سۡ سۡ يبِ بِ لرَّ ٱ بِ ـٰ مَ لرَّ ٱ بِٱ يبِ بِ Bismi Allahi Alrrahmani Alrraheemi In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful Knowledge – A Definition, its Virtue and the Ruling Concerning its Acquisition _____________________________________________________________________ Knowledge – A Definition, its Virtue and the Ruling Concerning its Acquisition By Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (raheemahullaah) Translated into English by ‘Abdul-Haq ibn Kofi ibn Kwesi Addae ibn ul-Ashanti _______________________________________________________________ 1 © SalafiManhaj 2004 Knowledge – A Definition, its Virtue and the Ruling Concerning its Acquisition _____________________________________________________________________ Contents 3 Preface 6 Chapter 1 – Defining Knowledge 10 Chapter 2 – The Virtues of Knowledge 17 The Most Important Virtues of Knowledge 25 Chapter 3 - The Ruling on Seeking Knowledge _______________________________________________________________ 2 © SalafiManhaj 2004 Knowledge – A Definition, its Virtue and the Ruling Concerning its Acquisition _____________________________________________________________________ Preface This is a translation of three chapters from the book ‘Knowledge – A Definition, its Virtue and the Ruling Concerning its Acquisition’ by one of the esteemed scholars of the Sunnah in the contemporary era, namely Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen, may the mercy of Allaah be upon him. The book contains much in the way of advice to the seekers of knowledge and serves as an admonishment to the sincere seeker, causing one to reflect about their search for the divinely revealed knowledge. Shaykh ‘Uthaymeen was born in the town of ‘Unayzah in Arabia on the 27th of Ramadaan 1347 AH. The Shaykh memorised the whole Qur’aan as a young boy with his maternal grandfather ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Sulaymaan Aali Daamigh (raheemahullaah) and then furthered his search for knowledge by studying writing, arithmetic and some other subjects. The scholar ‘Abdur-Rahmaan as-Sa’adee used to get two of his senior students, Ali as-Saalihee and Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-‘Azeez al-Mutawwa’ (may the mercy of Allaah be upon them all) to teach the younger students. Under whom, Shaykh ‘Uthaymeen studied _______________________________________________________________ 3 © SalafiManhaj 2004 Knowledge – A Definition, its Virtue and the Ruling Concerning its Acquisition _____________________________________________________________________ an abridgement to Aqeedat ul-Wasitiyyah and Minhaj us-Saalikeen fee’l- Fiqh,1 as well as studying al-‘Ajroomiyyah and al-Alfiyyah in Arabic grammar and morphology. He also studied the laws of inheritance and fiqh under Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn ‘Ali ibn ‘Awdaan. Shaykh ‘Uthaymeen also studied under the noble Shaykh, ‘Abdul- ‘Azeez bin Baaz, to the extent that he was regarded as his second teacher. In 1371 AH, the Shaykh began to teach in the congregational mosque and when the educational institutes opened in Riyadh he signed up with them in 1372 AH and then graduated after two years and became a teacher in educational institute (Ma’ahad ‘Ilmee) in ‘Unayzah. In the meantime, he continued his studies under as- Sa’adee (raheemahullaah) and with the College of Sharee’ah. When Shaykh Abdur-Rahmaan as-Sa’adee passed away (raheemahullaah), Shaykh ‘Uthaymeen was appointed Imaam of the congregational mosque in ‘Unayzah and a teacher within the central library of ‘Unayzah in addition to Shaykh ‘Uthaymeen’s other teaching responsibilities. He would later move on to teaching in the faculties of Sharee’ah and Usool ud-Deen in the Qaseem branch of Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University. Moreover, he became a member of the Council of Senior Scholars in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 1 These works were compiled by as-Sa’adee (raheemahullaah). _______________________________________________________________ 4 © SalafiManhaj 2004 Knowledge – A Definition, its Virtue and the Ruling Concerning its Acquisition _____________________________________________________________________ Shaykh ‘Uthaymeen played a large and active role in the field of Da’wah (calling) to Allaah and teaching the Muslims from all levels of the society. For this reason, Shaykh ‘Uthaymeen is renowned for his beneficial lessons and sermons given in ‘Unayzah, Qaseem. He was thus known for his classes during the nights of ‘Itikaaf during Ramadaan every year. He was also known for his compendium of religious rulings (fatawaa) issued to the masses of Muslims from the east and west during Hajj or published within journals, magazines, on the radio programme ‘Light Upon the Path’ (‘Noor ‘alaa ad-Darb’). The Shaykh was particularly known for this and his wholesome responses to the various questions that were posed to him day in day out.2 2 See the biography section of al-Manhaj.com _______________________________________________________________ 5 © SalafiManhaj 2004 Knowledge – A Definition, its Virtue and the Ruling Concerning its Acquisition _____________________________________________________________________ Chapter One Defining Knowledge Linguistically: Knowledge eliminates ignorance, being a sure and firm comprehension of something. Technically: Some of the people of knowledge have said that knowledge is awareness, contrary to ignorance. Whilst others have stated that knowledge in and of itself is clear, (not needing a definition). That which concerns us here is Sharee’ah knowledge. Meaning by that, clear knowledge and guidance that has been sent down by Allaah upon his Prophet. The praiseworthy and admirable knowledge that facilitates knowledge of the religion, and the Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said that “the Prophets do not leave behind Deenaars or Dirhams, rather they bequeath knowledge.”3 3 Abu Daawood and Tirmidhi _______________________________________________________________ 6 © SalafiManhaj 2004 Knowledge – A Definition, its Virtue and the Ruling Concerning its Acquisition _____________________________________________________________________ It’s known that the Prophets don’t leave behind anything except knowledge of Allaah’s Sharee’ah. The Prophets (may Allaah’s peace be upon them all) did not leave behind knowledge of mundane human endeavour or anything in connection to this. Rather, what we find the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) doing during his life when he came to Madeenah and found the people artificially inseminating the palm trees saying to them, words to the effect of, “there is no need for you to do this,” and lo, the crop failed. Then the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commented on this saying “You know more about your own worldly affairs.”4 So if this was the knowledge that is praiseworthy then the Messenger (may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would have been the most knowledgeable person about it, because the most exemplary person due to his knowledge and acting by it is the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). 4 Saheeh Bukhaaree, ‘The Book of Knowledge.’ _______________________________________________________________ 7 © SalafiManhaj 2004