There is no rush in this journey of ʿilm - don't look for shortcuts. If death comes in the way then Allah accepts our intention and rewards us accordingly.
The Masjid an-Nabawi Library is the oldest and most significant library in the city of Madina. The library is located on the western side of the mosque’s terrace with its entrance near Bab Imam Bukhari, gate no. 10.
An important reminder on respecting differences of opinion within Islam.
Sh. Sa'id: “It is asinine for someone to approach an issue, which has been differed over for centuries, and they then claim to abolish the khilaf (difference of opinion)— none but an idiot assumes that.”
Imām Ṭabarī رحمه الله said:
"You were once in the womb, unmentioned and unknown.
And again you will be forgotten, unknown and unmentioned."
[جامع البيان عن تأويل آي القرآن]
Beautiful classic rendition of couplets in Urdu where the poet expresses his yearning to visit al-Madinah al-Munawwarah. 😍
May He ﷻ allow us all to visit the blessing city of Madinah soon.
Feeling sad?
One of the Salaf said:
"لا يسمع سورة يوسف محزون الا استراح"
"No one is saddened and hears Sūrah Yūsuf except that he will feel at ease."
[Tafsīr al-Baghawī, 2/434]
Our father in ʿilm, Shaykh Mawlana Adam Sahib has passed away.
He has been serving the community in Leicester, UK for over 40 years, with hundreds of students having studied Sahih al-Bukhari with him over the last decades.
He is a student of Shaykh Qari Muhammad Tayyib Qasmi,
This Rabīʽ al-Awwal, set yourself a target of going through a book of sīrah, from before the birth of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to his demise.
It is important that we know of his blessed life in order to water our love for him and be able to emulation him.
Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إِنَّ أَبْغَضَ الرِّجَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ الأَلَدُّ الْخَصِمُ
Verily, the most hated man to Allah is the one who is ‘fiercest in argument.’ (2:204)
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2668]
“I have two sons who died. Can you tell us something from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, to cheer up our souls after their death?” Abu Huraira said, “Yes, the Prophet said: Their young are roaming about in Paradise.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2635]
A 300-year-old library tool that enabled a researcher to have seven books open at once, yet conveniently nearby (located at Biblioteca Palafoxiana in Puebla, Mexico).
This is the ancient equivalent of keeping multiple tabs opened in your browser. Except this will never freeze.
'Umar b. Khaṭṭāb: “If you see that someone has slipped, correct him, pray for him and don't help Shayṭān against him (by insulting him)."
Tafsīr al-Qurṭubī (v. 15, p. 256)
Reminder: The teacher who taught you the letters of the Arabic alphabet so you could read the Qur’ān holds a greater rank than the one who taught you Ḥadīth.
A brilliant teacher is one who can come down to the level of his / her students. Not one who floats above their level speaking in a language the students do not understand.
Dear siblings,
We lose yet another father of ʿilm. Mufti Ebrahim Desai, an extremely learned scholar who has impacted the world through his fatawa and legacy through his students.
May Allāh ﷻ grant him the highest ranks in Jannah, accept his efforts and service to dīn. Āmīn.
If your timeline is filled with ʿilm, ʿulamā and advice from well-wishers then you are truly blessed. You actively take benefit from the time spent using this app.
Our father in ʿilm, Shaykh Muhammad 'Ali as-Sabuni has sadly passed away.
Students of ʿilm have benefitted and will continue benefitting from his works and legacy.
May Allāh grant him the highest ranks in Jannah and shower him with His mercy. Āmīn Yā Rabb.
For those travelling to Madinah Munawwarah, be sure to visit the Masjid an-Nabawi Library, located on the western side of the Masjid's terrace with its entrance near Bab Imam Bukhari, gate no. 10.
There are exclusive times for sisters also, which you can enquired there.
Prophet Muḥammad ʿalayhi al-salam said, "By the One in whose hand lies the soul of Muḥammad, the odour from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk."
[Bukhārī 1904]
Ibn al-Mubarak said: “I sought manners for thirty years and I sought sacred knowledge for twenty years. The righteous predecessors would seek manners first, then seek knowledge.”
- Ghāyat al-Nihāyah 1/446
When Imam al-Shafi’i, may Allah have mercy on him, sat in front of Malik and read to him, Imam Malik was impressed by his intelligence, wisdom, and complete understanding. He then gave this advice to Imam al-Shafi’i.
Imam Sha'rawi was asked, 'What did you advise your son when he married?'
He said: 'My beloved son, this woman has left her father, her mother, her brother, her sister so that she may become exclusively yours, so be [with her] like all of them.'
The answer to one’s istikhara prayer does not come simply in the form of dreams and feelings but in how Allah facilitates and unfolds events for an individual after he or she genuinely strives to do what is best.
It has been narrated by many ʿulamāʾ that if parents give any inheritance, there is no greater inheritance than Adab. Al-Walid ibn Numayr said that he heard his father say:
“They used to say, ‘Righteousness is (a gift) from Allah, but adab (right conduct) is from the parents”.
Ibn al-Qayyim said:
"And when the heart has become unmindful of the rememberance of Allāh for [even] an hour, Shaitān perches upon it and promises him [false promises], entices him and brings about his desires & wanders with him in every valley."
[Badāiʿ at-Tafsīr]
This is a reminder to act upon what you've studied.
You can read books day and night, even practically swallow them, be the most brightest student, but the absence of action bears little fruit to your reading and studying.
Read, Study and Act.
We must remember that studying and gaining knowledge is an active act of worship – it will not always be easy and remains a form of constant struggle. But as the Quran reminds us, struggle is also an integral part of becoming a better Muslim.
Our father in ʿilm, Shaykh Dr V. Abdur Rahim has passed away.
Students of ʿilm around the world have benefitted from his works, the most common being his Arabic Course books.
May Allāh grant him the highest ranks in Jannah and shower him with His mercy. Āmīn Yā Rabb.
The acquisition of knowledge requires three dimensions:
1) Abstinence from sin.
2) Constant, persistent and unceasing effort.
3) Retaining and preserving what was studied.
As ṭullāb al-ʿilm we have to frequently check our intentions. What is the objective of learning? Is it to debate with people? Is it to gain the admiration of people? Is it to write books or give talks and impress others? Is it truly to seek Allah's pleasure?
The key factor to studying Arabic is regular practice and revision. As you study the language of the Qur'an, immerse yourself with understanding concepts through examples and challenging yourself through exercises.
Imam al-Shafi’i said: “I never debated anyone and loved for him to be wrong. There is no knowledge in my heart but that I wish everyone could have it and attribute none of it to me.”
- Ādāb al-Shāfi’ī wa Manāqibuh 78