Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
I am educated to degree level. I wish to learn more about Islam and also wish to teach children. At the moment I feel very lost as I do not know which way to turn
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
I pray that you are well and in the best of health and spirits. May Allah reward you for your noble intention. The Beloved Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,
“Whoever travels a path seeking knowledge, Allah eases for them a path to Paradise.” [Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi; the latter deemed it authentic (hasan)]
The way of traditional Islam in seeking beneficial knowledge is to find teachers of deep knowledge, wisdom, and piety, and to study under their instruction and guidance.
Sidi Suheil Laher explained some important points related to seeking knowledge in the following article:
On the Methodology of Acquiring Knowledge
Shaykh Amjad Rasheed, a leading young faqih, explained what the priorities in seeking knowledge should be in the following article:
Audio: What is the knowledge obligatory upon those morally responsible?
This is how the Companions of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) learned; and it is thus that they became the best of generations. This is how knowledge and practice were conveyed from generation to generation. Leaving this has led to many of the crises afflicting our Community (umma) in our times.
And finally, some of the hadiths of the Beloved Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) on the excellence of seeking knowledge:
The Excellence of Seeking Knowledge (from Imam Nawawi’s Riyad al-Salihin)
And Allah alone gives success.
Faraz Rabbani