As Salaam Aleykum Wa Rhametullah,
I thought it'd be good to share such benefiting sites or time tables and books which have been endorsed by people of knowledge.
Key:
Black and bold = Time Tables or Extracts or Good Key points.
Purple and bold = Books on Knowledge.
Green and bold = Sites.
A Practical Programme for a Beginning Student of Knowledge:
1) After
Fajr salaah until sunrise is the time for memorization. Memorize five
aayahs a day of the Qur'an, one
hadeeth and a short portion of one condensed text. One should also make it a point to complete one's daily portion of supplications and words of remembrance.
2) From sunrise until
Zuhr (noon) one should be engaged in systemic studies or in earning one's living by going to work or doing business.
3) After
Zuhr one may read some history or literature, eat lunch and take a nap.
4) After
'Asr is a time to study one of the major resource works mentioned earlier.
5) From
Maghrib until
'Ishaa review what you have already memorized of the Qur'an,
hadeeth and condensed texts.
6) After 'Ishaa read current Islamic periodicals, megazines containing beneficial knowledge and cultural books; eat dinner and sleep.
7) On Thursday visit friends, family, etc. and relax.
8) Fridays are for pondering the Book of Allah, remembrance and supplication, optional salaah, asking Allah to bless the Prophet, Salaat Wa Salaam Aleyhi, taking account of oneself and contemplation.
Just to point out, the above is not a religious guideline, i.e. from what I see it is just done out of like I dont know but it doesnt give proofs for doing acts on days, taken from the book: The Biography of Imam Aboo Dawood Sijistani, The Compiler of Sunan Aboo Dawood By: Salaahuddeen 'Alee 'Abdul-Mawjood.
The above was taken from the Biography of Abu Dawood.
Online studies, there are various sites which have a form of study set up, I know of two at the moment;
This site offers Intensive Online Courses, of different sciences in which core books are studied and explained by Scholars, which include;
Shaykh Rabee Hadi Al-Madkhali Ex head of College of Sunnah Islamic University, Madinah, Shaykh Wasi-Ullaah Al-Abbas Teacher at Grand Masjid in Makkah (Haram Al-Makki) Professor at Ummul-Qura university, Shaykh Abdullaah Al-Ghudyaan Member of Council of Senior Scholars Member of Lajnah Ad-daaimah lil iftaa amongst others, over live tele links over a number of weeks, for example;
http://www.albaseerah.org/course/aqeedah/
In which Al Qawaid Al Arbaa was completed, notes taken by students of that can be found on the forum, I have found them to be very good, Alhamdulillah, here is the link;
http://www.albaseerah.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=9
Another good feature on the forum is the Memorising section:
**....** Al-Haafidhun wa Al-Haafidhaat **....**
The forums there include:
-- Al-Quraan Al-'Azeem .........
-- Ahadeeth of Rasul Allaah ....
-- Al-Mutoon Al-'ilmiyyah ....
The first one is memorisation of the Qu'ran, the second of the Ahadeeth [First Level - 40 Ahadeeth of Imaam An-Nawwawi. 2nd Level - "Ummadtul Ahkaam"] and the third of a foundation book of knowledge. [First Level - Al-Qawaid Al-Arbaa (4 Principles) of Imaam Muhamemd ibn Abdul-Wahhab 2nd Level - "Usul Ath-Thalatha"]
Qu'ran:
You will memorize one verse a day starting from the start of Juzz ‘Amma (Surah An-Naba). Those of you who have already memorized juzz ‘Amma should start from Juzz At-Tabarak (Surah Al-Mulk) and if you have already memorized 29th and 30th Juzz then let’s start with Juzz 28th, (Surah Al-Mujadilah) and so on…..
Everyday after memorizing the verse log into the Forums and write that verse, and every week you will review seven verses and write all seven verses. And after two weeks you should review 14 verses and write all 14 verses and after three weeks review 21 verses and write all 21 verses..etc.
Hadith:
Memorize only three lines a WEEK of a Hadeeth, starting from the 1st hadeeth of Imaam An-Nawwawi’s 40 ahaadeeth. If you have already memorized the hadeeth then just review it and write the whole hadeeth in hadeeth section and then go on to the next hadeeth and so on..and Masha Allaah if you have already memorized the 40 Ahaadeeth then we will go on to the book "Ummadtul Ahkaam" Many of the scholars have reccomended us to start Ummadtul Ahkaam after 40 Ahaadeeth.
