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Ethics & Values New Muslims

Practical Ways to Acquiring Knowledge about Islam

By Abu Umar

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Remain consistent in seeking knowledge even by just a little bit on a regular basis and Allah will increase your love for knowledge.

 

Thanks to God, we have been informed, by many sources, about the importance of seeking knowledge and knowing more about our beautiful deen (religion).

Wouldn’t it be great if we could sit down and dedicate ourselves fully to acquiring knowledge about Islam so we can reap some of the vast benefits that can be achieved?

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim.” (Ibn Majah)

We know we have to seek knowledge, but how exactly do we do it? The majority of us just don’t have the time to dedicate ourselves to seeking knowledge (or so it seems). Therefore, we have compiled a few tips to help you acquire knowledge about our beautiful religion.

1. Time management

This is a classic and common theme for productive Muslims but it’s used often because it is so ‘effective’! This involves firstly looking at your schedule to determine where you can allocate time for seeking knowledge.

For example, it may be that on Saturday afternoons you have a few hours free. If this is the case, then fill that time by attending a course, listening to a lecture or two, spending time with a knowledgeable person of Islam, etc. If you simply ‘go with the flow’ and ‘see what  happens’ then it’s very likely that seeking knowledge will be pushed to the side and you will find it difficult to make any progress with this.

Therefore, planning is very important (just as is the case with other activities in life). As they commonly say in the business world, ‘If you fail to plan, you plan to fail’.

A point to remember: If you have free time, the Satan will be more than happy to fill that time with something frivolous. So, it’s better you fill your time with something beneficial before Satan gets a chance to distract you.

If you have many responsibilities and are struggling to find time, then it’s a good idea to look at your weekly schedule, scrutinize it and be honest with yourself. For example, if you use up a whole day for shopping and socializing and find no energy to do anything else later, then the day is not likely to be a productive one. Ask yourself, ‘Do I really need so much time for this activity?’ After cleaning up your schedule with this exercise, you should find free time to utilize for seeking knowledge.

Furthermore, we can take a look at the life of the Prophet who is the greatest example for us including in time management. This can be seen from how he allocated time to his wives, children, grandchildren, friends being a general and fighting in the way of Allah (Exalted be He), giving da`wah, managing the different Islamic states, etc. Despite these many responsibilities and more, he was the best in every aspect of his life and was able to give his full attention and never neglected any of his duties.

2. Invest in a CD or Other Electronic Device

This is a very practical method of increasing your knowledge about the religion with little effort. ‘Other electronic device’ can be an mp3 player or your mobile phone that allows you to download lectures and programs that you can listen to on the go. This is very useful for those who have little time available. Invest in some earphones if you don’t have any already. This also helps with your time management as you look to free up some time. For example, if you travel to work/university, read Commuting Productive Muslim Style for tips.

There are also many reliable websites that offer download services so take advantage of those. If you’re not able to find any then resort to YouTube and use a Youtube converter download files. Things that you can look to download are inspirational lectures, history stories like The Great Men and Women of Islam and even a series of a particular topic. Look for a beautiful recitation of the Qur’an to listen to regularly. This should increase your love for the Qur’an, help correct your recitation of Qur’an and help prevent us from sin. Peace and contentment is one of the greatest blessings we can receive through the recitation of the Qur’an.

3. Pick out a Small Area to Focus on

This means focusing on the one part you are seeking knowledge of and not trying to master all the different topics on Islam. This will be especially important if you’ve just set foot on the path of knowledge. Islam really is like an ocean that has no depths and knows no boundaries. Therefore, take your time and take small, baby steps if you are a beginner, as you could find trying to understand lots of different information overwhelming and this may cause you to give up. Thus, remain consistent in seeking knowledge even by just a little bit on a regular basis and Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) will increase your love for knowledge, His religion and you will be of those that are loved by Him and the angels. This is supported by a hadith narrated by `A’ishah (may God be pleased with her):

“The Prophet was asked: “What deeds are loved most by Allah?” He said: “The most regular constant deeds even though they may be few”. He added: “Don’t take upon yourselves, except the deeds which are within your ability”. (Al-Bukhari)

Therefore, keep at it and don’t give up.

