[Faungarne]

All the scholars, awliyah, etc. all seem to agree that we should be constantly "seeking knowledge". Books have been written on the adab of the seeker of knowledge. But are there any limits or boundaries or guidelines about the kind of knowledge we should be seeking? Studying the Quran and the ahadeeth, meeting with scholars, etc....? Learning more fiqh rulings? General knowledge, science, etc.?

How is "knowledge" defined in this context?

[Mjyzpzph]

All the scholars, awliyah, etc. all seem to agree that we should be constantly "seeking knowledge". Books have been written on the adab of the seeker of knowledge. But are there any limits or boundaries or guidelines about the kind of knowledge we should be seeking? Studying the Quran and the ahadeeth, meeting with scholars, etc....? Learning more fiqh rulings? General knowledge, science, etc.?

How is "knowledge" defined in this context?

"Knowledge is what benefits, knowledge is not what one has memorized." Imam ash-Shaafi'i

[PrettyFifa12]

All the scholars, awliyah, etc. all seem to agree that we should be constantly "seeking knowledge". Books have been written on the adab of the seeker of knowledge. But are there any limits or boundaries or guidelines about the kind of knowledge we should be seeking? Studying the Quran and the ahadeeth, meeting with scholars, etc....? Learning more fiqh rulings? General knowledge, science, etc.?

How is "knowledge" defined in this context?

Please read these two pieces, they may help a little

Correct Way of Attaining Secular Education

Which is the Beneficial Knowledge?

[Faungarne]

"Knowledge is what benefits, knowledge is not what one has memorized." Imam ash-Shaafi'i

brother, that was actually one of the quotes I was reading last night that got me thinking.

Then there's:

Sufyan al-Thawri (may Allah have mercy on him) said, “Knowledge knocks on the door of action. If it receives a reply, it stays, otherwise it departs.”

“If your intention in seeking knowledge is between God Most High and yourself and not merely to gain information, then rejoice! The Angels will spread out their wings for you while you walk, and the creatures in the sea will ask God to pardon you.” [Imam Al’Ghazali in his Bidaya al Hidaya]

When it has been said that the angels spread out their wings in the path of the one seeking sacred knowledge, then just imagine what Allah has in store for such a person. [Abu Ali Daqaq]

[Faungarne]

Please read these two pieces, they may help a little

Correct Way of Attaining Secular Education

Which is the Beneficial Knowledge?

respected brother,

JazakAllah Khair for both links. I found both of them very enlightening, insha'Allah.

[aliceingoogs]

There is no goodness in knowledge which is not confirmed by action, or words which
are not confirmed by deeds:

“O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do?
Most hateful it is with Allâh that you say that which you do not do”[al-Saff :2-3]

The first and most crucial obligation on us is to acquire knowledge and secondly to
practice and preach this knowledge. No man becomes truly a Muslim without
knowing the meaning of Islam, because he becomes a Muslim not through birth
but through knowledge. Unless we come to know the basic and necessary teachings
of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) how can we believe in him, have faith in him, act
according to what he taught? It is impossible for us to be a Muslim, and at the same
time live in a state of ignorance.

A person without knowledge is like someone walking along a track in complete darkness. Most likely his steps will wander aside and he easily can be deceived by shaytaan. This shows that our greatest danger lies in our ignorance of Islamic teachings and in our unawareness of what the Qur’an teaches and what guidance has been given by the Prophet (PBUH). But if we are blessed with the light of knowledge we will be able to see plainly the clear path of Islam at every step of our lives. We shall also be able to identify and avoid the dangerous paths of Kufr, Shirk and immorality, which may cross it. And, whenever a false guide meets us on the way, a few words with him will quickly establish that he is not a guide who should be followed.

Knowledge is pursued and practiced with modesty and humility and leads to beauty
and dignity, freedom and justice.

The main purpose of acquiring knowledge is to bring us closer to God. It is not simply for the gratification of the mind or the senses. It is not knowledge for the sake of knowledge or science for the value of sake. Knowledge accordingly must be linked with values and goals.

One of the purposes of acquiring knowledge is to gain the good of this world, not to
destroy it through wastage, arrogance and in the reckless pursuit of higher standards
of material comfort.

[Faungarne]

There is no goodness in knowledge which is not confirmed by action, or words which
are not confirmed by deeds:

“O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do?
Most hateful it is with Allâh that you say that which you do not do”[al-Saff :2-3]

The first and most crucial obligation on us is to acquire knowledge and secondly to
practice and preach this knowledge. No man becomes truly a Muslim without
knowing the meaning of Islam, because he becomes a Muslim not through birth
but through knowledge. Unless we come to know the basic and necessary teachings
of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) how can we believe in him, have faith in him, act
according to what he taught? It is impossible for us to be a Muslim, and at the same
time live in a state of ignorance.

