Taqwaa: The key to Learning

Sheikh Abu Anas Hamad Ibn Ibrahim al-'Uthmaan

Short reminder to those seeking knowledge concerning the aspect of taqwaa, since this is a useful tool long forgotten by many of those who enter themselves into the various sciences of this noble, pure Religion.

Whosoever loves that Allaah should open-up his heart for him and grant light to him, then let him abandon speech about that which does not concern him, and abandon sins and turn away from disobedience.

Allaah – the Most Perfect, Most High – said:

"O you who believe! Have taqwaa (fear) of Allaah, and believe in His Messenger; and He will bestow upon you a double portion of His Mercy, and He will provide you with a light by which you will walk." [2]

Allaah – the Most High – also said:

"O you who believe! If you have taqwaa of Allaah, He will give you a Furqaan (criterion to judge right and wrong)." [3]

Al-Haafidh Ibn Katheer (d.777H) – rahimahullaah – said:

Ibn ’Abbaas, as-Suddee, ’Ikrimah, ad-Dahhaak, Qataadah, and Muqaatil Ibn Hayyaan all said about "Furqaan" that it means: a way out (from difficulty). Mujaahid added: A way out (from difficulty) both in this world, and in the Hereafter. In a narration from Ibn ’Abbaas, he said: It means: salvation; and in another narration from him: being helped. Muhammad Ibn Ishaaq said that it means: a criterion to judge between truth and falsehood. This explanation from Ibn Ishaaq is the most general of what has preceded, and it is a necessary consequence of it. Since whoever has taqwaa of Allaah by obeying His Commands and abandoning that which he has prohibited, will be given the ability to recognize the truth from falsehood. This will be the cause for his salvation, his being helped; and the cause for his worldly affairs being made easier, and his happiness on the Day of Judgement. It will also be the cause for his sins to be expiated by Allaah, and his being granted forgiveness and Allaah shielding him from the people. It will likewise be the cause of him being a recipient of a great reward from

Allaah, as He – the Most High – said:

"O you who believe! Have taqwaa (fear) of Allaah and believe in His Messenger; and He will bestow upon you a double portion of His mercy, and He will provide for you a light by which you will walk."[4] [5]

Ibn Mas’ood (radiyallaahu ’anhu) said:

"Indeed I hold that a person forgets knowledge that which used to hold because of sins that he commits." [6]

Wakee’ Ibnul-Jarraah (d.197H) – rahimahullaah – said:

"I seek help in memorization by abandoning sin and disobedience." [7]

Imaam Maalik Ibn Anas (d.179H) – rahimahullaah – said to ash-Shaafi’ee (d.204H) – rahimahullaah – when the two of them met:

"Indeed I see that Allaah has placed a light upon your heart, so do not extinguish it with the darkness of disobedience and sin." [8]

Imaam Muhammad Ibn Idrees ash-Shaafi’ee said:

Whosoever loves that Allaah should open-up his heart for him and grant light to him, then let him abandon speech about that which does not concern him, and abandon sins and turn away from disobedience. Then there will be between him and Allaah a hidden treasure of good actions. So if this is done, then Allaah will open up such knowledge for him, that will pre-occupy him. And indeed in death is the greatest pre-occupation. [9]

Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H) – rahimahullaah – said:

Allaah – the Most Perfect, the Most High – has made as a punishment for people’s sins, the absence of guidance and beneficial knowledge, as He says:

"They say: Our hearts are wrapped-up (and we do not understand). Rather, Allaah has put a seal upon their hearts because of their disbelief." [10]

And He said:

"They say: Our hearts are wrapped-up (and we do not understand). Rather, Allaah has cursed them for their disbelief." [11]

And He said:

"And We shall turn their hearts and their sight away from guidance, as they refused to believe therein for the first time." [12]

And Allaah says:

"In their hearts is a disease and Allaah increases their disease." [13]

And He says:

"So when they turned away, Allaah turned their hearts away." [14] [15]

Footnotes:

[1] Taken from an-Nubadh fee Aadaabit-Talabil-’Ilm (p. 12-15) of Shaykh Abu Anas.
[2] Sooratul-Hadeed [57:28]
[3] Sooratul-Anfaal [8:29]
[4] Sooratul-Hadeed [57:28]
[5] Tafseer Qur‘aanul-’Adtheem (2/301-302) of Ibn Katheer.
[6] Related by Wakee’ in az-Zuhd (no. 329), and its isnaad is saheeh.
[7] Related by Ibn Hibbaan in Rawdatul-’Uqalaa (p. 39)
[8] I’laamul-Muwaqqi’een (4/258) of Ibnul-Qayyim.
[9] Related by al-Bayhaqee in Manaaqibush-Shaafi’ee (2/171)
[10] Sooratun-Nisaa‘ [4:155]
[11] Sooratul-Baqarah [2:88]
[12] Sooratul-An’aam [6:110]
[13] Sooratul-Baqarah [2:10]
[14] Sooratus-Saff [61:5]
[15] Majmoo’ul-Fataawaa (14/152) of Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah.