Originally posted on April 10, 2013 by MasjidulIstiqaamah
Q: Is it permissible to learn the Deen from books only, without learning directly from the scholars, especially considering that, since scholars are so few in number, it is difficult for some to go and learn from them? And what is your view regarding the saying, ”Whoever’s Shaykh is his book, then he will more often times be wrong than right”?
Q: Is it permissible to learn the Deen from books only, without learning directly from the scholars, especially considering that, since scholars are so few in number, it is difficult for some to go and learn from them? And what is your view regarding the saying, ”Whoever’s Shaykh is his book, then he will more often times be wrong than right”?
A: No doubt, knowledge
should be sought from scholars, but from books as well, because a book written by
a scholar is like a scholar who teaches: the scholar who authors a book speaks
to one through its pages. So if it is not possible for one to seek out knowledge
from scholars, one should seek it out from books.
Nevertheless, seeking
out knowledge from scholars is better than seeking it out from books. The one
who seeks out knowledge from books often becomes tired, for it requires a great
deal of effort and toil to learn from books. At the same time, without the
physical presence of a scholar, the student of a book might remain ignorant of
some important legislative principles, [for as he is studying a book, he has no
one to explain it to him]. Therefore, as much as is possible, one must have
scholars that are there for him to help him to understand.
Some have
said, ”Whoever’s guide is his book, then his errors will be greater than his
correct [judgements or opinions]. ”This is neither absolutely true nor
absolutely false. As to one who takes knowledge from any book he gets his hands
on, then without a doubt, he will make many mistakes.”*
But as for one who
relies on the books of the scholars who are known for their knowledge and
trustworthiness, then this student will not make many mistakes; he may be correct
in most of what he says.
-Shaykh Muhammad bin Saaleh al-Uthaymeen, rahimahullah
Extracted from the book “The Islamic Awakening: Important
Guidelines”, p.144, Al-Hidaayah Publishing, 2006, Translated by Faisal ibn
Muhammad
*Emphasis added by editor of SalafiyyahCincinnati.com
Source: http://alistiqaamah.com/2013/04/10/shaykh-al-uthaymeen-learning-excusively-through-books/