4. Stay Connected with the Muslim World

This entails signing up to different websites/media that can give you regular emails and advice, for example Productivemuslim.com. You may also receive information from a regular service such as a hadith for the day, a Qur’an verse of the day, dhikr or an interesting fact about Islam which you didn’t know before.

This is useful as you can quickly and easily access your emails anywhere these days with the latest technology. Now your lunch break and travel time can be used for valuable knowledge seeking. The benefits from this are that it allows you to keep yourself close to Islam through hearing and seeing it in different media and thus Allah will never be far from your mind. This is especially important for those of us not living in an Islamic society.

Furthermore, this point can also be applied to life offline. This means ensuring you’re with good company and those that are likely to remind you of Islam. This can be done informally when you see your friend eating with three fingers only. If he is a righteous companion, he will relate to you that is a Sunnah.

I saw the Messenger of Allah eating with three fingers (i.e., the thumb, the index finger and the middle finger) and licking them after having finished the food. (Muslim)

5. Dedicate a Specific Time for Acquiring Knowledge

This can be done daily or a few selected days in the week, depending on your schedule e.g. the weekend. However, be realistic about how much time you can give but try to ensure you are constant with this. If you’re a beginner with seeking knowledge then it’s a good idea to start with about 15-30 minutes and build yourself up from there.

Seeking knowledge will take a variety of forms so you may prefer to listen to a lecture for a little while or alternatively read a book but try to have this fixed in a routine. A practical way of carrying this out is reading a book aloud in group. The first person can read for about 10 minutes before letting someone else have a go. This method of gaining knowledge offers many benefits for the household; not only does it create unity and strengthen relations between family members. It also prevents you from feeling alone in seeking knowledge. If you are seeking knowledge with others, you can feed off their energy when your own motivation level dips.

6. Pick an Entertaining Topic to Start with

This is particularly aimed at those who are starting to seek knowledge. This is to help you find enjoyment in seeking knowledge and keep you interested in learning about Islam.

Personally, I find learning about the prophets entertaining and beneficial. Not only will you learn about the miracles that they experienced, you will also learn about the great abilities and attributes God gave His different prophets i.e. the great size of Prophet Adam  (peace be upon him), the way Prophet Ibrahim  (peace be upon him) was saved from the heat of the fire he was thrown into, etc. From this, we hope Allah will give us a thirst for knowledge which brings us closer to Him and Islam.

Children’s story books are small and informative with many colours and pictures. They are designed this way, on purpose, to attract readers and to help retain their interest; so this may also be a useful place to start (if you don’t find them too childlike).

7. Keep on Making Du`aa’ to God to Help You Achieve this Objective

This is vital for the believer in every aspect of his life. Subsequently, it is important you keep on making du`aa (supplication) to Allah that He helps you to seek knowledge, understand it correctly, retain that knowledge (whether you have a weak memory or not) as well as make the path of knowledge easy for you. This will be significant as without the help and will of Allah you will not be able to achieve anything. For those blessed to be on the path of knowledge already, always thank Him for what He has allowed you to do.

Also, try to be specific and honest in your du’aa; for example you may not have a desire for seeking knowledge. If this is the case then call on Allah by His beautiful names and attributes to remove your block and to bless you with an enthusiasm for seeking knowledge. A du`aa you can constantly recite to help with this is:

‘O Allah, I take refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from being overpowered by men’.

Another du`aa’ which will offer great benefit is:

’Rabbi Zidni `Ilma‘ (‘O my Lord! Increase me in Knowledge’).

These are just a few techniques that can allow us to productively seek knowledge. There are many alternatives to obtaining knowledge, which include: sitting in the circles of knowledge, enrolling into a course, etc. but not all of us have the capacity to do this. I hope from these points mentioned, you’ve gained a better idea on how to bring this noble task of seeking knowledge into your life. May give us the blessing to walk on the path of knowledge and stay on that path until we meet Him.

Ameen.

