Top 10 Things Every Student Of Knowledge Should Know

Many times, young Muslims decide they want to become scholars and embark on the path of knowledge with little understanding of what to expect. I was such a youngster who signed up for an “ʿālim” course with no idea what an ʿālim is or where it would lead me.

In order to help my fellow Muslims prepare themselves psychologically and avoid repeating the mistakes I made, I present to you ten things I feel every student of knowledge must know (in no particular order):

1. A few years of study does not make one a scholar:
Too often, young Muslims study a few books or for a few years and then develop a “scholar” complex. They begin to force their opinions on others as if they cannot be wrong. They become intolerant to other views, and they write anyone off who disagrees with them as deviant. We need to realize, before we even begin our journey of knowledge, that the sciences of Islām are many and deep; the variety of opinions in fiqh are multiple, and the chances of always being right are slim.

I advise all of my fellow young Muslims to tread carefully, keep egos in check, approach differences with the possibility of being wrong, and never forget to say “Allāh knows best.”

2. Manners come first
In the past, most scholars would train their students in good manners before teaching them Islāmic knowledge. Parents, too, would encourage their children to learn manners before the Islāmic sciences. Sadly, today many institutes do not teach good manners to their students, expecting them to automatically gain them through their study of Islām. This leads to Islāmic teachers with bad manners, which, in turn, chases people away from Islām.

In this regard, anyone who is studying or teaching Islām must learn the proper manners of dealing with people, mercy, tolerance, and being non-judgmental, and must possess a personality that attracts people; otherwise, we might do more harm than good.

3. Studying Islām does not make one immune to sin:
Some people have the misconception that if they study Islām, they will reach a level of piety from which they cannot slip. The reality is that Shaytan tries even harder to lead people of knowledge astray, as it has a more detrimental effect on the community as a whole. So instead of temptations growing less, they are more likely to increase and intensify as Shaytan tries to use every means at his disposal to lead us astray. We need to realize this, prepare for it, and never let our guard down as the Shayātīn try very hard to make a knowledgeable Muslim fall astray.

4. People will judge you
While we should not be judgmental to people as Islāmic teachers, the reality is that people will still judge you. Many people are intimidated by practicing Muslims. When they see a practicing Muslim, they see their own flaws and deficiencies, and so they search for fault in that individual. We should not be surprised if people judge our clothing, mannerisms, or weaknesses; it is their way to try and console themselves or justify their sins. We need to always keep this in mind and be able to respond appropriately.

5. You represent your Faith
When a person chooses to study Islām, especially once they earn a title, they automatically become a representation of the dīn. When people see an Imam or a Shaykh, they expect to see a living example of Islām. If people see such a person sinning, they will either lose respect for him and become disillusioned about Islām, or they will take it as proof that it cannot be that big a sin. Either way, for an Islāmic teacher, our lives represent our dīn, so we should always be careful not to give a wrong impression of Islām.

6. You will be tested
Undoubtedly, life is a test and every human is being tested all the time in different ways. However, one should not think that because one is studying Islām and teaching it, Allāh will grant a life of ease and comfort. Rather, history proves that those closest to Allāh are the most severely tested. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The most severely tested people are the prophets, then those closest to them in piety, then those closest to them.”

Be prepared to be tested and take it as a sign that Allāh loves you and wants to test your love for Him. Remember that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever embarks on a path to study Islām has embarked on the path towards Paradise.” It is not the information alone that takes a person to Paradise; it is his fulfillment of its rights by understanding, practicing, and preaching it to others and dealing with all the problems that go along with this that ultimately leads to Paradise.

7. Studying should not be an end; rather it should be a step to a higher goal
I have met many mawlānās, imāms, and Shaykhs with no goals or aspirations. Despite the ummah having so many issues that need dealing with, these men do not seem to care. Upon further analysis, I realized that they set out to study with one of the following goals: to please their parents, to get a title, or to acquire knowledge. Once they obtained the knowledge, they did not know or care about what to do next, so they carried on with their lives like donkeys carrying books. Any person who studies Islām should be introspective and find a good motivation to study. Perhaps you would like to become a dāʿī and a means of guidance for non-Muslims. Perhaps you would like to establish an Islāmic center in an area that needs one. Perhaps you would like to become a mujtahid in a field that is lacking many quality scholars. Whatever you decide, it should be something noble that you wish to do for the sake of Allāh after completing your studies. In short, studying should not be a goal but a means to help accomplish higher goals.

8. You can’t change everyone
In life, we do not always get what we want. Similarly, in Islāmic work, things don’t always go our way. Remember that not everybody you meet will agree with you, listen to you, or accept your message. Rather, there will always be people who will disagree with you or flat out reject you. This is reality, and we have to be prepared for this by realizing guidance is only in Allāh’s Hands, and we are only responsible for conveying the message.

9. You will make mistakes
Many of us study Islām to make up for the sins of our past. Yet, being human, we are never free from sins and mistakes, and so some people become depressed and give up Islāmic work when they realize that they are now knowledgeable but still occasionally fall into sin. The truth is that Shaytan wants us to quit, and by doing so we are just playing into his hands, but Allāh is Most Forgiving to those who repent. Every time you fall down and make a mistake, pick yourself back up, turn to Allāh in repentance, and try again to be a good Muslim, and never EVER allow your sins or mistakes to stop you from doing Islāmic work. Rather, it should motivate us to do more Islāmic work so that our good deeds outweigh our sins on the Last Day.

10. The reward for studying and teaching Islām is worth it
While most of the above makes it seem like Islāmic work is a difficult field, that is not the purpose of this article. The purpose was solely to prepare for the many challenges and responsibilities we face while trying to serve Allāh. The reality is that the reward of dealing with all of the above is truly worth it, whether it is the rewards in this world or in the ākhirah.

As far as the ākhirah goes, we know that the path of knowledge leads to Paradise, but in addition to that, insha’Allāh, you will receive rewards for the good deeds of those you teach or inspire to do good. In this sense, it is one of the only good deeds we can do where the reward keeps multiplying. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “When a person dies, all their deeds end except three: charity which continues to benefit, knowledge he left behind which people benefit from, and righteous children who pray for him.”

As far as this world goes, the greatest reward an Islāmic worker can receive in this world is seeing the fruits of his efforts. When a person tells you they changed and became a better Muslim because of your influence, or when a person takes their shahādah at your hands, there is no feeling equal to it, and any sacrifice you have endured for the dīn feels worth it.

So, my beloved brothers and sisters, let us study Islām, seeking its rewards yet knowing the responsibilities and trials that go along with it. I wrote this firstly as a reminder to myself as well as to anyone else involved in the field of Islāmic Studies. May Allāh keep us all steadfast on His dīn. Ameen.

Written by Ismail Kamdar