My Journey As a Student Of 'Ilm

Growing up I was always exposed to the traditional saying that is attributed to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) which states "SEEK KNOWLEDGE FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE" (though a weak chain of narration) and I grew up having firm belief in this statement and here I am today doing exactly that In-shaa-Allah. I sit today in the company of such esteemed scholars and have the opportunity of being taught by these most knowledgeable people alhamdulillah and I have no one else but Allah ta'ala to thank for that. 

The knowledge I am exposed to now forces me to think and analyse and not just accept everything that is thrown at me.

I have learnt that islam is not a religion of mere acceptance but filled with challenges to the mind. Yes there are things which are explicitly and clearly indicated but there is room for understanding as well and if this wasn't the case then there would not be so many different opinions on one issue. This room for different interpretation isn't there for us to change the deen but rather to facilitate ease for us and to make us realise that the deen and the Book is there for all eras and all ages! We should never change the deen to fit our lives but change our lives to fit the deen because the deen is made for all times and ages. Also, we should not make it hard upon ourselves because Allah ta'ala doesn't love extremism and wants ease for us! 

Most importantly, through this journey I am on I have learnt that whatever one learns, one should pass on, as it is so beautifully stated in a poem by abi ishaaq al biri on the virtues of knowledge:

يزيد بكسرة الانفاق منه    و ينقص ان به كفا شددتا

This line of poetry can be translated as "(knowledge) increases the more you spend of it and it will decrease the more you keep it to yourself" 

so my intention in-shaa-Allah is to share whatever little I do know because I am no scholar and neither do I claim to ever be one because I have a long way to go but in-shaa-Allah I am a student of ilm and hope that the little I do know can be of benefit and ignite something in the heart of even one of you reading this and I hope that with your dua and prayer I am able to be successful in fulfilling my intention ♡ 

Ameen