Speeches are beneficial and I do not say that religious gatherings are not beneficial, they are also very beneficial. However, in religious gatherings, you are only spoken to for a short period in an oratory manner - you remember some things and forget others - it is your responsibility that you sit in the company of your local Ulama and learn the correct Aqeedah of the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama’ah from them, and alongside that, educate yourselves on the rulings pertaining to the fundamental aspects of the Deen (Dharooriyat e Deen).

People are busy with earning [the rewards of] the Dunya. You should not dedicate yourselves to the Dunya, as Muslims were not created for the Dunya, rather the Dunya was created for the Muslims - this whole Dunya was created for the Muslims for the sake of the Prophet ﷺ. Allah says in the Qur’an سَخَّرَ لَكُمُ - Allah has subdued everything for you.

So you were not created for the Dunya, you were created for the Deen. Whatever portion of the Dunya Allah has assigned for you, you will definitely receive it: don’t forget that. BUT, at every moment, you should think about the hereafter (akhirah).
وَابْتَغِ فِيمَا آتَاكَ اللَّـهُ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ ۖ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا

“And seek the abode of the Hereafter with the wealth that Allah has given you, and do not forget your part in this world” (Holy Qur'an) - And stay steadfast on the straight path (Siraat e Mustaqeem), which is the Deen of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ, the Deen of the Awliyah, the Deen of Huzur Ghawth e Azam, the Maslak and Deen of Ala Hazrat - for us this is [the means to] great success.

- Transcribed from a speech by Huzur Taaj al-Shari'ah Allamah Mufti Akhtar Rida Khan al-Azhari

Superlative Knowledge of the Friends of Allah - extracts from Inba ul Hayy by Imam Ahmed Rida Khan

`Allāmah Ibrāhīm Bayjūrī [may Allāh be pleased with him] states in his explanation of Qasīdah Burdah, “For every verse of the Qur’ān, there are a thousand sciences that can be understood. As for those which are beyond understanding, they outnumber those that can be understood.”

It is mentioned in Sharh `Ashrawī that certain Awliyā’ state, “We found 400000 meanings under every letter of the Qur’ān. Whatever meaning is mentioned in one place is not repeated in another.”

Imām `Abdul Wahāb Sh`arānī [may Allāh have mercy upon him] stated in Mīzān ush-Sharī`at il-Kubrā: "My brother Afdhaluddīn derived 247999 sciences [`ulūm] from Sūrat ul-Fātihah. Then, he turned all of them to bismi-Llāh and then believed them to be hidden in the letter 'bā' and further in the dot of the letter 'bā'."

Imam Sh`arānī [may Allāh be pleased with him] further states: "According to us, a person cannot be complete [kāmil] in gnosis [m`arifah] until he is able to derive all the laws and schools of the independent jurists [mujtahidīn] from any desired individual letter of the Qur'ān."

This is further strengthened by the following narrations:

It is narrated from Sayyidunā `Alī [may Allāh ennoble his countenance], that he stated, “If I wish, I can do the exegesis of Sūrat ul-Fātihah equal to the weight of seventy camels.”

It is narrated from Sayyidunā `Alī [may Allāh ennoble his countenance], that he stated, “If I narrate to you the exegesis of Sūrat ul-Fātihah, it will weigh the mass of seventy camels.” (al-Yawāqīt wa al-Jawāhir of ash-Sh`arānī, part-3)

It is narrated from Sayyidunā `Alī [may Allāh ennoble his countenance], that he stated, “Know from me whatever you wish before my passing away, because whatever you ask me about anything beneath the Throne, I will explain it to you” (Kanz ul-`Ummāl, #36502)

Sayyidunā Abū Tufail `Amir bin Wathilah [may Allāh be pleased with him] narrates, “Once, I was present in a gathering in which Sayyidunā `Alī was admonishing the people. I heard him say in his speech, ‘Know from me whatever you wish. By Allāh! If you ask me about anything that is to be until the Day of Judgement, I will explain it to you’.” (Kanz ul-`Ummāl, #4740, 2/565)

It is narrated from Sayyidunā `Abdullāh bin Mas`ūd [may Allāh be pleased with him] that, if the knowledge of Sayyidunā `Umar Farūq [may Allāh be pleased with him] is placed in one pan of a scale and the knowledge of the remaining entire human race is placed on the other pan, his knowledge would outweigh that of everyone put together. 

