Knowledge should be taken from its people – Shaykh ibn Baaz

Ash-Shaikh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy upon him) was asked about some people who say that reading books alone does not benefit, and that one must read (i.e. study) with a scholar.

Translated by Abu Sumayyah Aqeel Walker

Host of the Program: Some people say that verily reading books alone does not benefit, and that one must read (i.e. study) with a scholar. Is this correct or not?

Ibn Baaz: Yes, if the person is a common person who does not have the tools of knowledge and he has not learned that which will make him qualified to research in the books. Thus, such a person will not get the desired benefit. He might benefit if he understands Arabic, and he might benefit if the book is in his language, and he might benefit if he understands. Likewise, he will benefit from the Words of Allaah when he reads the Qur’aan. He will benefit if it is in the language that he understands. However, he will not get the great, complete benefit unless he learns with the people of knowledge who are known for good and correct ‘Aqeedah (belief) and the Salafi way (i.e. methodology) that was followed by As-Salaf us-Saalih (the Righteous Predecessors) , and they are the companions of the Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam), and those who followed them in goodness. This scholar will give you insight and guide you to what might be hidden from you from the Book of
Allaah and from the Sunnah of His Messenger, and he will help you to understand what is correct. In reference to you (studying) on your own, then you will certainly make many mistakes, especially if you have not learned the fundamentals which will guide you to the understanding of the texts, and you have not sat with the people of knowledge. In reference to the one who has sat in the gatherings of the scholars, and attended the circles of knowledge and benefited, then verily he is able to research and read (in the books) and get benefit. So we advise you to combine between this and this – (1) read the books that you understand, and contemplate the meanings of the Qur’aan, and give attention to reading the Qur’aan with contemplation and using your intellect, and (also) (2) ask the people of knowledge about that which you do not understand. And do not rely upon yourself alone. Rather, you must ask the people of knowledge who are known for their uprightness, virtue,
religious adherence, worship and correct belief. This is what is required.

Host: May Allaah bless you. It would be good if your eminence could mention the things that will give the person the qualifications to benefit from reading without him having anyone else or without him having a Shaikh (scholar), as they say.

Ibn Baaz: He reviews the books of Tafseer (explanation) of the Noble Qur’aan and learns the fundamentals of the people of knowledge, the science of the fundamental sources of Fiqh (Usool ul-Fiqh) – he reads and reviews them – and the science of Hadeeth, so that he can benefit. And in any case, he will not get the desired benefit except with a scholar (‘Aalim) to give him guidance. There is no way around this. Because these principles and fundamentals need some explanation and they need some clarification. And the matter of him (the person) trying to study independently on his own from the beginning, this is something that will not allow him to achieve that which is wanted, even if he is naturally smart (or sharp) and even if he is an Arab. He still needs to know the technical terminologies by way of their people who have knowledge of them. However, he is not prevented from contemplating the Qur’aan, and he is not prevented from memorizing the hadeeths and reading
beneficial books. For verily he will definitely get some benefit, but he should not feel sufficed by this. We advise him that he not feel sufficed. Rather, he should seek the knowledge in the circles of knowledge and in the gatherings of knowledge that are reliable and good, and by way of visiting the scholars in their houses and in their masjids for questioning (them) and seeking clarity. Thus, this is how the student of knowledge is.

Host: May Allaah bless you

~ by abulhaarith on January 13, 2009.