Ta'lim Muta'allim

✍️ Syaikh Burhanuddin Az-Zarnuji

The book of etiquette for studying by Shaykh Burhanuddin Az-Zarnuji teaches how a student of knowledge behaves so that his knowledge is blessed and useful. Discusses learning intentions, choosing knowledge and teachers, glorifying knowledge and experts, sincerity, trust, and things that strengthen and weaken memorization. It has been read from generation to generation in Islamic boarding schools as a form of morals before and during study.

Chapter 1: The Priority of Knowledge

فَضِيْلَةُ الْعِلْمِ

The Obligation to Seek Knowledge

وُجُوبُ طَلَبِ الْعِلْمِ

اِعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ يَجِبُ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ وَمُسْلِمَةٍ تَعَلُّمُ الْعِلْمِ. وَإِنَّمَا يَجِبُ تَعَلُّمُ عِلْمِ الْحَالِ — وَهُوَ مَا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ.

Translation

Seeking knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim man and woman. What is mandatory is knowledge of the things needed to carry out the current situation.

Commentary

The science of fardhu 'ain: correct beliefs, fiqh of worship (prayer, fasting, zakat, hajj), and the science of morals. Fardhu kifayah: knowledge that if someone has studied it in a community, the obligation is removed from others (medicine, engineering, etc.).

📖 QS 58:11 — Allah angkat derajat orang berilmu🕌 ibnmajah:224

Knowledge without Charity is like a Tree without Fruit

الْعِلْمُ بِلَا عَمَلٍ

قِيْلَ: الْعِلْمُ بِلَا عَمَلٍ كَالشَّجَرِ بِلَا ثَمَرٍ. وَأَفْضَلُ الْعِلْمِ عِلْمُ الْحَالِ وَأَفْضَلُ الْأَعْمَالِ حِفْظُ الْحَالِ.

Translation

It is said: knowledge without charity is like a tree without fruit. The best knowledge is knowledge that is relevant to the situation, and the best charity is maintaining its practice.

Commentary

Knowledge that is not put into practice becomes a burdensome evidence in the afterlife. Salaf scholars are very afraid of knowledge that is not put into practice. Imam Ahmad said: knowledge demands charity — if it is not practiced, knowledge goes away.