Sayyidunā Abdullāh bin `Abbās [may Allāh be pleased with him] narrates, “If the rope of my camel is lost, I will locate it in the Qur’ān.” (Ithāf us-Sādah, Chapter 4: On the exegesis of the Qur’ān)

Translated by Najibullah Qadiri

www.thesunniway.com

A collection of various du'a that may be recited while studying or working.

Du'as before/during study

اللَّهُمَّ لا سَهْلَ إلَّا مَا جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلاً وَ إنْتَ تَحْعَلُ الْحزْنَ إذَا شِئْتَ سَهْ

O Allah! There is nothing easy except what You make easy, and You make the difficult easy if it be Your Will

[Ibn Hibban]

اللَّهُمَّ الْطُفْ بِىْ فِىْ تَيْسِيْرِ كُلِّ عَسِيْرٍ فَاِنَّ تَيْسِيْرَ ; كُلِّ عَسِيْرٍ عَلَيْكَ يَسِيْرٌَ

 Allahumma Tufiltuf bi fi taysiri kulli 'asirin, fainna taysirra kuuli 'asirin 'alaika yassirun

O Allah! Make easy for me every difficult thing, with Your special favour and Kindness, for it is easy for You to make every difficult thing easy

أللِّهُم النّفَعنِي بِمَا عَلَّمتَنِي وَ عَلِّمنِيِ مَا يَنفَعنِي

Allahumma infa'nii bimaa 'allamtanii wa'allimnii maa yanfa' unii

O Allah! Make useful for me what You taught me and teach me knowledge that will be useful to me.

اللهم اني اسالك العفو والعافية

Allahumma inni as'alukal 'afuwawal-afiya

O Allah! I seek your forgiveness and well being (meaning in examination, memory, and concentration etc)

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا , وَ رِزْقًا طَيَّبًا , وَ عَمَلاً مُتَقَبَّلاً

Allahumma inni as'aluka 'Ilman naafi'an, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa 'amalan mutaqabbalan

O Allah! I ask You for knowledge that is of benefit, a good provision and deeds that will be accepted.

[Ibn Majah and others]

اللَّهُمَّ اِنِّى اَسْئَلُكَ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ كُلِّه عَاجِله وَ اجِلِه مَا عَلِمْتُ مِنْهُ وَ مَا لَمْ اَعْلَمْ

Allahumma inni as'aluka min al khairi kullihi 'ajilihi wa ajilihi, ma 'alimtu minhu wa ma lam a'alam

O Allah! I ask You for all the good which is in the present or in the future, which I know and which I do not know

[a comprehensive du'a taught to Aisha by the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam)]

Du'as for anxiety/difficulty

اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَ الْحَزَنِ ، وَ الْعَجْزِ وَ الْكَسَلِ ، وَ الْبُخْلِ وَ الْجُبْنِ ، وَ ضَلَعِ الدِّيْنِ وَ غَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ

Allahumma inni a'udhubika minal hammi wal hazan, wal 'ajzi wal kasal, wal bukhli wal jubn, wa dhala'id-dayni wa ghalabatir rijaal

O Allah! I seek refuge in You from grief and sadness, from weakness and from laziness, from miserliness and from cowardice, from being overcome by debt and from being overpowered by men (other people)

[Sahih al-Bukhari 7:158]

اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي اُنْزِلُ بِكَ حَاجَتِىْ وَ اِنْ قَصُرَ رَابِىْ وَ ضُعْفَ عَمَلِى افْتَقَرْت ;ُ اِلى رَحمَتِكَ

Allahumma inni unzila bika haajati wa-in qasuura rubbi wa du'fa 'amali iftaqartu illa Rahmatika

O Allah! I ask You to answer my needs, though my intellect is weak, and my actions are defective, O Allah! I am in need of Your Mercy

حَسْبِيَ اللهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ

HasbiyAllahu wa ni'mal wakeel

Allah is my availer and protector and the best of aids. 

رَبِّ اِنِّىْ مَغْلُوْبٌ فَانْتَصِرْ

O Allah! I am overpowered, so help me.

[surah al-Qamar, 54:10]

This was the du'a of sayyidna Nuh (alayhis salam) after 950 years of preaching to a stubborn people.

