قَالَ فَإِنِ اتَّبَعْتَنِي فَلَا تَسْأَلْنِي عَن شَيْءٍ حَتَّى أُحْدِثَ لَكَ مِنْهُ ذِكْرًا
“Khadir said: “Well, then, if you are to follow me, do not question me about anything [that I may do] until I myself give you an account thereof.” [Al Kahf 18: 70]
Khadir tells Musa عليه السلام to not ask him any questions until he makes mention of it himself. This highlights the importance of the student of knowledge to not be hasty when seeking knowledge. Certain issues and rulings take their time in understanding, so we shouldn’t be quick to make a judgment until we know the reality of the issue. Seeking knowledge is also to be sought in stages and not in one go. The entire Qur’ān was revealed in stages to be recited in stages as Allah says:
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ جُمْلَةً وَٰحِدَةً ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنُثَبِّتَ بِهِۦ فُؤَادَكَ ۖ وَرَتَّلْنَـٰهُ تَرْتِيلًا
“And those who disbelieve say, “Why was the Qur’ān not revealed to him all at once?” Thus [it is] that We may strengthen thereby your heart. And We have spaced it in slow well-arranged stages gradually”. [Al Furqan 25: 32]
One of the scholars of the past said: “Whoever wants to seek knowledge in one go, will lose it in one go.”
Hastiness is one of the main problems of students. How many times do we start studying something but don’t have the patience to continue? If you tell yourself from the start “I’m going to be patient,” your mind set will be just right!
One of the conditions for a seeker of knowledge is patience, and the other is obedience to the way your teacher set out for you.
This teaches us that the teacher or any learning institution has the full right to regulate and implement any rules and regulations which they feel are necessary for their institution or are in the best interests of the students.
The students on the other hand should ensure that they are well acquainted with the rules and regulations of the institution and once they apply for admission they should whole-heartedly agree and thereafter abide by the conditions set out by the teacher or institution. They cannot apply for admission but disagree to the rules, or accept admission and then disregard or break the rules and laws.
Thereafter, Khadir accepted Musa عليه السلام to be his student and he began his path to seeking knowledge with Khadir. Khadir not only imparted his knowledge to Musa عليه السلام but also showed practical examples. Knowledge is of no benefit if it is not followed by action. As the great scholar al-Khatīb al-Baghdādi (rahimahullah) said: “Knowledge calls for action so either the call is answered or the knowledge will be removed.”
0 Comments