Admonition when Shariah schools began to emerge in Baghdad

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of mercy.

Al-Allamah Siddeeq Hasan Khan, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated:

(You) should know that sound knowledge does not contain any harm. Conversely, ignorance does not hold any benefits. This is because every piece of sound knowledge has a benefit that is connected to matters of the Afterlife, the life (in this world), or human perfection. However, in certain sciences, it may be mistakenly assumed that harm can arise or that the knowledge is not beneficial due to a failure to consider the necessary conditions that must be observed in acquiring knowledge and by the scholars, because every branch of knowledge has its boundaries, and these boundaries should not be exceeded. It is erroneous to believe that knowledge can surpass its intended purpose, just as it is incorrect to assume that mainstream medicine can cure all ailments. In reality, certain diseases cannot be cured through (medical) treatment. [I] Among them (the people) is one who thinks that (some specific) knowledge is above its rank, just as one thinks that jurisprudence is the most honourable of all sciences without exception, but this is not the case, as the knowledge of pure Islamic monotheism is more honourable without exception. [II]

Among them is (one) intending through knowledge other than its purpose, such as the one who learns for the sake of wealth or prestige. The purpose of sciences of the religion in and of themselves is not to earn wealth, but rather acquaintance with facts and refining morals. Therefore, he who pursues knowledge of the religion for the sake of professionalism is not a scholar, but rather he is someone who feigns resemblance to the scholars. [III] The scholars of Transoxiana revealed and stated this when they were informed of the construction of schools in Baghdad; so, they held gatherings of religious knowledge and stated: “The people with lofty aspirations and the pure souls used to preoccupy themselves with it, whose goal behind the pursuit of knowledge was because of its nobility and perfection (attained) through it, thus, they came to the scholars to benefit from them and their knowledge. However, if it becomes a means of earning, the mean (vile) and lazy people will approach it and this will be a reason for its disappearance, thus the sciences of wisdom are abandoned, even though they are noble in and of themselves”. [IV] [1]

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[I]https://abukhadeejah.com/what-are-the-principles-of-medicine-with-the-scholars-of-islam/ https://abukhadeejah.com/why-i-post-health-articles-on-my-site-and-top-12-tips-for-cancer-prevention/

[II]Al-Allamah Rabee Bin Haai Al-Mad’khali, may Allah preserve him, stated: The Muslims have to be acquainted with the knowledge of Tawheed and Shirk. Shirk is the gravest sin that can be committed in disobedience to Allah. The Prophets brought the greatest (aspect) of knowledge, and that is the knowledge of Tawheed, and they warned against the greatest wrong-doing, which is to ascribe partners to Allah. [ إِنَّ ٱلشِّرۡكَ لَظُلۡمٌ عَظِيمٌ۬ – Verily! Associating partners to (Allah in worship) is a great wrong indeed]. [Luqman. 13]

This is an affair that many of the callers to Islam have turned away from at present and do not give importance. The knowledge of Tawheed is the first thing they snub and flee from, (and) Shirk is the first thing they decline (to address) when seeking to guide the Ummah. Neither do they warn the people nor caution them against this greatest danger known to mankind [i.e. Shirk]. Tawheed is the greatest (knowledge) brought by Prophets as glad tidings, but they (i.e. many of the callers) do not convey it; rather the greatest affair to them is modern politics. The knowledge of Tawheed is the affair by way of which this Ummah is distinguished. Neither is there anything more impure (i.e. corrupts the heart, deeds, manners, thoughts, ideas, intentions, goals, aims, etc) nor filthier than shirk, so why do we not purity the Ummah from this impurity and filth? Why do those callers to Islam deliberately feign ignorance of this impurity, in which the people wander blindly and belittle its severity, even though there is nothing equal to its (filthiness and impurity)? It is obligated to the Muslims to free themselves from the filth of shirk and sincerely worship Allah alone so that they become the cleanest people and purest [i.e. in creed, deeds, thoughts, views, intentions, goals, aims, etc]. And through this, they will be distinguished [in every virtuous trait]. If the mosques of the Muslims in the Islamic world are filled with graves- even though the Messenger severely cursed those who turn graves into places of worship- and those callers to Islam have not taken any steps to confront this filthy practice, then there can be no betrayal and deception -against the ummah- greater than this.

