Student of Knowledge (insha'Allah)

[mm89]

Assalamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

I am 17 years old, and I am currently living in the UK. My intention is to become a student of knowledge. However, the problem is, there is no place in my area to study Islaam, according to Qur'an and Sunnah. So could people list for me places where I could study full time, in the UK or even out.

I had pondered upon applying to Madeenah University, however a reference is required, and as such, I cannot get a reference from any scholar/taalib ilm known to them, or one that is upon the Qur'an and Sunnah, due to the area I live in.

So any suggestions would be greatly welcomed insha'Allah.

[Mahmoud Al-Misri]

Wa Alaikum al salam wa rahmatu Allah wa barakatuh

Masha Allah akhee

I really admire you eagerness to seek knowledge, May Allah greatly reward you for your intention.

I am of course the last person that can give advice in such a matter, since it makes no sense for someone that lacks something to give advice to others about how to obtain it, but I hope that this would at least be a start and the brothers can add and correct me where I have wronged.

Now the way you can start would depend on many things:
1) Your knowledge of the Arabic language.
2) Current Level of Islamic Knowledge
When thinking of these you have to keep the following in mind:
1) Financial capabilities
2) Parent’s permission

Knowledge of the Arabic language:

As Shaykh Haitham (May Allah preserve him) says [see his signature]: “Always remember … without total fluency in the Arabic language, you can only attain basic Islamic knowledge ... but basic knowledge is the path to advanced knowledge”

Thus keeping this in mind, how is your arabic level?

Here are some places that some of my non Arab brothers either went to or looked into going to, in order to study Arabic:
1) Saudi
2) Egypt
3) Syria
4) Yemen

So if you have a preference I would contact the brother that went there and get you some details (institutes they went to along with the cost, etc.). I know brothers that went to study in the first three, and Masha Allah came back with a good proficiency of the Arabic language.

If you do not have a preference I would highly recommend either Egypt or Saudi (in this order, based on cost and comments of the brothers that went there).

During your stay there learning Arabic, you would certainly get chances to attend lectures of Scholars, and would be a way for you to get the reference letter you need for Madeenah University (smile).

Now traveling would depend on two things, parent’s permission and your financial capabilities.

There are many great scholars that could not travel to seek knowledge because there parents did not give them the permission or limited the time they can travel for, but this did stop them from making the best out of what they have. So keep this in mind.

If traveling it is not a possibility at this time there are several arabic courses you can take online (some free and others at a cost), that would be a good starting point for you.

Current level in Islamic knowledge

Now I added many links for you at the bottom, were you will find great benefit, In Sha Allah, thus I will try not repeat anything that was already mentioned.

If you are interested in traveling to some place to seek knowledge I would recommend Saudi or Egypt (in this order), there are also other places you can go. Also remember that there are other places in Saudi other then in Medina University were you can apply.

Now if traveling is not currently a possibility for you, there are many other avenues you an take.

First, I really do not know what you meant by “there is no place in my area to study Islam, according to the Quran and Sunnah”. Do you mean study formally, or do you mean that all the Masjids in your area are run by people of Innovation. So I will try to give a small suggestion on both.

If you meant that there is no formal means for Islamic education i.e. institutes or in-depth lectures, then you need to talk with the Imam of your local masjid. You can talk to him about starting something up, covering books of Aqida, Fiqh, Hadith, Seerah, and maybe even Arabic etc [see link added for some recommended books to start with]. You can talk with other trustworthy brothers in your community to set something up (if funding is needed, for books for example, I am sure you will find brothers that are willing to donate for this purpose).

If the problem in your area is that the masjids are run by people of innovative sects, then I would advice you to seek other avenues, especially if you were just in the start of the road of knowledge, however I really doubt that this is the case, since if I recall correctly I saw a documentary early this year that was warning of many masjids in the UK that are led by “saudi trained preachers” (smile).

As for the other avenues you can explore, you can start by reading trustworthy books and listening to online tapes by trustworthy scholars, posting questions here that you might have and I am sure brothers here will help you answer it.

There are courses online that you can take, as well as lectures in paltalk such as the one given by Shaykh Haitham (click here (http://www.ahlalhdeeth.com/vbe/showthread.php?t=64)). Maybe in the future, as the forum grows, similar lectures can be given to go into topics of Usul al-fiqh, Fiqh, and maybe even the Arabic language (wink, wink).


Some links you can go through (might help answer other questions you might have):

How to seek knowledge
http://www.islamqa.com/index.php?ref=20191&ln=eng

What is the ruling on seeking Islamic knowledge?
http://www.islamqa.com/index.php?ref=20092&ln=eng

Travelling to seek knowledge without parents’ permission
http://www.islamqa.com/index.php?ref=12841&ln=eng

Is it possible to seek knowledge by using tapes?
http://www.islamqa.com/index.php?ref=10124&ln=eng

Seeking knowledge from scholars’ tapes
http://www.islamqa.com/index.php?ref=1813&ln=eng

She wants to know how to acquire knowledge and act upon it
http://www.islamqa.com/index.php?ref=31887&ln=eng

Should he give up his studies in al-Azhar?
http://www.islamqa.com/index.php?ref=75631&ln=eng

He loves knowledge - how may he attain it?
http://www.islamqa.com/index.php?ref=21590&ln=eng

Etiquette of the seeker of knowledge
http://www.islamqa.com/index.php?ref=10324&ln=eng

About seeking knowledge
http://www.islamqa.com/index.php?ref=76010&ln=eng

[Haitham Hamdan]

Waalykum Assalam warahmatullahi wabarakaatuh.

May Allah reward you for your intention to seek knowledge.

After purifying your intention and making sure that your goal is not fame or status, I would like to add the following to what brother Mahmoud said, may Allah SWT reward him.

