A Treasury of Guidance For the Muslim Striving to Learn his Religion (6): Sheikh Ahmad Ibn-Yahya an-Najmee

Description

A Treasury of Guidance For the Muslim Striving to Learn His Religion (6):
Sheikh Ahmad Ibn-Yahya an-Najmee

Statements of the Guiding Scholars Pocket Edition 6

Translated & Compiled By Abu Sukhailah Khalil Ibn-Abelahyi al-Amreekee

[Available: NOW¦ pages: 140+ ¦ Size: 5×8 soft cover ]

Table of Contents
Introduction of Sheikh Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdullah al-Imaam  (for original publication)
Compiler’s Introduction (Pocket Edition)

(1) Examine, may Allaah have mercy upon you, everything you hear from the people of your age 
(2) Question: Who are those individuals in our land of Saudi Arabia upon the call to follow the methodology of the first three generations of Islaam from whom it is befitting that we seek knowledge at their hands? 
(3) Reasons for the Attainment of Victory 
(4) Question: Our esteemed sheikh, may Allaah preserve you, I have a desire to seek Sharee’ah knowledge, and I want for you to clarify to me the correct path for seeking Sharee’ah knowledge- may Allaah reward you with good 
(5) Question: What is your general advice to the beginning student of knowledge? Which books and audio lectures, that teach the methodology of the first generations of Muslims, are recommended for them? 
(6) Question: Is it permissible for the proficient student of knowledge to declare someone a person of innovation or to declare that someone has abandoned Islam, or is this a matter exclusively for the scholars? Is it for the beginning student of knowledge to put forth criticism or praise regarding individuals, or to declare people to be innovators in the religion without relying upon evidence? 
(7) Question: Some of the minor students of knowledge have busied themselves with speech regarding the people of division and group partisanship towards their group, and have made that the focus of the majority of their time, thus neglecting knowledge- the opportunity to seek knowledge which will benefit them with their Lord and to seek knowledge which would explain and distinguish for them those matters which are hated and despised from those matters that are desired and good. They say that this is so that they understand the errors of the people of these groups of partisanship.
However, it has come about that nothing has the level of importance to them as the asking: “What is your opinion of so-and-so, and what is your position regarding so-and-so?” Likewise, it has reached the point where the majority of their sittings are regarding these matters, and they have begun to accuse the people haphazardly. What is your advice to these youth, and your encouragement to them to give concern to that Sharee’ah knowledge which will protect them from innovation in the religion? 
(8) Question: What are the books that you advise us to read in the subjects of worshiping Allaah alone and correct beliefs?
(9) Question: Someone wishes to attend lessons in ‘al-Aqeedat ul-Tahaweeyah’. However, when I asked him about his level in studying Sharee’ah knowledge; he replied, “I have read ‘Thalatatul-Usul’, ‘Kitab at-Tawheed’, ‘al-Aajroomiyyah’ and ‘Milhat al-Iraab’ and I did not have difficulty in understanding them.” So does this person have the ability to study ‘al-Aqeedat ul-Tahaweeyah’ without having progressed gradually in his study of Sharee’ah knowledge? Similarly, what is the case in regard to other areas of knowledge? Please benefit us regarding this, so that we may be of those who are rewarded 
(10) Question: Oh sheikh, we would like you to name some of the books which are in conformance with the methodology of the first three generations of Islaam that the youth upon that clear way should acquire and place in his home library?
(11) Question: Please benefit us, may Allaah reward you. Is it better to repeatedly study a specific text from the texts of Sharee’ah knowledge, or is it sufficient to study it a single time and then move on to a different text. Please benefit us regarding this, so that we may be of those who are rewarded 
(12) Question: What are the guidelines regarding reading the books of innovators in the religion or listening to their tapes, if they contain some benefit? Is it permissible for the common person to listen to the tapes of the preachers from among the innovators, or the people of division and group partisanship, or others similar to them? 
(13) Question: The people of innovation in the religion have a masjid, and some of the people who utilize it are people of the Sunnah- as they do not have any other masjid other than that one. These people of the Sunnah are permitted to speak, teach, and have lectures with the condition that they attend the lectures held by the others who are the people of division and partisanship; and that these others will likewise attend the lectures held by the people of the Sunnah. Should they agree to this? 
(14) Question: What are the reference books of the people of the Sunnah which are turned to in order to refute the people of innovation in the religion regarding those matters in which they have differed with the people of the Sunnah? 
(15) Question: All praise is due to Allaah, as for what follows : These questions come from one of our brothers in Qatar who follows the methodology of the first three generations. I ask Allaah to guide us and him to every goodness, and keep far from us and him every evil and harm. The questioner asks: “If a student of knowledge studies and reads a specific text from among the texts of knowledge with a scholar, and he then understands it but does not memorize it, is that sufficient? In this case is it then proper to go ahead and proceed to a different text for study or is it in fact necessary to first memorize the previous text and understand all its various issues from his scholar? Please benefit us regarding this, may Allaah make you of those who are rewarded 
(16) Question: I am a young man who is almost thirty years old; however I have not completely memorized the Book of Allaah. I have not ceased being consistent in my efforts in memorization, and I ask Allaah for success. Is it better in my efforts to seek knowledge to memorize the book of Allaah completely, and after completing that, then to seek general Sharee’ah knowledge, or to combine between seeking knowledge and memorizing the Qur’aan? 
(17) Question: Is there a specific order in which we should memorize the texts and writings of Sheikh Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdul-Wahaab; such as ‘Thalathatul-Usul’, ‘Usul as-Sittah’, ‘Qawaid al-Arba’ ’, ‘Masaail al-Jaahiliyah’, ‘Nawaaqidh al-Islaam’, ‘Kitaab at-Tawheed’, and ‘Kashf as-Shubahat’?
We hope that you would clarify the best order in which these texts should be memorized