Twenty Reasons to become a Scholar
of Islam: A Call to Action
1. To earn the pleasure of Allah SWT.
"Whoever Allaah SWT wants good for, He gives him fiqh
(understanding) of the Deen.” [Bukhari]
2. To gain entry into Jannah.
“Whoever traverses a path in order to gain knowledge, then Allaah
SWT will make the path to Jannah easy for him." [Tirmidhi]
3. To gain higher ranks.
"Allaah will exalt in degree those of you who believe, and those who
have been granted knowledge..." [Al-Quran 58:11]
"Say: 'Are those who know equal to those who know not?' It is only
men of understanding who will remember (i.e. get a lesson from
Allaah's Signs and Verses)." [Al-Quran 39:9]
4. To gain forgiveness of Allah SWT.
“Allaah SWT would say at the end of the gathering of those who
gathered to gain knowledge, ‘Get up! You have been forgiven.’ The
angels would say ‘O Allaah SWT there was a servant of yours who
only came to that gathering because of a need – he only wanted a
person in that gathering.’ Allaah SWT would respond ‘I have forgiven
him as well.’” [Bukhari]
5. To gain true fear of Allah SWT.
"…It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear
Allaah…" [Al-Quran 35:28]
6. To gain great reward.
Whoever comes to a masjid and he did not come to the masjid except
with the intention that he would learn something good or teach
something good, he will be given the reward of someone who
performed hajj.” [At-Tabrani]
"By Allah, if a single person is guided by Allah through you, it will be
better for you than a whole lot of red camels.'' [Bukhari and Muslim]
7. To gain Allah’s mercy and peace in one’s life.
“There is not a people who gather in a house from the houses of Allaah
SWT (a masjid) to recite the Book of Allaah SWT or study it except that
calmness will descend upon them and mercy would cover them and
they would be surrounded by the angels and Allaah SWT will mention
them with good to those near to Him.” [Muslim]
8. To gain the inheritance of Rasulullah S.
"The learned are the heirs of the Prophets who bequeath neither dinar
nor dirham but only that of knowledge; and he who acquires it, has in
fact acquired an abundant portion.'' [Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi]
“Young men will come to you seeking knowledge, and comprehending
religion, and learning from you: if they come to you teach them, and be
kind to them, and make space for them in your circles, an explain
Hadith to them.” Therefore, Abu Sa’id used to say to us: “Greetings to
the Messenger of Allah’s recommendation, the Messenger of Allah
(SAAW) ordered us to make a space for you in our circles, and explain
Hadith to you.” [Jami’]
9. To earn a special and lofty position in the eyes of Allah SWT and
in Islam
"Say: 'Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know?'
It is those who are endued with understanding that receive
admonition." [Al Quran 39:9]
“The superiority of the learned man over the devout worshipper is like
that of the full moon to the rest of the stars (i.e., in brightness).” [Abu
Dawud and Tirmidhi]
A learned one is as much above an (ordinary) worshiper as I am above
the least of you; and he added: Allah, His angels and all those in the
heavens and in the earth, even the ants in their holes and the fish in
the water, call down blessings on those who instruct people in
beneficent knowledge." [Tirmidhi]
.
"Envy is permitted only in two cases: A man whom Allah gives wealth,
and he disposes of it rightfully, and a man to whom Allah gives
knowledge which he applies and teaches it.'' [Bukhari and Muslim]
“He who does not respect our elders, and does not have mercy on our
children, and does not honor our scholars, is not of my Ummah.”
[Ahmad, Tabarani, Hakim, Mukhtasarat-Targhib, Jami’]
“You should be a scholar, or a student, or a listener, or a lover of ‘Ilm
and scholars, and you should not be the fifth which makes you perish.
‘Ata’ said, Mis’ar said to me: You added a fifth point which we do not
have. The fifth point is: To hate ‘Ilm and its people.” [Tabarani, Bazzar]
10. To be a source of guidance for other and to convey the message
of Islam to others.
"Envy is permitted only in two cases: A man whom Allah gives wealth,
and he disposes of it rightfully, and a man to whom Allah gives
knowledge which he applies and teaches it.'' [Bukhari and Muslim]
"Convey from me even an Ayah of the Qur'an” [Bukhari]
“May Allah brighten [the face of] a person who hears a hadith from us,
and reports it as he heard it, because many people which the hadith is
reported to, perceive it better than the one who reported it to them.”