1) I suggest that you become well founded in the basic Islamic sciences, especially Aqeedah, before you travel. You never know what you will face.

2) Also, it is important to learn the Manhaj of the Salaf, Ahlulhadeeth, in Aqeedah, Sharre'ah and Sulook.

These two points are achievable by finding a good teacher in the UK. Or by joining one of the online universities. I am bias towards the AIU because I teach in it :)
http://www.aiu-edu.us/eng/index.html

3) I would add Jordan to list of brother Mahmoud.

Wallahu A'lam.

[Abu Rasheed]

Assalamualaikum brother mm89,

Do you know any local imam who can give you a reference? Are you attending any halaqa with a sheikh or student of knowledge? Are you attending secular school right now? How are you doing with your grades? I know a few students who are currently studying in Madinah University. I'll try to find out if he can introduce me some sheikh who may may want to interview you. You may have to travel there for the interview.

I think the Madinah University have some quota for the US, I'm not sure about UK.

[mm89]

Assalamu 'Alaykum

Alhamdulillah, I have been following the above advice, and been getting as much local knowledge as I can. However, this in itself is fairly limited. Once my University is over, I was wondering if someone could recommend places similar to Dammaj to study at insha'Allah. (Dammaj itself is increasingly difficult for foreigners). Madinah University, I will be too old for. Zarqa University Jordan, I will not be able to afford. So insha'Allah someone will be able to help

JazakAllah Khayr

[Ayman bin khaled]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Assalamu 'Alaykum

Madinah University, I will be too old for.


My beloved brother,

I do not think you will be too old for Madina UNiversity at all. You are 17 and their age limit is up to 24 years old. So inshallah you have a chance a big one, inshallah( smile)

[Sa'ad As-Sunni]

As-Salamu 'Alaykum

Should someone who wants to learn, study more than one book at a time or should he study one book untill he finishes it then move to another one?

Jazakumallahu khayr

[mm89]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم



My beloved brother,

I do not think you will be too old for Madina UNiversity at all. You are 17 and their age limit is up to 24 years old. So inshallah you have a chance a big one, inshallah( smile)

JazakAllah Khayr brother

The reason I shall be too old, is I am currently studying an Engineering degree. When I graduate (insha'Allah) over 5 years will have passed since I graduated high school. And I have heard from students at the University, amongst others, that no more than 5 years must have passed.

[Haitham Hamdan]

Waalykum Assalam brother Sa'ad.
Should someone who wants to learn, study more than one book at a time or should he study one book untill he finishes it then move to another one?
Nothing wrong with learning more than one book, unless if you feel that it is confusing or difficult.
It is best to learn books at the hands of a scholar.
Wallahu A'lam.

[Ayman bin khaled]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

JazakAllah Khayr brother

The reason I shall be too old, is I am currently studying an Engineering degree. When I graduate (insha'Allah) over 5 years will have passed since I graduated high school. And I have heard from students at the University, amongst others, that no more than 5 years must have passed.


My beloved brother,

I know that the 5 years period is a condition for Saudi students but i am not sure whether this still applies on not Saudi citizens. Because I know that they just require you not to be more than 24 years old. wallahu A'lam

Let me check with some brothers I know and I will get back to you inshallah. Hopefully with good news, smile.

[Sa'ad As-Sunni]

As-Salamu 'Alaykum

akhi Ayman if your going to ask some brothers could you also ask them if people who graduate from places like madina, umm al-qurra and muhamad ibn sa'ood are strong in their knowledge, like are they generally strong students?.

I would appreciate it if Shaykh Haythem could also comment on this .


Jazakumallahu khayr.

[Ayman bin khaled]

As-Salamu 'Alaykum

akhi Ayman if your going to ask some brothers could you also ask them if people who graduate from places like madina, umm al-qurra and muhamad ibn sa'ood are strong in their knowledge, like are they generally strong students?.

I would appreciate it if Shaykh Haythem could also comment on this .


Jazakumallahu khayr.

و عليكم السلام و رحمة الله و بركاته

I know for fact that teaching and subjects that are taught there are very good and strong. I know some brothers who graduated from Madina and Um Al-Qura and they are Ma sha Allah. However, this is always up to the student himself whether he is taking it seriously or not. Yet, in regards the teaching quality and subjects, I never seen anyone complaining about it ( maybe some of those who I know said it is very difficult for them esp. revert brothers).

Wallahu A'lam

[Sa'ad As-Sunni]

جزاك الله خيرا يا أخي الغالي

[Ayman bin khaled]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

جزاك الله خيرا يا أخي الغالي


و إياكم يا أخي العزيز

وفقك الله و أعانك

[Abu Musa]

As-salamu 'alaikum,

http://islamiconlineuniversity.com/ has some free courses as well. Does anyone recommend those?

[Umm Muawiyah]

Wa Alaikum Assalam.

I personally liked them. I'm not sure if everybody else would though. From what I've seen, Dr. Bilal uses the opinions of the major scholars and provides evidences.

Anyway, it's free and has a structure including exams and assignments. They've just added Usool al-Hadeeth and Usool at-Tafseer as well. So, at least you can download his books.

[DrSalaf]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم




My beloved brother,

I know that the 5 years period is a condition for Saudi students but i am not sure whether this still applies on not Saudi citizens. Because I know that they just require you not to be more than 24 years old. wallahu A'lam

Let me check with some brothers I know and I will get back to you inshallah. Hopefully with good news, smile.

As-Salam Alaykum.

Brother, are you sure about the 24 year old thing? I heard it was 25, not 24. The website says 'not to exceed 25 years of age'...and I've heard that this means it is ok if a person is 25.9999 years of age, so long as they are not 26. So can you please confirm this insha-Allah?