Indeed, you are in a time where scholars are many and storytellers are few. Givers are plentiful and beggars scarce. In this era, action is better than knowledge.

Soon, a time will come when scholars shall be few and storytellers many. Givers shall be scarce and beggars plentiful. In that era, seeking knowledge shall be better than action.^[1]

2) The compulsory nature of seeking knowledge

The Companion Anas b. Mālik رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ narrates that the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said:

طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ فَرِیْضَةٌ عَلیٰ کُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ وَ اِنَّ طَالِبَ  الْعِلْمِ یَستَغْفِرُ لَہٗ کُلُّ شَیْءٍ حَتَّی الْحِیْتَانُ فِی الْبَحْرِ

Seeking knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim. Indeed, every creature— even the fish in the sea—supplicate for the forgiveness of the student of knowledge.^[2]

Dear Islamic brothers! Look at the great blessings of seeking Islamic knowledge. A student of these sciences spends his time studying, reading Islamic books, memorising Quranic verses and Aḥādīth. During this time, every creature in the world, even fish in the sea, pray for his forgiveness. This is indeed an immense blessing! سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه

What should we learn?

O devotees of Allah’s Messenger! The Hadith we just heard states seeking knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim. Do you know which type of knowledge this hadith refers to?

Mawlana Ilyas Attar al-Qadiri دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ explained this for us. He said, “This Hadith does not refer to the worldly education taught in