I graduated from the ʿalim program in 2006. I spent the first few years making all kinds of crazy mistakes. Although I’ve learned from my mistakes over time, I have noticed a trend. In general, a lot of ‘fresh graduates’ make the same mistakes as I did, or even worse mistakes. (Fresh graduate here includes anybody who recently graduated from any ʿalim program or BA in Islamic Studies)

By the grace of Allāh, we have been blessed with one of our most long-awaited holidays – the summer break! It’s been a long year, but alhamdulillah, we’ve all made it through, and for this, we need to express our gratitude to Allāh, for He tells us in the Qur’ān:

لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ

“If you are thankful, surely I will increase you”^[1]

This question is something that I’ve always wanted to find the answer to. Since starting my journey in learning the Quran and related sciences I’ve always been intrigued by the nature of the Quran and how this book was and is a way of life for Muslims throughout the years.

Allah Ta’ala mentions in Surah Kahf (18:66) in the story of Musa (‘alayhi ‘s-Salam) when he was instructed by Allah to go and learn from Khadir (‘alayhi ‘s-Salam)

قَالَ لَهُ مُوسَىٰ هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَىٰ أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًا

Musa (‘alayhi ‘s-Salam) said to him (Khadir), “May I be your follower so that you can teach me a part of what you have been taught for (my) guidance?”

In this verse, Musa (‘alayhi ‘s-Salam) observes a multitude of etiquettes when seeking knowledge from Khadir (‘alayhi ‘s-Salam)

Adapted from Mawlānā ʿAbd al-Ḥalīm Chishtī’s إقرأ اور علّم بالقلم کے ثقافتی جلوے below are the book-borrower’s ethical responsibilities (as derived from the Qurʾān and Sunnah and enjoined in the Abbasid period).

Exam periods for nearly every student is that time of year which they dread. No matter what the exam is, whether they are school/college exams, madrassah exams, your driving test, regardless of what exam it is, without a doubt it is one of the most stressful times for a student. Having to cram everything in which you have been taught in the past few months, in the past year(s) even, for an exam can be very nerve wracking and difficult for any individual.

Studying can become monotone when a routine becomes fixed and one is required to repeat the same process daily. The question then is how should one motivate himself to study?

The use of Arabic diacritical marks has risen in the last century, with Islamic Scholarship growing in the West, we find many new books, translations, research papers, articles or even blog posts often consist of Arabic macrons.

Knowing how to study is just as important as studying if not more important.  A student spends years studying, however if his methodology is inaccurate and imprecise, then he will fail in gaining maximum benefit.

As a student a lot of our time is spent writing, be it notes, articles or assessments. Scholars – both of today and the past – have written regarding this topic.