[Ibn Hibban]
11. To know the commandments of Allah SWT.
“Seeking ‘Ilm (knowledge) is incumbant on every Muslim.” [Ibn Majah]
12. To earn the reward of those who are guided by you.
He who calls others to follow the Right Guidance will have a reward
equal to the reward of those who follow him, without their reward being
diminished in any respect on that account.'' [Bukhari]
13. To gain tremendous benefit.
"Allah, His angels, the dwellers of the heaven and the earth, and even
the ant in its hole and the fish (in water) supplicate in favour of those
who teach people knowledge.'' [Tirmidhi]
The angels lower their wings over the seeker of knowledge, being
pleased with what he does. The inhabitants of the heavens and the
earth and even the fish in the depth of the oceans seek forgiveness for
him. [Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi]
“Anyone who comes to this mosque of ours in order to learn a good
thing, or to teach it, is equal to the Mujahid in the path of Allah, and
whoever comes for anything else, he is like a man who looks at other
people’s belongings.” [Ibn Majah, Mawariduz-Zam’an]
“O Abu Dharr! If you learn one verse from The Book of Allah (The
Quran), it
is better for you than to voluntarily pray one hundred rak’as (units of
prayer), and if you learn a category of knowledge (religion), regardless
if
it is applied or not, it is better for you than to voluntarily pray one
thousand rak’as.” [Ibn Majah, Mukhtasarut-Targhib wattarhib, Ihya
‘Ulumidden]
“When you pass by the meadows of Paradise indulge freely in it! They
said: O Messenger of Allah! What are the meadows of Paradise? He
said: The circles of ‘Ilm.” [Tabarani, Al-Mu’jamal Kabir]
“People are of substances like the substance of gold and silver: the
best among them in the Jahiliyah , are the best in Islam, if they gain
knowledge, and the souls are hosts which are sent around, the similar
ones get acquainted, and from the different ones depart from each
other.” [Muslim, Riyadhus-Salihin]
14. Because the Ummah needs you!
"Verily, Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it from the
people, but He takes it away by taking away (the lives of) the religious
scholars till none of the scholars stays alive. Then the people will take
ignorant ones as their leaders, who, when asked to deliver religious
verdicts, will issue them without knowledge, the result being that they
will go astray and will lead others astray.'' [Bukhari and Muslim]
15. It is Fard Kifaayah.
"And the believers should not all go out to fight. Of every troop of them,
a party only should go forth, that they (who are left behind) may gain
sound knowledge in religion, and that they may warn their folk when
they return to them, so that they may guard themselves against
evil."[Al-Quran 9:122]
16. To serve the Deen of Allah SWT.
“He who leaves his home in order to seek knowledge, he is in Allah’s path
until he returns [to his home].” [Tirmidhi, Riyadhus-Salaheen]
17. To protect and defend the Deen of Allah SWT.
“The most honest men of future generations will carry this ‘Ilm (i.e.
Hadith), they will purify it from the falsification of the extremists, and
the assumptions of the liars, and the misinterpretation of the fools.”
[Sharaf Ashabul-Hadith, Tabrizi, Mishkat Al-Masabih]
18. To protect oneself from the tricks of Shaytan.
"One Faqih (Someone learned in Religious matters) is stronger against
Shaytan than a thousand worshippers." [Tirmidhi]
19. To be amongst those who truly attest to Allah SWT’s Oneness
“There is no god but He: That is the witness of Allah, His angels, and
those endued with knowledge, standing firm on justice. There is no god
but He, the Exalted in Power, the Wise.” [Al-Quran 3:18]
20. To gain reward even after death.
"When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things:
Sadaqah Jariyah (ceaseless charity); a knowledge which is beneficial,
or a virtuous decendant who prays for him (for the deceased).''
[Muslim]
SEEKING KNOWLEDGE: HOW DO I DO IT?
For most individuals in the West who are trying to balance school, work, and family, its often
hard to know just where to start. Below we have provided some guidelines that we hope you
will find beneficial in deciding how to seek Islamic knowledge.
STEP 1: Make the Intention
Whether one ever does become a scholar or not is a separate question, but the aspiration and
desire should be alive in our hearts to seek sacred knowledge.
“Allah's Apostle said: The reward of deeds depends upon the intention and every person
will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for Allah
and His Apostle, then his emigration was for Allah and His Apostle. And whoever
emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he
emigrated for." [Bukhari Vol 1; 2:51]
STEP 2: Decide which track to take
Seeking Islamic
Knowledge
Track I:
Track II:
Track III:
Full-Time Scholar
Track
Part-Time Scholar
Track
Part-Time Islamic
Studies
Track I: Full-Time Scholar Track
This requires that one devote themselves and their life to the study of Islam. To have specialists in Islamic
knowledge is necessary for the viability of an Islamic society and is considered Fard Kifayah. Therefore, it
is Fard that some members of every community commit themselves to become scholars of Islam.