A person without knowledge is like someone walking along a track in complete darkness. Most likely his steps will wander aside and he easily can be deceived by shaytaan. This shows that our greatest danger lies in our ignorance of Islamic teachings and in our unawareness of what the Qur’an teaches and what guidance has been given by the Prophet (PBUH). But if we are blessed with the light of knowledge we will be able to see plainly the clear path of Islam at every step of our lives. We shall also be able to identify and avoid the dangerous paths of Kufr, Shirk and immorality, which may cross it. And, whenever a false guide meets us on the way, a few words with him will quickly establish that he is not a guide who should be followed.

Knowledge is pursued and practiced with modesty and humility and leads to beauty
and dignity, freedom and justice.

The main purpose of acquiring knowledge is to bring us closer to God. It is not simply for the gratification of the mind or the senses. It is not knowledge for the sake of knowledge or science for the value of sake. Knowledge accordingly must be linked with values and goals.

One of the purposes of acquiring knowledge is to gain the good of this world, not to
destroy it through wastage, arrogance and in the reckless pursuit of higher standards
of material comfort.

brother Fake Shaykh. INSHA'ALLAH I try to implement what I learn. Please pray that Allah grants me the wisdom and strength to use everything I learn. My Shaykh (and probably many others as well!) says that knowledge is a responsibility and burden - which we must actively seek, implement, and share. Knowledge that is not implemented and not shared means a betrayal of something precious entrusted to you.

I wasted at least a decade indiscriminately pursuing knowledge of all kinds with a similar greed to the hunger I feel now. Alhamdulillah, this pursuit finally led me to Islam.

But I guess I really wondered what kinds of knowledge are considered unnecessary, and what are considered crucial. And what exactly is "divine knowledge" anyway? Knowledge of Allah? But the only way to know Allah is to know oneself, according to some...

Are there any accepted "curriculum" out there? Is my haphazard approach bad learning adab? Is it OK to just grab at any knowledge I stumble across?

Currently I'm trying to do a little bit of everything. A little Quran (translated), a little ahadeeth, a little learning about our beloved Prophet and his companions, some tasawwuf, some fiqh, and so on. Many of you have studied our magnificent religion "properly". According to your experience, am I doing everything wrong, or do you think it's OK for me to just keep browsing and absorbing like this?

again for all your wisdom.

[Faungarne]

Answering my own question:

Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (Allah (SWT) have mercy on him) said,
“Beneficial knowledge is [knowledge] that increases your fear of God Most High, improves your ability to discern the faults of your ego, makes you more cognizant of how to worship your Lord, reduces your desire for this world, increases your longing for the next world, and opens your spiritual insight to the disastrous defects of your actions so you can avoid them.
It discloses to you the plots and delusions of the Devil and how he misleads the scholars who have gone astray until he exposes them to the hatred and anger of God Most High, for they have used religion to purchase this world, taken knowledge as a means to gain the wealth of sultans, to consume the wealth of religious endowments, the poor, and the needy, and turned their energies throughout the day to the acquisition of prestige and high standing in the hearts of people, which forces them to show off their good deeds, to argue, and to be quarrelsome and ostentatious when they speak.” [Imam Ghazali, Bidayat al-Hidaya]

[beenBinybelia]

Ibn Hazm al-Andalūsī [رحمه الله]:

إذا حضرت مجلس علم فلا يكن حضورك إلا حضور مستزيد علماً وأجراً لا حضور مستغن بما عندك طالباً عثرة تشيعها أو غريبة تشنعها فهذه أفعال الأرذال الذين لا يفلحون في الع
. لم أبداً . فإذا حضرتها على هذه النية فقد حصلت خيراً على كل حال وإن لم تحضرها على هذه النية فجلوسك في منزلك أروح لبدنك وأكرم لخلقك وأسلم لدينك

"If you attend a study-session, behave only like someone who wishes to
increase his knowledge and to win greater recompense from God. Do not behave
like someone who is content with what he has, who is looking for some fault to
criticize or a curious detail to hawk around. This would be the behaviour of vile
men who never succeed in their studies.

If you come to it with good intentions, you will always obtain the best results.
Otherwise, to stay at home would be less tiring for your body, more worthy of
your moral conduct and more salutary for your religious life."

[الأخلاق والسير]