How Can I Become a Scholar?

The other day I came across a video on “How can I become a Scholar?”, this question was posed to sheikh Asim Al-Hakeem. I felt this is a very important question as people who are interested in growing closer to ALLAH get this question in their mind, as to where they need to begin the journey.

One is the traditional approach where the parents decide their child will grow as a religious scholar, therefore they put their child into a Madrsa or an Islamic school right in their childhood instead of enrolling them in a regular school.

But for those who did not get prior teaching of religion except the Qayda, reading of Quran and memorization of short surahs from the last Juz. They grow much distanced from the teachings of Islam, while their main focus is on the worldly life – excelling in studies, getting a secured job, settling in life etc. And then planning the same life for their children – this cycle goes on from Generation to generation.

Sadly, most of us fall under this category, however there are some among us who during their course of life by ALLAH’s mercy taste the sweetness of this Deen and thus want to acquire more knowledge. This is when questions like “How do I become a scholar? or Where do i begin my Islamic journey? or How do i get closer to ALLAH? etc, pops up in their minds.

If you are one of these fortunate Muslims, then go through the following lines for the Answer of Sheikh Asim Al-Hakeem.

How can I become a Scholar?  By ZAD

The intention of acquiring religious knowledge and becoming a scholar is “Noble”, however, we need to ask self why is that I want to become a scholar? Having the intention of becoming a scholar is not an objective by itself rather it’s a biproduct.

The objective could be to reach Jannah (the Paradise)

The goal can be to gain ALLAH’s closeness & pleasure

The aim could be to seek Islamic knowledge so that I am able to worship ALLAH more correctly in a way that  pleases him and at the same time as a biproduct call others to share with this great blessing of ALLAH azzwajal.

But to have an objective of becoming a scholar so that I become famous among people / become a celebrity. This is a breach of sincerity. And a lot of people may have this in them without knowing it. Ie. this thought may be in their subconscious mind.

Some people have the intention of becoming famous Daee – the intention itself is wrong, they are not doing it for the sake of ALLAH but for the sake of Fame and this is not acceptable in the sight of ALLAH.

To become a scholar in order to worship ALLAH, in order to call people to Islam with utmost sincerity is one of the greatest things in life in the whole world.

Prophet Muhammad Peace & Blessings of ALLAH be upon him, said “We the prophets of ALLAH, do not leave behind us the inheritance of Dirhams & Dinar, the heirs of the Prophets are Scholars who inherit this knowledge”

So where to start?

You have to first understand that the knowledge is basically guiding you to work so there is a statement that says “All the people are doomed, except those who have knowledge. And all those who have knowledge are doomed, except those who implement their knowledge. And all those who implement their knowledge are doomed except those who are sincere, and all those who are sincere , they are in great danger”

So in summary, you must first have sincerity to implement what you learn and to learn the authentic knowledge.

Now where to learn it from? Sky is the limit, you have to focus on if you want to become a Scholar mastering the Arabic knowledge, without it cannot be a scholar. A person who speaks any language other than Arabic, takes reference of translations can be a student of knowledge but cannot be a scholar.

You have to focus on studying the Quran, knowing it, reading it, embracing it, understanding it, knowing the tafseer of it.

You have to learn the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessing of ALLAH be upon him) and the evidence behind every ruling

And

You have to learn the Fiqh.

And you start from the very bottom by taking short concise books of Fiqh, Tafseer, on Hadeeth and you will build your way up – advanced level, then more advance.

And for this, you will need a sheikh who follows the Quran and Sunnah, to guide you through according to your level and understanding.