Book of Knowledge:
Memorize just one line a WEEK of Al-Qawaaid Al-Arbaa and post it in almutoon section and after seven days review the seven lines and post all seven lines… and so on….
The following link breaks down all the information:
http://www.albaseerah.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1431
I will speak about the next site in time to come insha'Allah. Hope this benefits.
Interesting books
The Book of Knowledge by Uthaymeen is amazing, detailing the meaning of knowledge and etiquettes, which can be found in my sig.
Also, I found interesting and something which made me think, PITFALLS IN THE QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE By By Sheikh Salman b. Fahd al-Oadah, an extract reads:
One of the pitfalls that a student can fall into is to seek knowledge for its own sake. Knowledge is a desire like any other human desire. It can be sought for the pure pleasure of acquiring it and not for the sake of Allah. People love to discover new things. It is a natural human inclination. When a person strives long and hard to find something out, then comes upon the answer, it can be quite exhilarating. This encourages him to study further.
http://islamtoday.com/library1.cfm# Scroll down.
[NEW]
So You Want To Travel For Knowledge??
What You Must Know Before You Go[1]
www.bakkah.net
Important advice for those who may undertake the role of the student of knowledge - those who want to leave behind their homeland, perhaps family, jobs, homes, college studies, or important positions in their communities
In the Name of Allaah, the Most-Merciful, may His Salaah and Salaam be upon His final Messenger Muhammad, to proceed:
Verily from the most rewarding ventures a person can undertake is to pursue knowledge of Allaah's Deen. The ones who are favored with understanding of the Religion, not only does Allaah want good for them, as the Prophet of Allaah (
sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
"If Allaah wants good for someone, He gives him understanding
in the Religion." [2]
But he inherits directly from the noble prophets of Allaah, as the Prophet (
sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
"Verily the prophets do not leave behind deenaars or dirhams (money), rather they leave behind knowledge, so whoever gets hold of it, gets a great amount of good." [3]
And he becomes like the full moon compared to the rest of the stars, as the Prophet (
sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
"The example of the scholar compared to the worshipper is like the difference between the full moon and the rest of the heavenly bodies." [4]
And he lives his life with the true fear of Allaah that He deserves, as Allaah says [5]:
( Verily the ones who (truly) fear Allaah from among His Servants are the scholars )
Upon hearing this verse, the Muslim who wants to fear his Lord and earn His Pleasure says to himself,
"I want to be a scholar!"
The Intention of the Student of Knowledge
On the authority of 'Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, he heard the Prophet (
sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) saying:
"Verily actions are only by their intentions, and every person shall have only what he intended." [6]
The student of knowledge must intend to seek knowledge for Allaah's Face, fearing His Punishment and seeking His Reward only. For if he seeks knowledge to become famous or to take a position leading the people, or to have the people speak well of him, then his intention is corrupted, his foundation is faulty, and his seemingly righteous actions will only be a source of agony in the Hereafter, even if it was partially for Allaah's sake. Allaah says, in a
hadeeth qudsee:
"I am free of needing an associate! Whoever does a deed (intending it) for Me along with someone else, I have abandoned him and his shirk." [7]
And indeed the Prophet (
sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) was very worried about members of his nation showing off, as he said:
"Verily what I fear most for you is minor shirk."
The companions replied,
"O Messenger of Allaah, what is minor shirk?"
He (
sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) answered:
"Ar-Riyaa' (showing off), for verily Allaah, Blessed and Exalted, will say on the Day He rewards His Servants for their actions, 'Go to those in the Dunyaa you used to show off for! See if you find any reward with them!'" [8]
This danger is present in all our deeds, so we can never put our guard down against a corrupt intention. We must take the time to inspect our heart, and re-inspect it time after time, especially when it comes to an affair as tremendous as seeking knowledge. For verily the Messenger of Allaah (
sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) knew about the dangers that the student of knowledge would encounter and warned us accordingly:
"Do not seek knowledge to compete with the scholars, nor to argue with the foolish people, nor to gain control of gatherings; for whoever does that - the Fire, the Fire!" [9]
So know, with certainty, the one who does not purify his intention, even if he seeks knowledge for 50 years and dies without getting the fame he intended, his place is the Fire! And all the hard work he did in his life will be a source of agony for him in the Hellfire! So take heed of this warning now and correct your intention in seeking this knowledge.