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكۡتُمُونَ مَآ أَنزَلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَٱلۡهُدَىٰ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا بَيَّنَّـٰهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِى ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ‌ۙ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ يَلۡعَنُہُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَلۡعَنُہُمُ ٱللَّـٰعِنُونَ

Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidences, and the guidance, which We have sent down after We have made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allah and cursed by the cursers. [Al-Baqarah. 159]

The greatest clear proof is Tawheed and it is the guidance that will remove the people from shirk. Therefore, O callers to Islam! Fear Allah, safeguard the Muslims from this greatest danger, and raise them to the highest station in this worldly life – the station of Tawheed because there is no station loftier than the station of Tawheed. Tawheed is the greatest station in the entire universe and Shirk is the lowest. [2]

[III] https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2025/01/04/certificates/

[IV] Imam Ibn Al-Jawzi, may Allah have mercy upon him,  said: I saw that solely being preoccupied with studying Fiqh and listening to hadeeth is not enough to rectify the heart, except combined with (the authentic narrations concerning the) softening of the hearts, and looking into the biographies of the pious predecessors. As for knowing Halal and Haram only, it does not have a great strength in softening the heart; rather the softening of the heart is (attained) by mentioning the Ahadith on the subject matter and the stories of the pious predecessors. That is because they (i.e. the pious predecessors) grasped the intent behind narrating, demonstrated the tangible obligated actions by way of them, practical encounter with their meanings, and the goals behind them. And there is nothing that will make you experience this, except after cultivation and experience. That is because I find that the ambition of the majority of the Muhadditheen and the students of hadeeth is (focused on acquiring hadeeth that has the closest chain of transmission from the Prophet and gathering numerous authentic Ahadith on a particular subject matter in the religion. And the majority of the jurists (focus on) the science of debate and that which gives one the upper hand, so how can the heart be softened through these affairs? Indeed, a group of pious predecessors aspired to see that a righteous slave should look to his character and upright guidance and not (merely) the knowledge he has acquired. That is (because) his character and upright guidance are the fruits of his knowledge. So understand this! The students of Hadeeth and Fiqh should combine (seeking after hadeeth and fiqh) with studying the lives of the pious predecessors and the Zuhhaad so that it can be a means to soften the heart. Indeed, books have been compiled regarding the affairs and manners of each one of those well-known outstanding men (of piety). A book has been compiled regarding the affairs of Al-Hasan [Al-Basri], Sufyaan Ath-Thawri, Ibraaheem Bin Ad-ham, Bishr Al-Haafiy, Ahmad Bin Hanbal, Ma’roof and other than them amongst the scholars and the Zuhhaad. [6]

It is necessary that the seekers of Hadeeth should have the most perfect (behaviour, manners, etiquette, etc) amongst the people, be the most humble amongst the people, the greatest in their impartiality and adherence to the religion, the least in (deviating from good conduct) and (being overcome with) anger because they constantly listen to the narrations that gather the excellent manners and etiquettes of Allah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him], the lives of the virtuous pious predecessors, the path of the scholars of Hadeeth and the virtues of the (pious ones and scholars) who have passed away; so they adhere to the purest and excellent (aspects of those traits, etiquettes, manners, etc) and turn away from the most despised and lowly (traits, behaviour, manners, etiquettes, etc). [7]

[1] An Excerpt from “Abjad Al-Ulum” 1/77-78. slightly paraphrased

[2] An Excerpt from “Marhaban Yaa Taalibal Ilm”. pages 104-106. slightly paraphrased

[3] Sharh Hilya Taalib Al-Ilm..page:22. slightly paraphrased

[4] An Excerpt from ‘Saydul khaatir’ Page 171. Daar Ibn Rajab. 1st edition 2003

[5] Source: An Excerpt from ‘Jaami Bayaan Al-Ilm 1/78. By Al-Khateeb Al-Baghdaadi