بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

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

Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: If one says: “Through what can sincerity in seeking knowledge be (attained)?” We say that sincerity in seeking knowledge can be (attained) by making an intention for the following:

The fulfilment of Allah’s command because Allah, The Most High, commanded it. Allah says: [فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنبِكَ- So know (O Muhammad) that La ilaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), and ask forgiveness for your sin].[Surah Muhammad Ayah 19]

Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, strongly urged (a person) towards acquiring knowledge, and strongly urging towards something necessitates having love for it, being pleased with it, and commanding it.

To preserve Allah’s Shariah because preserving Allah’s Shariah can be done by way of learning, memorisation, and writing.

To protect and defend the Shariah because had it not been for the scholars no one would have protected or defended the Shariah. Due to this, we find the likes of Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyahand others among the people of knowledge, may Allah have mercy upon them, repelling Ahlul Bidah and clarifying the falsity of their Bidah. We see that they attained a lot of good.

To follow Muhammad’s, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, Shariah because it is not possible for you to follow his Shariah until you learn about it.

An Excerpt from “Sharh Hilyah Taalib Al’Ilm”. pages 16- 17