Should I Master One Science before Another When Seeking Knowledge?

May Allah reward you for what you are teaching people. Alhamdulillah, I recently started studying with SeekersGuidance. I have done several courses from levels 1, 2, and 3. However, before I continue any further, I need clarification from you regarding prioritizing certain courses. I have read that a student of knowledge should master one science before moving on to the next one, I am unsure how to continue my journey in seeking knowledge.

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question and eagerness to follow a proper way of seeking knowledge.

The most important type of knowledge one needs to learn is the personally obligatory (fard ‘Ayn) knowledge; beliefs (aqida), rules related to acts of worship, financial dealing and permissible and impermissible, then spiritual knowledge, how to rid oneself of the bad character traits and inculcate good character traits, and a tool to begin learning all of the above, which is a gradual learning of the Arabic language.

SeekersGuidance has this very step-by-step learning process: first, learn your obligatory knowledge, then move on to each level of the courses from each Islamic Studies Curriculum. But most importantly, clear your intentions and study with the supervision and guidance of reliable scholars and follow the advice and a program similar to what is being suggested.

Below is a summary based on a talk by Shaykh Faraz; listen and watch the video presentation. See the link below:

We are given a summary of four particular types of knowledge one needs to know:
1) Fard al-Ayn: the personally obligatory – core Islamic knowledge (aqida, fiqh: all financial dealings, the permissible and impermissible relationships)2) Devotional Knowledge: knowledge of the Quran and Sunnah – cultivating the knowledge of the Quran and reading something about the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) daily3) Spiritual Knowledge: knowledge of the heart and seeking spiritual excellence; ihsan. Ridding oneself of blameworthy traits and adorning oneself with praiseworthy characteristics.4) Spiritual works: regular routines of acting on what one knows, daily recital of the Quran, a portion of remembrance morning and evening, Salawat on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), and supplication to Allah Most daily for success, ease and sound faith, good practice, and good health. Our Ummah has been given two gifts that no other sacred community has received in the past: the deep value and reward of intentions and access to the remembrance of Allah Most High.

I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction in sha Allah.

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersAcademy (seekersguidance.org)?

May Allah Most High give you every success and ease and allow you to practice and spread the light of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) and be one of the inheritors, insha’Allah, Amin.

I pray this helps with your question.

Wassalam,

Ilyas Patel

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey.

He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.

He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.

He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His personal interest is the love of books and gardening.