Du'as for Knowledge

اللَّهُم¡ اِنِّى اَسْئَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَجِيْحًا

Allahumma inni as'aluka 'ilman-naaji'han

O Allah! I ask You for useful Knowledge

سُبْحَانَكَ لاَ عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلاَّ مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ

Glory be to you, we have no knowledge except what you have taught us. Verily, it is You, the All-Knower, the All-Wise

[surah Baqarah; 2:32]

رَبِّ زدْنيِ عِلْماً وَ رْزُقْنيِ فَهْماً

Rabbi zidni 'ilman war zuqni fahman

O Allah! Advance me in Knowledge and true understanding 

يَا عَلِيمُ عَلِّمْنِىْ

Ya Alimu, alimni

O All-Knowing, grant me knowledge

رَّبِّ زِدْنِى عِلْمًا

O my Lord! Advance me in Knowledge

[surah Ta-Ha; 20:114]

Du'as after studying

اَللَّهُمَّ ذَكِّرْنِِىْ مِنْهَ ، وَ عَلِّمْنِىْ مِنْهُ مَا جَهِلْتُ

Allahumma zakkirni minhu, wa 'alimni minhu ma jahiltu

O Allah! Assist me to remember it, and teach me whatever I am ignorant of it

Allahhumma inni astaodeeuka ma qara'tu wama hafaz-tu. Faradduhu 'allaya inda hagati elayhi

O Allah! I entrust You with what I have read and I have studied. (O Allah!) Bring it back to me when I am in need of it. 

صلى الله على محمد وال محمد اللهم اني أسألك يا مدخر الخير وفاعله والآمر به ذكرني ما انسانيه الشيطان

SallAllahu 'ala Muhammad wa 'aali Muhammad. Allahumma inni as'aluka ya Mudhakkiral khayr wa faa'ilahu wal-aamimira bihi dhakirni ma ansaanihi-shaytan

Blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad and his progeny. O Allah! I ask You, The One who mentions goodness and actualizes it and commands it, Remind me of that which the shaytan makes me forget

 اللَّهُمَّ انْفَعَنِىْ بِمَا عَلَّمْتَنِىْ وَ عَلِّمْنِىْ مَا يَنْفَعَنِىْ

Allahummanf'ani bima 'allamtani, wa 'allimni ma yaufa'uni

O Allah! Let the knowledge that You have granted me, be useful for me, and teach me whatever can be fruitful for me

رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

Our Rabb! accept from us. You indeed, You are the all-Hearing, the all-Knowing.

[Surah Baqarah, 2:127]

Study Tips:

1. Do the prayers at their correct times.

2. Pray a 2 rakat nafl prior to exam

3. Remember its all in Allahs will if you are to pass

4. Say بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ (In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind) - before commencing the exam - indeed before anything that you do.

5. Recite some du'as (like the ones listed above), and keep in constant dhikrullah (i.e. the daily dhikrs when waking, dressing, eating, sleeping, etc)

6. Come home and pray 2 rakat nafl after the exam for shukr (offer thanks to Allah) for granting you the strength and persistence and ability to complete the exam and accomplish goals inshaAllah

7. Increase in your reading and listening of the Qur'an and performing more ibadah (worship) (i.e. nafilah (voluntary) prayers and deeds). Keep away from bad actions and deeds - Follow up a bad deed with a good deed, to cancel it out.

8. Recite salutations upon the Prophet Muhammad sallAllahu alayhi wa salllam [durud] in abundance

Question: Respected Sir! Is it true that to visit or see an Aalim of Deen earns you Thawaab?

Answer: Yes, the Sahih Hadith Shareef reports: "To see the face of an Aalim is Ibaadah, to see the Kaaba-tullah is Ibaadah and to look at the Holy Quran is Ibaadah." 

Question: What is the meaning or concept of I'lm (Knowledge)?

Answer: The meaning of I'lm is that one be fully equipped and aware of the Aqaa'id (Beliefs) of Islam and this knowledge must be constantly fresh in the mind. Also, one must have the capability of acquiring and solving various other questions pertaining to Deen from Kitaabs without the assistance of any person. 

Excerpt from The Excellence of Knowledge and the ‘Úlamâ/fadlul ‘ilmi wal-‘Úlamā, written by Badr al-Fuqaha Imām Muĥammad Naqī ‘Alī raĥimahullah.