The student of knowledge should intend to:
1. Worship Allaah by seeking knowledge of His Deen, seeking His Pleasure alone
2. Rid himself and others of ignorance, implementing what he learns without delay at every stage
3. Command all those around him (his family, neighbors, fellow students, etc.) to perform the obligations in Islaam that he learns about, as he does them himself
4. Recommend all those around him to practice the recommended deeds in Islaam that he learns about, as he does them himself
5. Discourage those around him from doing the disliked deeds in Islaam that he learns about, as he avoids them himself
6. Forbid those around him from doing the prohibited deeds in Islaam that he learns about, as he avoids them himself
7. Be patient with the harms that reach him because of this work
If these things are found in the heart of the seeker of knowledge, then every step along his path will be a source of happiness for him on the Day of Judgement. If he becomes famous and the people gather around him, asking him to lead and teach them, then his intention will be what separates him on the Day of Judgement from the one who sought these things with a corrupt intention.
The Reality of Being a Student of Knowledge
Many people hear about the virtues of the student of knowledge and want to drop what they are doing to become one. However, it must be known, that not everyone is fit to be a student of knowledge. Whoever intends to take this path, before leaving his home, work, and family, let him think about the lifestyle that awaits him.
Here are some questions you can ask yourself:
Do you know that you will be studying every day for at least six hours? Even the lightest study schedules, like those found in the Islamic universities, demand at least six hours a day of reading. More serious and active students would consider six hours a day to be quite a weak and empty schedule. But let us think about the easiest schedule - six hours a day.
Are you studying at home at least six hours a day consistently? If not, why do you want to leave your country to do it somewhere else?
Start with the Qur'aan and whatever books you have about Islaam, and study them for at least six hours a day.
Is this a schedule you want to live by? Can you keep this up for years?
What about your lifestyle?
Are you doing things that you know you should have stopped a long time ago? Are there luxuries that you indulge in that you could not do without? Many students left their homelands and journeyed far only to find their addictions to television, movie theatres, music, and other things calling them back. Surely, you must wean yourself from the things that you know are wrong now, migrating from what Allaah prohibited within your own city, so that your migration to seek knowledge in another land will be successful.
Do you have patience? Do you strive through deeds that are unappealing or do you abandon them once the difficulties come? Surely, seeking knowledge at times does not have the same appeal that it had before you began. I mean, for example, the student who is excited about studying the Sciences of Hadeeth will one day find himself memorizing the biographies of narrators - when and where they lived, who they met and studied from, who met and studied under them, when and where they died, what did the Imaams of Hadeeth say about them, etc. The student studying Fiqh will find himself memorizing information like the amount of zakaah due on 91 camels, 50 sheep, or $3000 worth of merchandise. Or he may memorize who gets one-sixth of a deceased's wealth, or who gets one-third, etc. Seeking knowledge is hard work that requires long hours of reading and memorization! It is often not as fun as it seemed in the beginning, nor will you always have the same zeal!
Do you have the patience to stick with it over the years?
People who go to conferences often get tired of going to lectures on the second or third day! That is at a conference, with powerful speeches that speakers prepared well in advance! The student of knowledge's life is like that every day, except the lectures he attends do not have that conference feel, that high-energy vibe, rather they are everyday presentations that require consistent attentiveness, active note-taking, and review time later. The enthusiasm that carries one through a conference is not going to last here. The student of knowledge must have exemplary patience to last over many years. Students can not expect to learn the details of the Deen in a just a year or two.
Can you get by in rough living circumstances? The Islamic universities like those in Saudi Arabia tend to have Western-style living conditions, but other places may not have anywhere near the things you are used to. A person may say that this does not matter, but the reality is that many students could not continue their studies in places like Yemen because of the extremely difficult living conditions. A two-week or one-month visit to the place you want to study at will help you decide if you can live there long term or not.
