The student should be gaining benefit every moment until excellence and completion in knowledge are his. The path of benefiting is to keep writing materials always at hand to record scholarly points as you hear them.
I heard from the master-adīb Zayn al-Islām, known as al-Adīb al-Mukhtār, that Hilāl ibn Zayd ibn Yasār said: I saw the Prophet ﷺ teach his Companions something of knowledge and wisdom, so I said: Messenger of Allah, repeat for me what you told them. He asked: Do you have writing gear? I said I did not. He said: O Hilāl, never part from the inkwell — good lies in it and its people until the Day of Resurrection.
The martyred ṣadr Ḥusām al-Dīn counselled his son Shams al-Dīn to memorise something of knowledge and wisdom every day — it is easy, and soon becomes much.
ʿIṣām ibn Yūsuf bought a pen for a dinār so he could instantly record what he heard — life is short, knowledge vast.
Ruling116
فَيَنْبَغِيso it is fittingContextual glossأَنْthatContextual glossلَاnotContextual glossيُضِيعَhe wasteContextual glossطَالِبُthe student (of)Contextual glossالْعِلْمِknowledgeContextual glossالْأَوْقَاتَthe timesContextual glossوَالسَّاعَاتِand the hoursContextual glossوَيَغْتَنِمُand he seizesContextual glossاللَّيَالِيَthe nightsContextual glossوَالْخَلَوَاتِ.and the solitudesContextual gloss
So waste neither hours nor moments; seize nights and solitude for study.
Scholar quote7
يُحْكَىit is relatedContextual glossعَنْfromContextual glossيَحْيَىYaḥyāContextual glossبْنِson (of)Contextual glossمُعَاذٍMuʿādhContextual glossالرَّازِيِّal-RāzīContextual glossأَنَّهُthat heContextual glossقَالَ:saidContextual glossاللَّيْلُthe nightContextual glossطَوِيلٌis longContextual glossفَلَاso do notContextual glossتُقَصِّرْهُshorten itContextual glossبِمَنَامِكَ،with your sleepContextual glossوَالنَّهَارُand the dayContextual glossمُضِيءٌis brightContextual glossفَلَاso do notContextual glossتُكَدِّرْهُcloud itContextual glossبِآثَامِكَ.with your sinsContextual gloss
Yaḥyā ibn Muʿādh al-Rāzī, it is said, remarked: The night is long — do not cut it short with sleep; the day is bright — do not cloud it with sins.
Scholar quote8
وَيَنْبَغِيit is fittingContextual glossأَنْthatContextual glossيَغْتَنِمَhe seizeContextual glossالْمَشَايِخَthe shaykhsContextual glossوَيَسْتَفِيدَand he benefitsContextual glossمِنْهُمْ،from themContextual glossوَلَيْسَand notContextual glossكُلُّeveryContextual glossمَاwhatContextual glossفَاتَis missedContextual glossيُدْرَكُ،can be caughtContextual glossكَمَاjust asContextual glossقَالَsaidContextual glossأُسْتَاذُنَاour teacherContextual glossشَيْخُShaykh (of)Contextual glossالْإِسْلَامِIslamContextual glossفِيinContextual glossمَشْيَخَتِهِ:his list of mastersContextual glossكَمْhow manyContextual glossمِنْofContextual glossشَيْخٍa shaykhContextual glossكَبِيرٍgreatContextual glossأَدْرَكْتُهُI reached himContextual glossوَمَاyet notContextual glossاسْتَخْبَرْتُهُ.I consulted himContextual gloss
Seize your shaykhs and draw from them — not every missed meeting can be made up. Our master Shaykh al-Islām said in listing his own masters: How many great shaykhs I reached in their lifetimes yet never consulted for their knowledge.
ʿAlī, may Allah be pleased with him, said: When you are engaged in a matter, be wholly in it. Turning away from Allah's knowledge brings only shame and loss — seek refuge in Allah from that by night and day (as the author adds).
Seeking knowledge costs hardship and humble bearing. Flattery is blameworthy except in seeking knowledge — there one must show deference to teacher and partners to truly benefit.