-----

The ninth ayah of Sūrah Qasas says,

But those who had been granted [true] knowledge [the ‘Úlamā] said: “Alas destruction to you!” Who do not understand that piety and the blessings of Allah azzawajal is only for those who believe in Allah azzawajal and do good.”
This proves that an ignorant individual can never attain the status of an ‘Aalim. It is recorded in the Sunan of Tirmizī that two individuals were mentioned in the presence of the beloved Messenger of Allah śallAllāhu álayhi wa âlihi wa sahbihī wa sallam, an Ābid [worshipper] and an ‘Aalim[learned]. The beloved Messenger of Allah śallAllāhu álayhi wa âlihi wa sahbihī wa sallam said,

The merit of an ‘Aalim over an ‘Ābid is like my prominence over an insignificant amongst you/fadlul aalima alal ‘ābidi kafadlī ala ‘adnākum.
[Tirmizī, Sunan, vol. 7, pp. 455]

It is also reported that on the Day of Judgement, when Allah azzawajal will ascend His Divine Throne to judge His servants, He will then compassionately say to the ‘Úlamā,

Verily the only reason that I gave you knowledge and wisdom was that I may Bless and forgive you and I am not bothered [by anyone because I am the Almighty azzawajal].
[Adwal Qur’an, vol. 4, pp. 8. Under Sūrah Ta-Ha, verse 1]

It is reported in Bayhaqī that Sayyidunā RasūlAllâh śallAllāhu álayhi wa âlihi wa sahbihī wa sallam said,

Allah azzawajal is Most Generous and I am the most charitable amongst mankind, and after me the most generous amongst you is he who seeks knowledge and propagates it.
Imām Zahbī raĥimahullah reports that the noble Messenger śallAllāhu álayhi wa âlihi wa sahbihī wa sallam said that on the Day of Judgement, the ink of the ‘Úlamā and blood of the martyrs will be brought forward. The ink of the ‘Úlamā will be superior to the blood of the martyrs.

There is a chain of narrations in Ihyâ al-‘Ulūm that Allah azzawajal will order the ‘Úlamā and Shuhada to enter Jannah. The ‘Úlamā will say:

O Allah azzawajal! It is we who taught the people to worship you and make Jihad.
Allah azzawajal will state:

To Me, you are like My Angels. Seek pardon for whom you desire and I will accept it.
The ‘Úlamā will intercede for the people, and they will then be sent to Jannah.

It is reported in a blessed Ĥadīth that if one dies whilst seeking knowledge, one will meet Allah azzawajal in a state that, besides the sacred station of prophet hood [Nabuwwah], one will in the same level as the Prophets.

Another blessed Ĥadīth says,

If a person seeks one section of knowledge to educate others, Allah azzawajal will bless him with the reward of seventy Siddiqīn. 
It is recorded in Mu’allim al-Tanzīl that the beloved Messenger of Allah śallAllāhu álayhi wa âlihi wa sallam said,

When a person travels in search of knowledge, the Angels spread their under his feet; the earth, skies and even the fishes of the ocean make supplication for him.
[Tirmizī, Sunan, Ĥadīth 2752]

Imām Ghazâlī raĥimahullah reports that a single sight of the face of an ‘Aalim is more virtuous than an entire years devotion of salâh and sawm [fasting].

Both Imām Bukhârī and Imām Tirmizī reported the following sahīh Ĥadīth, in which the beloved Messenger of Allah śallAllāhu álayhi wa âlihi wa sahbihī wa sallam said,

When Allah azzawajal ordains to do good to anyone, He makes him knowledgeable in the matters of Dīn/man yuridill-hu bihi khayrun yufaqih-hu fid-dīn.
[Bukhârī, Sahīh, Ĥadīth 17. On the authority of Amīr Mu’āwiya rađiyAllāhu ánhu.]

It is recorded in al-Ashbah wa al-Nazā’ir that no-one is certain about one’s end [death besides aFaqīh [jurist]. This is as he is certain about the assurance of Allah azzawajal Who promised salvation for them.

It is further reported in Durr al-Mukhtār that Imām Ismayīl bin Abi-Raja raĥimahullah saw Imām Muĥammad rađiyAllāhu ánhu in a dream and enquired of his welfare and if Allah azzawajal had pardoned him. The Imam rađiyAllāhu ánhu replied that Allah azzawajal said to me,

If I had ordained to punish you then I would have not blessed you with knowledge.