Do you have any skills or qualifications that would help you earn money during your studies? How will you get by financially? Have you saved any money? Becoming certified to teach ESL (English as a Second Language) does not take long, nor is it too expensive, and it is very useful in 'Arab countries. A qualified ESL teacher can earn over $25 an hour in many places in Saudi Arabia, working part-time. Degrees in general are helpful, so if you are currently studying in a university, then finishing your studies is highly advisable, as that degree may be what helps you to stay abroad for the length of your Islaamic studies.
If you are considering studying Islam abroad, then please consider this advice carefully. I hope that you find it beneficial, and Allaah knows best.
May Allaah Most High make the author from the firmest of the people upon this advice.
This article was taken from BAKKAHnet (
www.bakkah.net)
FOOTNOTES
[1] written by Abul-'Abbaas
[2] an authentic hadeeth collected by Al-Bukhaaree (71) and Muslim (1037) on the authority of Mu'aawiyah (may Allaah be pleased with him)
[3] an authentic hadeeth collected by Aboo Daawood (3641) and and At-Tirmithee (2683) on the authority of Aboo Ad-Dardaa' (may Allaah be pleased with him), Al-Albaanee authenticated it in Saheeh Sunan Abee Daawood (2/407)
[4] from the same hadeeth mentioned in Footnote #2
[5] the meaning of Soorah Faatir (35):28
[6] an authentic hadeeth collected by Al-Bukhaaree (1) and Muslim (4904) on the authority of 'Umar ibn Al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him)
[7] an authentic hadeeth collected by Muslim (7400) on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him)
[8] an authentic hadeeth collected by Ahmad #23630 (39/39) on the authority of Mahmood ibn Labeed (may Allaah be pleased with him), Al-Albaanee authenticated it in Silsilatul-Ahaadeethis-Saheehah #951.
[9] an authentic hadeeth collected by Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan, and Al-Bayhaqee, on the authority of Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him), Al-Albaanee authenticated it in Saheeh At-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb (#107).
TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING
What should the intention of the student of knowledge be?
What is the danger of showing off?
Do you think someone who can not keep regular attendance at masjid classes should leave his country to start studying Islam abroad?
NEWA Site Dedicated To Students of Knowledge
Came upon this site last night, a site which is pretty nice, small and compact yet provides alot of information for students of knowledge who are just starting out.
The sites has two main interesting parts that concern mainly students of knowledge, that I know of, one being the
Guidance on Seeking Knowledge and the
Memorization Tools (Mutoon with Tashkeel).
Guidance on Seeking Knowledge
This section is further divided into other sections, which inlcude articles or questions to scholars, sub sections are, with a few examples from each,:-
Knowledge and its Importance
Advice on Seeking Knowledge
Permission to Seek Knowledge
Manners of Seeking Knowledge
Books of the Student of Knowledge
Benefits from at-Ta'seel fee Talab-il-'Ilm of Shaykh Muhammad 'Umar Bazmool
Obstacles in the Path of Knowledge
The following are explanation of ten points from the book "Obstacles in the Path of Knowledge", by Shaykh 'Abdus Salaam Burjiss (rahimahullaah).
Memorization Tools (Mutoon with Tashkeel)
This section has basically a table which is divided with the text and audio of some of the works, all divided catagories.
'Aqeedah (Creed)
Fiqh (Jurisprudence)
al-Lughat-il-‘Arabiyyah (The ‘Arabic Language)
al-Usool (Principles)
Mustalah-ul-Hadeeth (Sciences of Hadeeth)
The site has other things also, but from brief browsing the above seems like the best parts. Alhamdulillah.
Edit:May something 22? Hmm, dont know, but here's a good link:
As Salaam Alaykum,
The Methodology of Seeking Knowledge
By The Eminent Sheikh Salih Ibn Abdul Aziz Ali Sheikh
Translated by:
Abu Az Zubayr Shadeed Muhammad
1428/4/23 corresponding to Thursday May 10th 2007
Prepared for the new student of knowledge to preserve him from making the same mistakes as those who came before him. We ask Allah to give him success in his studies. If there was any good in this translation then it was from Allah and if there were any mistakes then it was from myself and the Shaytan.
I've been meaning to post this for a while, I love this, may Allah make it a benefit for you.
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