quote:
It is looked down upon by the scholars of Yemen like Shaykh Muqbil and his students to work while you are studying. They expect you to be fully engulfed in your study, so that is not an option, as they will not take you as a serious student if you do work and study.
The above statement may be true if applied to a single student who doesn't have any pressing financial obligations.
However, if applied to a married man with financial responsibilities, then this statement misrepresents Shaykh Muqbil (may Allaah have Mercy on him) and his students. Work is honorable, and asking people for money is disgraceful. This is the position of Shaykh Muqbil and his students, as well as our scholars in general (may Allaah bless them all). Shaykh Muqbil's words on the disgraceful nature of asking people for money are remarkable and very clear. Ask Sh. Yahyaa al-Hajooree or one of the mashaayikh directly. Read "Thamm al-Mas'alah" by Sh. Muqbil. Read about the topic of working and studying in "al-Jaami' li-akhlaaq ar-Raawee" of al-Khateeb.
Advice and a prayer: The student who has family responsibilities and obligations is not to ignore them to study. It is true that a single student may be able to dedicate himself all day every day to his studies, and thus he may advance more quickly and gain more knowledge. However, this is not an option for a married man with responsibilities and financial obligations. He must combine earning and providing with studying. We hope Allaah will bless him and his family and put a lot of blessing and benefit in the time he can give his studies.
Further advice: People from his community who recognize his potential to study, comprehend, and teach should support him financially if they know he has taken the initiative to go study, without him having to ask. And if he has asked, then they should still support him while they advise him to be patient and not to ask.
Refuting a common mistake: "The people in my area have no Islaamic knowledge, or very little, and it is not enough to live as Muslims. So the community obligation of having people of knowledge available is not being fulfilled, and thus it has become a fardh 'ayn on those capable of doing it. That is why I have to put off my family's rights and study."
The reality: The fardh kifaayah (community obligation), when not fulfilled by the community, falls upon capable individuals as a fardh 'ayn (individual obligation). Someone who is financially incapable of taking care of his family while studying is not one of the individuals who would be required to fulfill that obligation for his community, and thus he is excused. His immediate obligation of providing for his family, which is a fardh 'ayn specific to him alone, holds a higher priority than helping to fulfill a community obligation.
And Allaah knows best.
Moosaa ibn John Richardson
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Bismillah:
Shaykh Muqbil, may Allah have mercy on him, says about himself, while describing his journeys
seeking knowledge, "...So I decided to head to Makkah. If I could find work, I would work.
[After I finished work], I would seek knowledge at night. I would study Tafseer ibn Katheer,
Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, and Saheeh Muslim with Yahyaa Ibn 'Uthmaan al-Pakastaanee along with
reading books on my own..."
This small excerpt was taken from "The Biography of Shaykh Muqbil" Pg: 22-23.
May Allah, The Most High, reward my companion and classmate for sharing this benefit with me
several weeks ago; therefore, giving me an opportunity to share it with this forum.
Your brother in Islam,
Jameel Finch
Sheikh Muqbil. may Allah have mercy on him, also said:
quote:
ýBeware, beware, that the daýwah and teaching the people divert you from your families, for indeed, every one of you is a shepherd and will be questioned about his flock.ý
See:
http://www.al-athariyyah.com/media/pdf/tazkiyah/benefits_from_lessons_pt2.pdf
for this quote and other gems from the Sheikh.
Abu Yusuf
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æßá ÔÑ Ýí ÅÈÊÏÇÚ ãä ÎáÝ
While discussing patience upon poverty while seeking knowledge, Sh. Muqbil b. Haadi, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned: "...I don't mean that you shouldn't seek provisions. For you not to seek provisions would be against Islamic legislation, and on the other hand, depending in totality on your own ability to earn provisions is shirk (1)... Therefore,[my brothers], there isn't anything wrong with seeking provisions..."(2)
Your brother in Islaam and the Sunnah,
Jameel Finch
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(1) [TN]: This is because we have been commanded to rely and depend on
Allah, the Most High. Allah, the Most High, says: " And depend on
Allah if you are truly believers." Sooratul-Maaidah (5): 23
However, this verse does not negate that we seek provisions. This
point is understood from The Messenger of Allah's, prayers and peace
upon him, saying: "If you were to truly depend on Allah, He would
provide for you just as he provides for a bird that sets out hungry,
but it returns full." [at-Tirmithee]
The angle of proof from this hadeeth is that the bird set out to
seek provisions and did not just remain in its nest. Allah knows
best.
(2) Taken from Sh. Muqbil's tape "Encouraging Students of Knowledge"