'How can one manage his time between seeking

[Sophist]

My Favourite living non Somali Sheikh:

 

By Sheikh Salman Ibn Fahd Al 'Awdah

 

A question is often asked,

 

'How can one manage his time between seeking

knowledge, working for Da'wah and Jihad? Where

should one start?'

 

It seems a troubling issue suffered by many young

men knocking the doors of Da'wah whilst being

surrounded by others calling for seeking knowledge

or for Jihad. But why should one consider Islam as separate issues and then use them one against the other! Why don't we follow the good example of the earlier Muslim generation?

 

One would perform the Fajr prayers with the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) then join a study circle which would go on till sun rise and then proceed to earn his living. Later on in the day you would find him hosting a Bedouin to teach him the fundamentals of Islam and should there be a call for Jihad you would find him in the forefront. All of this constitutes Islam. All of this constitutes Deen (a complete way of life) and there is no call to separate those issues as all of them are divine injunctions and requirements.

 

They had learnt that from the great teacher, Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) who told them, "Convey (my teachings) to others, be it a (single) statement." [bukhari] So, a man would learn a Surah from the Qur'an, then

would go and teach it to his family, the neighbours

and then, may be to the rest of his tribe.

He realised, if he is to see the fruit of his efforts,

having learnt a chapter in the day time he is to stand

the night (or part of it) in prayers reciting what he

has learnt and later on implementing it to the best of

his capabilities.

He didn't see any contradiction between this and him

working to earn his living, which is essential to his

life.

 

One's life was a continuous harmony of balanced

events, interconnected without double standards or

contradictions.

This is not to say that you wouldn't find one of them

(the companions) who excelled in a particular field

which could have possibly resulted in him lacking in

some other duties, as for example was the case with

Khalid bin Al-Waleed (radhiAllaahu 'anhu) who is

reported to admittedly saying, "Jihad has kept me

away from (learning) Qur'an."

 

There are however, some prerequisites to be adhered

to if someone for example is to preach, he is not

to preach ignorance and he must preach what he has

learnt of Allah's (subhaanu wa ta'ala) Deen, Islam.

Also, a person who fights for the sake of Allah should

not do so unless he has learnt the necessary rules

concerning Jihad. He should know who he is to fight?

Why he is to fight? How he is to fight?

They (the companions) did not find in the above issues

contradictions or objections, to the contrary those

issues as a whole formed the particulars of their

active life.

This is why when Jibreel ('alaihis-salaam) came to

the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) - in

the form of a man - asking him about Islam, Iman and

Ihsaan, the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam)

having answered him, then informed them (companions)

that that was Jibreel ('alaihis-salaam) who came to

teach them their religion, as all that represented

Deen and obedience to Allah (subhaanu wa ta'ala).

It is rather wrong for someone justifying to himself

his lacking in doing good, using this excuse or that.

If you didn't have the opportunity to do an intended

task, then the least you can do is to abstain from

criticising and belittling others, who have embarked

on doing that same task.

 

Instead, you should be supportive, Helping with ideas,

gently advise or (at least) making Du'aa for them.

Do not let Shaitan lead you astray by making you think

high of what you do and belittling the efforts of

others. You may find yourself looking down at someone

seeking knowledge about his Deen, because, you think,

he is engaged in unnecessary details, too busy to

find solutions to the society's ailments, too busy

to join in Jihad.

In another instance, you might find yourself looking

down at someone who is involved in Jihad because, in

your opinion, he has not done enough effort to learn

his religion.

Or you may find yourself looking down at someone

involved in youth activities preaching to them during

a trip or at the Masjid, looking down at him because,

you think, he is too busy to seek knowledge from the

learned scholars.

 

Surely all those in the above examples are good doers

and the activities and tasks they have embarked on are

something each one should strive to do and if someone

lacks the knowledge of the other, then they should be

complimentary to each other and be supportive to one

another as Allah (subhaanu wa ta'ala) enjoined on us,

for the Believers should be compssionate with each other.