Encouragement to take knowledge from the scholars and not from the books directly
Benefit:
“We will revise with each other in that which preceded in what relates to taking knowledge, that they used to take the Qur’an from the Messenger ﷺ. And in it is the blessing of taking knowledge from its people. For indeed taking knowledge has blessing in it. The student of mere reading or just listening to hadith being read or such doesn’t acquire the blessing as the one taking it (from the scholars), he doesn’t acquire the benefit.
For taking from the scholars cements (the knowledge) in the brain, taking from the scholars makes one understand. Also from the blessings of taking from the scholars is the asking questions at the moment of ambiguity. From the blessings of taking knowledge from the scholars is the sittings and the impact of sitting with the righteous companion, and the one who is delivering the knowledge to you from the righteous, being affected by him and benefitting from him.
And for this reason taking knowledge from the scholars is necessary to be from its rightful people;
إن هذا العلم دين فانظروا أمن تأخذنون دينكم
“Indeed this knowledge is religion so look at he who you take your religion from”.
From the blessings of taking knowledge from the scholars is that this is the way of the Salaf, rather its the way of the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ;
(إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُۥ وَقُرْءَانَهُۥ)
It is for Us to collect it and to give you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) the ability to recite it (the Qur’ân). [Al-Qiyaamah: 17]
He took it from Jibreel;
( فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَٰهُ فَٱتَّبِعْ قُرْءَانَهُۥ)
“And when We have recited it to you [O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم through Jibrîl (Gabriel)], then follow its (the Qur’an’s) recital.” [Al-Qiyaamah: 18]
(ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُۥ)
“Then it is for Us (Allâh) to make it clear (to you).” [Al-Qiyaamah: 19]
And the one who takes from the books in most cases he will have mistakes, like those who take from the books or the things transmitted, he will have mistakes. With the capability of that (taking from the scholars) he is considered lazy, with the capability of taking the knowledge directly from the people of knowledge, then he resorts to taking from books and abandons taking knowledge from the scholars. This is a type of laziness and missing out from the good.
يظن الغمر أن الكتب تهدي أخا فهم لإدراك العلوم
**The ignorant one thinks that the books will guide
a brother to understanding the knowledge**
وما يدري الجهول بأن فيها غوامض حيرت عقل الفهيم
**And the ignoramus does that it has ambiguous areas
which baffled those with intellect and understanding**
إذا رمت العلوم من غير شيخ ضللت عن الصراط المستقيم
**If you intend to acquire knowledge without a Shaykh
You will go astray from the correct path**
وتلتبس العلوم علييك حتى تصير أضل من توم الحكيم
**And the knowledge will be confusing for you until
You become more misguided than Towmaa (name of a donkey) of Hakeem**
For indeed he could take knowledge from Ash’aris in some of the books and he is not able to distinguish, or from the Mu’tazilah, or from the people of desires, he doesn’t understand what is inserted in those books for him from that which will harm him.”
Benefited from: Shaykh, the Allamah, the Trustworthy Advisor, Abu Abdirrahman Yahya bin Ali Al-Hajuri – may Allah preserve him.
Source: https://t.me/sh_yahia_duroos/13231
Translated by: Abu ‘Abdillaah ‘Omar bin Yahyaa Al-‘Akawi