Entering knowledge through it's proper doors - Sheikh Fawzan

A Benefit from the introduction of sheikh Salih al Fawzan's explanation of the 3 principles of Islaam.

Sheikh Salih bin fawzan al-Fawzan

Allaah says

وَلَكِنْ كُونُوا رَبَّانِيِّينَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ الْكِتَابَ وَبِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ

" but be firmly grounded in that which you are teaching from the book and that which you are studying ourselves" (3:79)

The firmly grounded scholars are those who begin with smaller affairs of knowledge before the larger and they cultivate themselves and their students by beginning with these affairs first then gradually to larger and greater affairs. This also is something natural as every affair begins with basic principles then increasing to greater branches of knowledge after that.

As for as the one who tries to gather all of the knowledge in a short period of time - starting from its highest parts (the more complicated and more extensive branches of knowledge) only fatigues himself and will not obtain anything. So the seeker of knowledge begins with the foundations and gradually increases upon that and by this he will be following the correct and sound path to seeking knowledge

Allaah says

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْأَهِلَّةِ قُلْ هِيَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجِّ وَلَيْسَ الْبِرُّ بِأَنْ تَأْتُوا الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ ظُهُورِهَا وَلَكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنِ اتَّقَى وَأْتُوا الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَابِهَا

"they ask you concerning the new moon, Say it is for determining the time for man and the (time of) hajj and it is not from goodness that you enter the houses from the back (improper entrances) but rather goodness is for one who fears (Allaah) so enter into the houses from its proper doors (2:189)

So there were individuals who asked about the new moon - why does it begin small then it enlarges until it becomes complete then it returns small until it becomes a new moon again?!

So Allaah rebuked them for asking these types of questions and He directed them to asking about what will benefit them and that they should enter into knowledge from its proper doors.

As for as the questions regarding the new moon and the stages of changes in the new moon, then there was no benefit in this for them, but the benefit was in them asking about what they were in need of and that was knowledge of the benefits of the new moon, for this reason Allaah said

قُلْ هِيَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجِّ

"Say (o Muhammad) it is for determining the time for man and the Hajj"

So Allaah made clear to them the benefits of the new moon and that is so the people can calculate the time for knowing worship and transactions and other than that.