Author: Shaikh Saalih Abdul Azeez Alish Shaikh (may Allah preserve him)

Source: Taken from a transcribed excerpt of a tape entitle, “The Importance the Salaf Placed on Seeking Knowledge”. www.Sahab.net

Translator: Abu ‘Abdis Salaam Siddiq Al Juyaanee

The student of knowledge must memorize in order to have deep understanding.  In the past some of the scholars used to memorize (the dictionary) Al Qamoos.   (Note) it is not correct to call a Mu’jam a Qamoos)[1].  This is because a Mu’jam is a book which removes all signs of non Arabic influences that have crept into the language.  Meaning, (it replaces) that which you may have forgotten from the Arabic language or (removes) those non Arabic influences that have linguistically affected you (i.e. your tongue).  As far as Qamoos, then this word means ocean (the name of this type of dictionary illustrates its size).  Therefore it is incorrect to call a Mu’jam a Qamoos.  Some speculate that Mu’jam means Qamoos (but as explained) this is incorrect for Qamoos means ocean.  

Fayrooz Aabaadee named his dictionary Al Qamoos Al Muheet and Al Qamoos Al Waseet due to the fact that it distinguishes and expounds upon the Arabic language; just as it has been said that (figuratively the Arabic language) had been scattered, thus Fayrooz (attempted to) collected it in his dictionary.

Some of the scholars used to memorize those large dictionaries.  About this, other scholars of that era were asked about such an individual (who had memorized a dictionary) and was in love with the modern sciences.  Even though this one who had memorized the dictionary was himself a scholar, when some of the other scholars were asked about this as it was mentioned to them that so and so had memorized the dictionary, they would respond by saying,

“Masha Allah, we have another copy of the dictionary in the city.” 

In this, (like in these times) there is a trivialization (and belittlement) of memorizing.  Memorizing is the foundation of that knowledge which the Prophet (SallAllahu alahi wa sallam) left to be inherited.  Allah the Most High said to His messenger

فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَ *ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَه

“And when We have recited it to you (O Muhammad through Jibrael), then follow you its (the Qur'an's) recital.  Then it is for Us (Allah) to make it clear to you” [Surah Qiyaamah: 18-19]  

First comes memorizing (committing to knowledge to memory).

فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَ

“And when We have recited it to you (O Muhammad through Jibrael), then follow you its (the Qur'an's) recital.” [Surah Qiyaamah: 18]  

Then Allah says in another verse,

كَذَلِكَ لِنُثَبِّتَ بِهِ فُؤَادَكَ

“That We may strengthen your heart thereby.” [Surah Furqan: 32]

Then Allah says in another verse,

وَقُرْآناً فَرَقْنَاهُ لِتَقْرَأَهُ عَلَى النَّاسِ عَلَى مُكْثٍ

“And (it is) a Qur'an which We have divided (into parts), in order that you might recite it to men at intervals.” [Surah Isra: 106]

(Then Allah says)

ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَه  

Then it is for Us (Allah) to make it clear to you” [Surah Qiyaamah: 19]  

Meaning the explanation, clarity and understanding will come after one memorizes (the text).   

Likewise, the Sunnah (illustrates the superiority of memorizing); the Prophet (SallAllahu alahi wa sallah) recommended and encouraged that his Sunnah be committed to memory.  He (SallAllahu alahi wa sallam) said, may Allah brighten the face (of the one…); meaning that Allah makes their face bright in this world and the hereafter.  The Prophet (SallAllahu alahi wa sallam) said,

“May Allah brighten the one who hears my statement, memorizes it just as he/she heard it, then transmits it just as they heard it, perhaps the one who it is transmitted to may have a deeper insight than the one who heard it.”  

Did not the Sahabah preserve the Sunnah by memorizing it?  Yes, they did.  Now were all of the Sahabah scholars in Islaamic Jurisprudence?  No, not everyone was, but (those who were not scholars from amongst them still) committed the Sunnah to memory and conveyed it (to other Sahabah who were scholars in Islaamic Jurisprudence).  So there came those who (memorized), understood, safeguarded, and explained the Sunnah in order to protect and safeguard the religion in this Ummah (Muslim nation).

Abu Hurairah (RadiAllahu anhu) use to constantly review the statements of the Prophet (SallAllahu alahi wa sallam) in order to commit them to memory.  The Prophet (SallAllahu alahi wa sallam) knew how hard this was upon him, so he (Sallallahu alahi wa sallam) said to him,

“Aba Hir, spread out your cloak”.  So Abu Hurairah (RadiAllahu anhu) spread out his outer cloak, then he (SallAllahu alahi wa sallam) said “tighten your outer cloak.”  So Abu Hurairah (RadiAllahu anhu) tightened it. Abu Hurairah (RadiAllahu anhu) said, “After that I never forgot anything I heard from knowledge.”

Abu Hurairah (RadiAllahu anhu) memorized more of the Sunnah than any other companion.  He would stick with the Prophet (SallAllahu alahi wa sallam) taking in all that he could.  This was the level of importance (placed on knowledge) and the passion of the one whose foundation is built on memorizing; meaning the one who works hard and strives to memorize.  This is because understanding comes and goes (as an example), the portion (of knowledge you understood) when you graduated high school, to when you graduated from college.  How much still remains with you from those sciences (you barely understood and did not memorize)?  However, had you memorized (and Allah knows best), it would have stayed with you.  (And if you had forgotten portions of it) if you were to now go and review it, it will come back (somewhat easily), and if you were to review its explanation, it will all come back to you to have at your disposal, if Allah grants you success. 

For this reason a student of knowledge should strive hard and place a tremendous importance on memorizing, like the importance the Salaf placed on memorizing.  When it comes to the importance the Salaf placed on memorizing there are many narrations.  Whoever reads the books of Seerah and biographies (of the Salaf) will find much information on this subject matter.  We will mention a narration on this issue in order to make it a bit clearer, the importance they placed on memorizing.  

As Sa’bee (Rahimahullah) said: Aamir bin Sharaaheel (Rahimahullah) was one of the great scholars of the Taabi’een (second generation).  He mentioned some of the sciences he was proficient in and said, (he Aamir (Rahimahullah) would say), if you wish I could recite poetry for a complete month straight without repeating myself.  

However, it is not proper that a scholar places all of his attention and emphasis on poetry; rather, he would indeed benefit and take (advantage of) that which he needs from it[2].   

[1] Translator’s Note:  both of these words are translated to mean dictionary; however, there is quite a difference between them in the Arabic language.

[2]Translator’s Note: The Shaikh (may Allah preserve him) brings this narration as an example of the vast knowledge that this great scholar had memorized.  If this was the case with regards to the poetry he memorized, imagine what he had with him from the Qur’an and Sunnah.