(وعن معاوية – رضي الله عنه- قال: قال رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم-:( من يرد الله به خيرا يفقهه في الدين
On the authority of Mu’awiya – may Allah be pleased with him – The Prophet may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him said, “Whom ever Allah wants good for him, He gives him a good understanding of the religion”. (This hadeeth is in both Saheehs).
That which is extracted from the hadeeth:
1). This hadeeth is proof of the greatness of understanding in the religion. A true understanding of this religion is made up of many different things. From these things are the fundamentals of belief and legislation, the reality of Ihsan, knowledge of the permissible and impermissible matters. Knowledge and understanding of the religion is made up of all these things. When Jibreel asked the Prophet about these things he said:
(هذا جبريل أتاكم يعلمكم دينكم)
“That was Jabreel, he came to teach you your religion”. (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)
2). As far as the usage of the word “Fiqh” to mean: It is the knowledge of the individual legislative rulings extracted from their proofs. This is a definition that is specific for the scholars of a science called “Usool ul Fiqh”. We find that this definition falls under the general legislative understanding of this term, which is knowing the reality, its beliefs, knowledge of the legislated rulings of Islam and knowledge of how to travel the path of Allah by way of Ihsan. So, when ever Allah wants good for His slaves he gives him a good understanding of these matters and gives them the ability to act according to it.
3). What is also understood from this hadeeth is that the one who turns away from understanding the religion and does not busy themselves with its sciences(which are the best of sciences) that Allah did not want good that person. This meaning was actually stated in a narration by Abi Y’alah, “Whom ever was not given an understanding, Allah did not care about him.”
4). Legislated sciences and knowledge is a type of beneficial knowledge that does not only benefit the holder of that knowledge, but also other than him by way of teaching, writing, judgments, and fatawah. They are from those actions that remain with the people after their death (or knowledge that is benefited from after him). [Which was narrated by Muslim]
Allah says:
يُؤْتِي الْحِكْمَةَ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَن يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ
“He gives wisdom to whom He wills and whom ever is given wisdom he is given a lot of good and no one ponders on this except the people of understanding”. (2:269)
5). There are from gaining a proper understanding ways that are taken and the one who takes them will be successful and will come across a complete understanding of Allah’s religion. From these ways are fearing Allah, seeking knowledge for His sake and not doing it except to obtain His pleasure.
From them also is to follow the correct path in obtaining knowledge. So in the beginning of the studies the student busies himself wit the smaller books dealing with the sciences and their fundamentals both understanding them as well as in terms of memorization. Then the student begins to broaden their horizons bit by bit. It is not for him to busy himself with going to the bigger books in the beginning of his studies. This will cause his mind to become busy with many different things. This will cause him to waste his efforts in different areas of knowledge and the big book and end up with no benefit in the end.
[This is a section from the book Towdihil Ahkam min Bulogil Maraam by Ash-Sheikh ‘Abdillah bin ‘Abdir Rahman al Bassaam.]
[Translator – Abu Abdillah]
