The Manners Of the Knowledge Seeker by Abu ‘Abdallah Muhammad Sa’id Raslan

“As a student and seeker of knowledge, one should start early in the day when studying, and the Salaf were very constant and particular in this practice.

‘Abdullah bin Ahmad bin Hambal narrated that he heard his father say: “Sometimes, I would want to go out early to hear Hadith. So, my mother would grab my clothes, saying: “At least wait for the prayer to be called and the people to wake up.” I would go out early to the classes of Abu Bakr bin ‘Ayyash and others.”154

“And he should enter his class with full attention, freeing his heart of all distractions. He should greet his fellow students in a clear voice, and he should then greet his shaykh with extra honor and attention. Then, he is to sit down at the outside edge of the circle, and he should not squeeze between his classmates unless the shaykh or classmates call him to move closer, as al-Bukhari (may Allah have Mercy on him) reported from Abu Waqid al-Laythi (may Allah be Pleased with him) that while the Prophet (peace be upon him) was sitting in the mosque with some people, three men came. Two of them came in front of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and the third one went away. The two people kept on standing before him for a while, and then one of them found a place in the circle and sat there, while the other sat behind the gathering, and the third one went away. When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) finished his speech, he said: “Shall I tell you about these three people? One of them took himself to Allah, so Allah took him nto Himself. The second felt shy from Allah, and Allah was Shy to punish him. The third turned his face from Allah and went away. So, Allah likewise turned His Face from him.”155

And he shouldn’t make anyone get up from his spot, and if anyone takes his spot, he shouldn’t take it back unless there is some benefit in doing so.

He shouldn’t sit in the middle of the circle unless there is a need for this, and he shouldn’t sit between two companions except with their permission, and he should be as close to the shaykh as he can without annoying anybody in order to best hear and understand his words.

He should use the best manners with his classmates and friends, as this is a manifestation of respect to his shaykh and his class, and the class and lesson is holy, sacred space that is not allowed to be violated.

He should sit with humility and character in the manner of a student, not a teacher. He shouldn’t raise his voice often without a reason. Rather, he should sit in front of his teacher fully attentive and listening, and shouldn’t precede him in explaining or answering a question.

He should begin the lesson by saying ‘In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

Praise be to Allah, and peace and prayers be on His Messenger, his Household, and Companions.’ Then, he should supplicate for the scholars, his teachers, his parents, and the rest of the Muslims.

He should be focused on his shaykh, and he shouldn’t read or study while his heart is busy with something else, or if he is bored or tired. He shouldn’t be insistent in asking questions, and should instead be soft, gentle, and calm when doing so. He shouldn’t ask about questions except in their appropriate time and place, but should not be shy from asking the proper questions at the proper time.

If the shaykh asks him ‘Do you understand?’ he should not say ‘Yes’ unless he really does understand, and he shouldn’t be shy from saying ‘I don’t know,’ or ‘I don’t understand.’ Mujahid (may Allah have Mercy on him) said: “Nobody who is either too shy or too arrogant will learn this knowledge,” and ‘A’ishah (may Allah be Pleased with her) said: “How excellent are the women of the Ansar! They did not let their shyness prevent them from learning the Religion,”156 and al-Khalil bin Ahmad (may Allah have Mercy on him) said: “The station of ignorance is between shyness and arrogance.”157

This is what Allah has made possible to clarify in regards to the manners of the knowledge seeker. So, it is essential for its seeker that he make this the first subject of study he sets his sights upon, and that he beautifies himself with these manners internally and externally, and that he rush to obtaining and collecting these traits and characteristics within himself. I ask Allah as a poor, humiliated servant who is filled with sins, full of shortcomings, always falling into traps – I ask Him to make these manners the prize obtained by every student and seeker of knowledge who has made his intention and concern purely for Allah, and I ask Him by His Glory and the Light of His Face – the request of one who is poor, fearful, and weak – that He Guide the Muslims to taking from the Qur’an and Sunnah of His Prophet (peace be upon him) in a manner that leaves no place for innovation or shirk, for He is indeed Capable of everything.

Glory be to You and by Your praise, O Allah, and I bear witness that none is worthy of worship except You. I ask Your Forgiveness, and I repent unto You.

Praise be to Allah firstly and lastly, inwardly and outwardly, and may plenty and complete peace and prayers be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his Household, and his Companions, and our final call is that praise is for Allah, the Lord of the worlds.