and its greed, and to tire himself out in
acquiring knowledge, and to hope that Allaah will enable him to
achieve that, and the success (tawfeeq) is from Allaah.