Which of the two is better? Seeking of knowledge or dawah to Allah – Glorified and Most High – because I hear some of the groups saying: “Ad-dawah (to Allah) is of greater benefit than the seeking of knowledge”
Answer:
Seeking of knowledge is first because it is not possible for a person to call to Allaah except if he has knowledge. As for if he does not have knowledge then he is not able to call to Allah, and if he (does) dawah he makes mistakes much more than he is correct. So it is conditional for the caller to be upon knowledge before he commences Dawah due to the statement of Allaah:
Say (O Muhammad), “This is my way; I invite unto Allah with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me” (Yusuf:108)
There are (however) obvious issues where it is possible for a common person to call (to Allaah), such as commanding with the prayer and prohibiting from its abandonment, commanding with the congregational prayer (for men), commanding the children with the prayer- these affairs are known to the common person and the beginner student of knowledge. However the affairs which require understanding and knowledge of the Halal and Haraam, and the affairs of Shirk and Tawheed, then knowledge has to be acquired (regarding) these (affairs). And (generally) those who say that dawah is more beneficial than studying, they are the jamaat at-tableegh and this is a misguided innovated Sufi group.
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan – May Allah preserve him – was asked:
There is found in these times those who fanatically cling to personalities, although the truth opposes them; so how do we advise these youth?
We advise them first and fore-mostly to study , for they did not fanatically cling to anyone except due to ignorance; so upon them is to study beneficial knowledge(*) and to gain understanding of the religion of Allah and the truth will become clear/manifest to them. – if Allah wills -But as long as they are ignoramuses or pseudo seekers of knowledge, this will not increase them in anything except differing. And it will not increase them except (in) disagreement
Source
Al-ijaabatu al-faasilatu ala ash- shubuhaat al-haasila page 10
* Ibnul qayyim said in his poem “Al- kaafiyah ash-shaafiyah”
“Knowledge is what Allah, His messenger, and the companions said.
We advise you firstly with the taqwa of Allah and making plentiful supplication that Allah makes us and you firm upon the religion of islaam. And that he protects us and you from the evil of trials and tribulation. Then we advise you to seek knowledge from the ppl of knowledge and being ardent upon that. For indeed nothing protects from fitnah -by the permission of Allaah- except correct knowledge.
But if there is no correct knowledge then maybe you will fall into trials and you will not realise, and you will not know that they are trials. Therefore upon you (all) is to seek knowledge from ahlul ilm and not to be lackadaisical about seeking knowledge however you are able.
Al-ijaabatu al-faasilatu ala ash-shubuhaat al-haasila page 54
Which of the two is better -if an individual wants to partake in good actions- building (establishing) a school for the memorisation of Quran or building (establishing) a mosque?
He (Rahimahullah) answered:
(The affair is) in accordance to the need; if the (particular) land needed a mosque more than a school for memorisation of Quran; (then) build a mosque, and if it was the opposite, build a school. The person should contemplate and ponder and not be hasty.
Fataawa Noor ala ad-Darb Vol 12 page 670
We ask our brothers & sisters to help us establish a School here in Manchester. Alhamdulillah we already have a masjid, with lessons in Qur’an, Arabic & Islamic Studies for Adults and Children. However a school is missing, and is a great neccessity for us.
Seal and finish the month of Ramadhaan with repentance to Allah from sins and turn to him in repentance with actions which please him for indeed man is not free from making mistakes and shortcomings and every son of Adam commits errors and the best of those who make mistakes are the ones who repent.
The two lectures in the above links were delivered by Ustaadh Abu Khadeejah and Ustaadh Abdul Ilaah (may Allaah preserve them). Indeed, there is tremendous benefit in these lectures showing clearly the evil, distorted understanding, evil intentions, destructive views, false interpretations and devilish insinuations of the Khaarijite Renegades [Jihaadi Takfeeris -ISIS, Nusrah Front and those carrying their ideologies in the West and the Middle East]
We ask Allaah to reward Ustaadh Abu Khadeejah and Ustaadh Abdul Ilaah with abundant good in this life and the next; and we ask Allaah (The Most High) to reward all the students of knowledge and lecturers in the various SalafiCentres—those who stand firm in times of fitan, whilst clarifying the authentic Islamic Creed, the Sunnah of the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) and understanding of the pious predecessors. And may Allaah (The Most High) reward our brothers @ Cardiff and Ustaadh Abu Abdillaah Hasan Somali for their endurance and striving. Aameen.