Why Should I Study Islam?
Contributor:
Coverage:
Creator: Muhammad Alshareef
Date:
Description:
Format: text
Identifier: http://www.khutbah.com/en/ed_know/why_study.php
Language: en
Publisher:
Relation:
Rights:
Source:
Subject: knowledge
Title: Why Should I Study Islam?
Created on: Tue Jan 29 11:02:17 -0500 2008
Updated on: Tue Jan 29 11:02:17 -0500 2008
Version: 1
Abstract: ... The virtue of the scholar to a worshipper (‘aabid) is similar to the virtue of the moon when it is full to the rest of the stars. And verily the scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets. Verily the Prophets did not leave behind dirhams and dinars, but rather they left behind knowledge. Thus whoever takes it, takes it as a bountiful share" (Authentic; narrated by Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah). The position of the people of Islamic knowledge reaches such a level that Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala and the angels pray for them! Abu Umaamah narrated that RasulAllah sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said: "Verily Allah and His angels, even the ant in its hole and the fish in the sea, verily (they all) pray for he who teaches people good." The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam also made du’a for them, as narrated by Zayd ibn Thabit: "May Allah grant light (and happiness and beauty in the face) of someone who hears a hadith from us and memorizes it until he passes it on to others" (Authentic, narrated by Tirmidhi). One of the hadith scholars that Imam Bukhari took from, Hisham ibn Ammar narrates an incident that happened to him when he was 8 years old. He said, "My father sold a house of his for 20 dinars so that I could go for Hajj (and study Islam). When I arrived in Madinah, I went to the circle of Imam Maalik. He was sitting amongst his students like a king. People would ask him questions and he would answer. When I entered the crowd and my turn came up I said, ‘Haddathani (recite to me)!’ “He said, ‘Rather you read.’ “I said, ‘No, you haddathani!’ “Imam Maalik said, ‘No you read!’ “When I talked back and argued, he got angry and said to another student, go outside with me and hit me 15 times! That student took me outside and hit me 15 times with a stick and then brought me back to Imam Maalik. I said, ‘You have wronged me! My father sold his house so that I could come to you and be honored by listening to your teaching and seeking knowledge from you. But you smacked me 15 times without any crime on my part. I shall not forgive you!’ “Imam Maalik then said, ‘What is the expiation for this wrong?’ “I said, ‘You have to recite 15 hadith to me as expiation.’ “So Imam Maalik began reciting the hadith to me until he completed 15. When he ended I told him, ‘Beat me more and read more hadith to me.’ “Imam Maalik laughed and said, ‘Be off’” (Ma'rifat Al-Qurraa' al-Kibaar by Imam Adh-Dhahabi)! From the beginning of time, there has been a race between the doers of good and the doers of evil. Adam and Iblis, Musa and Fir'own, Muhammad sal Allahu alay wa sallam and Abu Jahl. Today, that race has not ended. How hard are the doers of evil working and how hard are we? ‘Umar radi Allahu anhu once said, "I seek Allah's protection from the jalad (the strength and enthusiasm) of the sinner, and the laziness of the God-fearer." It is as if he was contemplating the time that we are now living in. Why are we too lazy to pray 2 rakaat at night, when the people of the dunya spend the entire night watching movies? Why do we cringe at paying 6 dollars for an Islamic book, when the people of the dunya spend thousands in pursuit of their sin? Some of the fuqahaa' who came before us said, "For years I desired to eat hareesah (a sweet dish) and I wasn't able to because it was only sold during class time." Imam Su'bah said, "If I ever saw someone running in the streets of the village I would only think one of two things: He was either crazy or a student of hadith!" Ibn Al-Jawzi said, "I haven't seen a flaw more sad in the community than those who stop working even though they have the ability to continue." To correct the situation we must reflect on the following: First, we must be sincere in our desire to learn Islam. We are learning this deen to rid ourselves of ignorance and then to help others to rid themselves of ignorance. It is not a coincidence that the first hadith in Saheeh al-Bukhari is, "Verily actions are (judged) by their intentions…" The scholars are reminding us from page one that our path to learning must be for th... [Full Article...]
