Islamic Studies

Wise words for the Student of Knowledge from Imam al-Subki [ra]

Wise words of Imam al-Subki [ra] 

“An intelligent student of mine remains as such until he delves into the differences that occurred between the salaf.”

After warning the student to avoid the differences that occurred between the great scholars he says,

“Like (what occurred) between Ahmad and al Muhassibi…for, indeed, if you busy yourself with these things, I fear for your demise…there is nothing for us except to be pleased with them, being quiet about their differences, just as they were about the differences amongst the Companions [ra].”

Tabaqat al-Shaf’iyah vol. 2 pg. 39

About the author

Suhaib Webb

Suhaib Webb is a contemporary American-Muslim educator, activist, and lecturer. His work bridges classical and contemporary Islamic thought, addressing issues of cultural, social and political relevance to Muslims in the West. After converting to Islam in 1992, Webb left his career in the music industry to pursue his passion in education. He earned a Bachelor’s in Education from the University of Central Oklahoma and received intensive private training in the Islamic Sciences under a renowned Muslim Scholar of Senegalese descent. Webb was hired as the Imam at the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City, where he gave khutbas (sermons), taught religious classes, and provided counselling to families and young people; he also served as an Imam and resident scholar in communities across the U.S.

From 2004-2010, Suhaib Webb studied at the world’s preeminent Islamic institution of learning, Al-Azhar University, in the College of Shari`ah. During this time, after several years of studying the Arabic Language and the Islamic legal tradition, he also served as the head of the English Translation Department at Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah.

Outside of his studies at Al-Azhar, Suhaib Webb completed the memorization of the Quran in the city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. He has been granted numerous traditional teaching licenses (ijazat), adhering to centuries-old Islamic scholarly practice of ensuring the highest standards of scholarship. Webb was named one of the 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center in 2010.

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  • Lol the problem is that the people who DO delve into these differences are those that do not know much about the whole [icture to begin with :S May Allah guide us all. Thank you for this important reminder.

  • Assalam-u-Alaikum

    Dear Imam Suhaib,

    Jazakallahu Khairan for the post.

    I have a question: How does one keep quite about an issue, while also teaching a certain view?

    I.e. if a Scholar were to subscribe to Imam Muhasibi;s view, would he only quote/narrate/propogate that view or should he also provide other view? If the answer is the later, should he also give a final verdict on the issue (i.e. who is right, or preferable) or stay quite?

    Thanks.

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