_________________________

Source: productivemuslim.com

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Categories
Articles of Faith New Muslims

Islam and the Value of Literacy

students studying in a classroom

Seeking knowledge is even a means to entering Paradise through studying and acquiring useful knowledge in different fields

The prominence of knowledge and education in Islam is absolutely clear. The very first verse of the Qur’an revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on the Night of Power (Laylat Al-Qadr) in the Month of Ramadan reads:

Read: In the name of thy Lord who created. Created man from a leech like clot. Read: And your Lord is the Most Bountiful. He taught by the pen. He taught man which he knew not. (Al-`Alaq 96:1-5)

Thus iqra’ (read or recite) was the very first word of the Qur’an revealed to the Prophet. In Surat Az-Zumar (the 39th chapter of the Qur’an) the Qur’an asks: “Can they be equal – those who know and those who do not know?” (Az-Zumar 39:9)

On the importance of seeking knowledge the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim (male and female).” (At-Tirmidhi)

Thus the privilege of education was not only a right for a Muslim- man or woman, but a duty upon them both from the very inception of Islam.

In Islam, the scholars are the heirs of the Prophets. In his Riyad As-Saliheen Imam An-Nawawi narrates that the Prophet Muhammad said:

“The learned are heirs of the prophets, and the prophets do not leave any inheritance in the form of (monetary wealth), but they do leave knowledge as their legacy. A person who acquires knowledge, acquires his full share (of this legacy).”

The Prophet also said: “The excellence of a scholar over another (ordinary) worshipper is like the excellence of the full moon over the rest of the heavenly bodies.” (Abu Dawud)

Al-Hassan Al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) said that “The ink of the scholar’s pen is more sacred than the blood of the martyr”.

and “The best form of worship is the pursuit of knowledge” are known to all.

The Qur’an categorically states that those who are educated and enlightened can truly understand the glory and majesty of the Creator and appreciate His signs as commanded in the Qur’an:

And those who have no knowledge say: Why does not Allah speak to us (face to face) or why does not a sign come to us? (Al-Baqarah 2:118)

This is how God explains for you His guidance so that perhaps you will think. (Al-Baqarah 2:219)

Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding. (Aal `Imran 3:190)

God will raise those of you who have faith and those who have been given knowledge by degrees. And God is Aware of what you do. (Al-Mujadilah 58:11)

This is how and why the followers of Islam should be educated knowledgeable believers.

Seeking knowledge is even a means to entering Paradise through studying and acquiring useful knowledge in different fields pertaining to both religious and worldly sciences as the Prophet said:

“Whoever seeks a way towards knowledge, Allah will make Paradise easy for them.”

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Categories
Ethics & Values New Muslims

Through Knowledge You Become Muslim

book

Clearly it is impossible to become a Muslim and remain a ‘Muslim in a state of ignorance.

No Islam without Knowledge

Islam consists, firstly, of knowledge and, secondly, of putting that knowledge into practice. A man can be white and have no knowledge; because he is born white he will remain so. Similarly, an Englishman will remain an Englishman though he may have no knowledge, because he has been born an Englishman. But no man becomes truly a Muslim without knowing the meaning of Islam, because he becomes a Muslim not through birth but through knowledge.

Unless you come to know the basic and necessary teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be on him) how can you believe in him, have faith in him, and how can you act according to what he taught? And if you do not have faith in him, knowingly and consciously, as fully as you can, how can you become true Muslims?

Clearly it is impossible to become a Muslim and remain a ‘Muslim in a state of ignorance. Being born in Muslim homes, bearing Muslim names, dressing like Muslims and calling yourselves Muslims is not enough to make you Muslims; true Muslims know what Islam stands for and believe in it with full consciousness.

The real difference between a kafir (who does not accept God’s guidance and is ungrateful to Him) and a Muslim is not that of a name, that one is called Smith or Ram La and the other `Abdullah. No one is a kafir or a Muslim simply because of his name. Nor does the real difference lie in the fact that one wears a necktie and the other a turban.

Why can you not spend even a tenth part of your time and energy on things which are necessary to protect your iman?

Why can you not spend even a tenth part of your time and energy on things which are necessary to protect your iman?

The real difference is that of knowledge. A kafir does not understand God’s relationship to him and his relationship to God. As he does not know the will of God he cannot know the right path to follow in his life. If a Muslim, too, grows up ignorant of God’s will, what ground can there be to continue calling him a Muslim rather than a kafir?

Dangers of Ignorance

Listen carefully, brothers, to the point I am making. It is essential to understand that to remain in possession of, or to be deprived of, the greatest gift of Allah – for which you are so overwhelmed with gratitude – depends primarily on knowledge.