Time Commitment
A Shariah degree can take anywhere from 5 to 8 years to complete. One can also decide to go on to
specialize in Hadith, Fiqh, or Tafseer amongst other subjects. Postgraduate studies can take anywhere
from 1-10+ years.
When to Start
One does not have to wait till finishing high school to become a scholar. It all depends on the student. So
if one starts at the age of 13, they could well finish by the age of 18 to 21.
Career Options?
Perhaps the most common worry for students of knowledge and their parents is with regards to providing
for themselves and their families in the future. As Muslims, it is our firm belief that everyone’s sustenance
is already destined. Allah SWT alone is the true Provider. If he can feed a simple animal, why cannot He
feed the scholar?
Furthermore, the reality is that graduates of the Shariah program have many career options. With the
large need for Muslim scholars here in the U.S., they can go on to serve as full-time/part-time Imams,
Islamic studies teachers, preachers, Dawah workers, or industry consultants. Alternatively, they can
convert their degree to a B.A. and go on to pursue post graduate studies after which they can serve as
university professors, chairs of Islamic Studies departments, or researchers. Other options include
becoming full-time Quran teachers, public speakers, or founders of their own Islamic learning institutions.
Of course, students can go on to pursue degrees in other fields after they finish their Shariah studies. In
the past, students have gone on to pursue careers in medicine and information technology to name a few.
Where to Go?
Those who choose this track must also determine whether they will study here in the United States or go
overseas to study. This often depends on the student’s own personal situation and is best dealt with on a
case by case basis in consultation with a righteous scholar. However, one principle to bear in mind is that
it is of paramount importance that one study in a spiritual environment from righteous, practicing
scholars so that the light of knowledge, rather than just information, is acquired. Look for institutions
where the blessed Sunnah of Rasulullah (S) is alive and well.
In the United States, Shariah study programs are now available in various larger cities. Alhamdulillah
boarding schools where one can reside at the institute while attaining a Shariah degree have also been
established in certain cities.
There is great reward for those who make the sacrifice to take this option. It is a need of the time.
Track II: Part-Time Scholar Track
For those who are not yet ready to devote themselves fully to Shariah studies or who simply can not due
to their personal situation, the Part-Time Scholar Track is an option.
Arabic is a Must
To become a scholar, the first step is to learn Arabic with proficiency. This does not have to be done in a
Madrasah. Once a student has a firm grasp of the Arabic language and Arabic grammar, he or she can
circumvent some of the early year(s) of study in a traditional Shariah program. Islamic knowledge is often
divided into Uloome Aliya (Facilitatory Sciences) and Uloome ‘Aliya (Higher Sciences). One gains
knowledge of the former so as to engage in the latter. If one has a firm grasp of the Arabic knowledge,
they can begin to study the Higher sciences.
Time Commitment
Track II allows individuals to carry on with their lives and at the same time continue to learn Islam by
teleconference, online, or on-site classes 1-5 times a week, depending on the course. Student continue to
study till they reach a point where part time study is no longer feasible and then take 1-2 yrs off to
complete their degree here in the U.S. or overseas.
Track II is more prolonged (it can take well over 10 years) and requires dedication and commitment. At
the same time, it keeps one engaged in good deeds and provides meaning to one’s life.
Make the Best Use of Your Time
For people on this track, it is important not to waste any time and to make use of weekends and summer
breaks to devote themselves to more serious study of Islam, perhaps even enrolling at Islamic Institutes
during summer breaks. This can serve as a real boost timewise.
Options
The best option is to find a local scholar with which one can study on a regular, part time basis. One can
arrange weekend or evening classes for example. For those who do not have access to local scholarship,
one can look into virtual options. If you are having trouble, please feel free to contact us and we will try to
point you in the right direction.
Track III: Part-Time Islamic Studies
In this track, one also continues with their daily lives and schedules but, at the same time, integrates
Islamic learning into their lives. There is a certain amount of knowledge that every Muslim man and
woman must be familiar with. For example, though all Muslims do not necessarily need to know
inheritance law, all Muslims should be familiar with what breaks one’s prayer or what commonplace
financial transactions are Haram. It is mandatory to acquire knowledge of that which is mandatory in the
Deen.
Possible venues to pursue this track include:
1.
Weekly Halaqahs
2.
Arrange classes with local scholars
3.
www. ilmessentials.org- Essentials program
4.
Read reliable, authentic books on Islam.
STEP 3: Make a Commitment to a Track and Start
To accomplish achieve our goals, we must put forth effort, dedication, and sacrifice.
STEP 4: Dua
Ultimately, our success is dependant upon the mercy of Allah SWT and His guidance, tawfeeq, and help. It
is not our capabilities and talents, but rather our acceptance by Allah SWT that heralds success.