This document provides guidance for students of knowledge on properly seeking and implementing Islamic knowledge. It emphasizes that knowledge should only be sought to please Allah by understanding and following His commands, and to guide others to the truth. The document advises students of knowledge to study with the intention of worshipping Allah alone, to avoid laziness and forbidden acts that could influence others negatively, and to exemplify the Quran and hadith in speech and deeds. Overall, it stresses the importance of seeking knowledge with pure intentions and using it to benefit oneself and society through righteous actions and calling others to obedience of Allah.

1. To the Students of
Knowledge!
Institute of Islamic Sciences
February 3, 2006
By: Saadia Zainab Yunus
From: Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azîz Ibn Bâz
Imaam 'Abdul-'Azeez Ibn 'Abdillaah Baaz
Shaikh Abul-Hasan Al-Ma'ribe

2. Purity of Intention
Great excellence of the students of knowledge
Whoever corrects his intention in seeking
knowledge and desires only His Face, he is on a
road to salvation (from the Fire) and happiness (in
Paradise).
"So whoever hopes for meeting his Lord, then let
him do righteous deeds and not mix anyone (or
thing) with the worship of His Lord" [Surah Al-
Kahf:110 ].
Knowledge should be sought for the right reasons
and for its implementation

3. The RIGHT Reasons:
1. to be acquainted with His Deen
2. to have insight into what Allah has made
incumbent upon her
3. to implement the knowledge into her life
4. to strive to take the people out of
darkness and into the light
5. so she seeks knowledge and acts upon it
6. to teach others about the good that a
Muslim is ordered to do

4. Student of Ilm should intend to…
1. Worship Allah by seeking knowledge of His Deen,
seeking His Pleasure alone
2. Rid herself and others of ignorance, implementing what
she learns without delay at every stage
3. Command all those around her to perform the obligations
in Islam that she learns about, as she does them herself
4. Recommend all those around her to practice the
recommended deeds in Islam that she learns about, as
he does them herself
5. Discourage those around her from doing the disliked
deeds in Islam that she learns about, as she avoids them
herself
6. Forbid those around her from doing the prohibited deeds
in Islam that she learns about, as she avoids them herself
7. Be patient with the harms that reach her because of this
work

5. A Path to Paradise…
Every path that we take in search of
knowledge is a way to Paradise
This is true for every path, literal or
otherwise
Institute examples:
journey from our home to the masjid;
going from Qur’an class to Hadeeth class
going from one room to the other
memorizing, studying, reviewing
writing and taking notes
calling our study buddies

6. A Proper Student of Ilm…
is concerned with all these paths that lead to knowledge
…seeks these paths, desiring the Face of her Lord, the
Mighty and the Majestic
…wants to seek Allah's pleasure and a home in Paradise
…wants to understand and reflect upon the Deen
…wants to know what Allah has made incumbent upon her
and what He has prohibited her from, then acts accordingly
…wants to know her Lord with insight
…wants to rescue people (from the Fire of Hell)
…wants to be amongst the guided callers striving for the
truth
…wants to guide people to Allah through knowledge
So, wherever she turns, she is in great excellence with
these correct intentions...

7. Being role models…
“...The student of knowledge should take great care about
being lazy about what Allah has made obligatory and from
falling into that which He has forbidden - for others will follow
her in it.”
If she becomes lazy, others will also become lazy.
It is important that she takes care in encouraging the people
to follow it and to be an example for them.
She must keep away from the doubtful matters so that the
people do not imitate her.
The student of knowledge has great significance and the
people of knowledge are the select few amongst creation.
Upon them are obligations and responsibilities over and
above everyone else.
The Messenger (saw) said, "Everyone is a shepherd, and is
responsible for his flock." [Bukhari]
The people of knowledge are shepherds and guides. They
should be concerned about society as it is their flock.

8. “Pinnacle of Knowledge”
FEAR OF ALLAH
'Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ud (R): "It is sufficient as knowledge that
one fear Allah. And it is sufficient as ignorance that one is
deceived about this."
Some Salaf: "Whoever is the most knowledgeable about
Allah, he is the most fearing of Him."
Prophet (S): "As for me, by Allah, I am the most fearing of
Allah amongst you and the most dutiful (having Taqwa) to
Him amongst you." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Every time the servant's knowledge of Allah becomes
strengthened means for perfection of her Taqwa and
Ikhlaas…
…and her stopping at the limits (set by Allah), and her
refraining from sinful acts
"Verily, only those who fear Allah from His servants are the
knowledgeable ones (i.e. the scholars)" [Surah Al-Faatir:28].

9. “Whoever Allah wants good for…”
Prophet (S): "Whoever Allah wants good for, He
gives him understanding of the Religion.“ (Reported by
Bukhari & Muslim from Mu'awiyah (R)).
For no other reason except that the understanding
of the Religion will prompt the servant to establish
Allah's Commandments, to fear Him, to carry out
His obligations, and to stay away from those
things that draw His displeasure.
It will call him towards good manners and
righteous actions and in being sincere to Allah and
His servants.

10. Words of Advice from the scholars
1. Stay close to the people of knowledge: Allaah says: "So
ask the people of knowledge when you do not know." [Surah
Al-Anbiyaa:7]
2. Learn proper manners for seeking knowledge: Verily, if a
man has been granted some knowledge, then it is binding
on him to make that knowledge a way for him to become
humble
3. Be in constant remembrance of Allah: "Remember Allaah
with a great amount of remembrance!" [Surah Al-Ahzaab:41]
4. Be patient and persevere: Upon three main categories:
Patience upon obedience, patience against disobedience,
and patience through trials
5. Look for the gatherings that increase your Iman: Be
warned about sitting in gatherings that cause your faith to
diminish!
6. Wisdom, Understanding, Lenience: "If you had been
severe and hard-hearted, they would have fled from you."
[Surah Aali 'Imraan:159]

11. May Allah (SWT) increase us in
knowledge and make the knowledge
that we are gaining beneficial to us.
May He (SWT) purify our intentions,
accept our good deeds, and keep us
on the Straight Path…
Ameen