Without knowledge, you cannot truly receive His gift of Islam. If your knowledge is so little that you receive only a small portion of it, then you will constantly run the risk of losing even that part of the magnificent gift which you have received unless you remain vigilant in your fight against ignorance.

A person who is totally unaware of the difference between Islam and kufr (rejection of God’s guidance and ingratitude) and the incongruity between Islam and shirk (taking gods besides God) is like someone walking along a track in complete darkness. Most likely his steps will wander aside or on to another path without him being aware of what is happening.

Maybe he will be deceived by the sweet words of the Devil, ‘You have lost your way in the darkness. Come, let me lead you to your destination.’ The poor traveler, not being able to see with his own eyes which is the right path, will grasp the Devil’s hand and be led astray. He faces these dangers because he himself does not possess any light and is therefore unable to observe the road signs. If he had light, he would neither lose his way nor be led astray.

This example shows that your greatest danger lies in your ignorance of Islamic teachings and in your unawareness of what the Qur’an teaches and what guidance has been given by the Prophet, blessings and peace be on him. But if you are blessed with the light of knowledge you will be able to see plainly the clear path of Islam at every step of your lives. You will also be able to identify and avoid the false paths of kufr, shirk and immorality which may cross it. And, whenever a false guide meets you on the way, a few words with him will quickly establish that he is not a guide who should be followed.

Acquire Knowledge

Brothers! On this knowledge, whose absolute necessity I stress once again, depends whether you and your children are true Muslims and remain true Muslims. It is therefore hardly a trivial matter to be neglected. You do not neglect cultivating your land, irrigating and protecting your crops, supplying fodder to your cattle or doing whatever else is essential to the well-being of your trades and professions. Because you know that if you do you will starve to death and so lose the precious gift of life. Why then should you be negligent in acquiring that knowledge on which depends whether you become

Muslims and remain Muslims? Does such negligence not entail the danger of losing an even more precious gift – your iman (faith)? Is not iman more precious than life itself? Most of your time and labour is spent on things which sustain your physical existence in this life.

Why can you not spend even a tenth part of your time and energy on things which are necessary to protect your iman, which only can sustain your being in the present life and in the life to come?

I am not asking you to become scholars, read voluminous books or spend a large part of your lives in the pursuit of knowledge. It is not necessary to study so extensively to become a Muslim. I only want each one of you to spend about one hour of the twenty-four hours of the day and night in acquiring the knowledge of his Din, the way of life, the Islam.

Every one of you, young or old, man or woman, should at least acquire sufficient knowledge to enable him to understand the essence of the teachings of the Qur’an and the purpose for which it has been sent down.

You should also be able to understand clearly the mission which the Prophet, blessings and peace be on him, came into this world to fulfil. You should also recognize the corrupt order and system which he came to destroy. You should acquaint yourselves, too, with the way of life which Allah has ordained for Muslims.

No great amount of time is required to acquire this simple knowledge. If you value iman, it cannot be too difficult to find one hour every day to devote to this.

_________________________

The article is an excerpt from Abul A`la Al-Mawdudi’s book “Let Us Be Muslims”. 

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Categories
His Legacy New Muslims

Prophet Muhammad: The Man Who Educated Humanity

“Seek knowledge form the cradle to the grave.” What does this saying of the Prophet Muhammad imply? What is Islam’s take on education? How does the Prophet inspire Muslims to seek knowledge? How does acquiring knowledge help a person?

The Prophet (peace be on him) also said: “He who travels in search of knowledge, to him Allah shows the way to Paradise”. (Al-Bukhari)

In Islam learning is a duty for all Muslim men, women and children that by Knowledge we have the ability to learn about and reflect on God, His signs and perfect creation, differentiate between right and wrong, contribute to humanity, what help keep us on the right path.

In this show of ‘Inspired by Muhammad’ campaign, Akram Khan-Cheema, an outstanding inspiring Islamic lecturer and teacher trainer, who describes Islamic schools as “one of the most important factors which protect Muslim children from the onslaught of Euro-centrism, homosexuality, racism, and secular traditions”.

Watch him reflect on the great emphasis Prophet Muhammad placed on education and how this inspires him to contribute to society, help educate Muslims.



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