Seeking knowledge is highly fundamental and contains many benefits, but it must be sought correctly. This means that you should read the correct books and take from the correct scholars. This article will discuss some tips to seeking knowledge.
It is important to be careful on who you take for as your scholar. A reccomendation is to take from Salafi scholars. Salafis are people who follow the way of the Salaf, the pious predecessors.
Scholars such as Sheikh Salih al-Fawzan (حفظه الله), Salih al-Uthaymeen (رحمه الله), ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) etc are good scholars.
As I have mentioned in some of my other articles, it is a high recommendation to seek knowledge gradually. It is not recommended to start from detailed books right from the start of seeking knowledge, rather it should be sought from simple to complex.
Sheikh Salih al-Fawzan (حفظه الله) said:
"Seeking knowledge begins by learning fundamentals gradually from concise books in each discipline which are memorised and understood from the scholars. So one does not read and begin with detailed books, nor books that mention differences of opinion and various statements [of scholars]. Indeed knowledge is only sought gradually." (1)
Our good deeds and acts of worship must be only for the sake of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) only. Some people may do good deeds just for the sake of being recognized and praised (may Allah protect us all from that). This should be avoided at all costs as it leads to the Hellfire.
Finally, you should gain knowledge by getting them from both the books and the scholars.
Gaining knowledge only from books is disliked. Imam as-Shafi'i (رحمه الله) said:
Some used to say:
And Sulaiman ibn Musa said:
So, these tips should help you to seek knowledge accordingly and gain great benefits.
May Allah bless you, and shukran.
Sources :
2. Tadhkirah as-Sami wa al-Mutakallam, page 87
3. Tashifat al-Muhaddithin, volume 1, pages 6-7