1. A STUDENT OF KNOWLEDGE IS BETWEEN PHYSICAL PLEASURES AND INTELLECTUAL PLEASURES
All pleasures (ladhat) are either physical or intellectual; the peak of all physical pleasures is sexual relations, and the peak of all intellectual pleasures is knowledge. He who earns both pleasures in this life has gained the ultimate pleasures possible, and so 1 will direct the student of knowledge (‘ilm) to the said ultimate pleasures.
A student whom Allah has blessed has strong determination (ulu al-himmah)) that he is born with. From his childhood you will see him seeking the highest status in everything; just like the Prophet who used to sit on the chair of ‘Abdu’l-Muttalib (the leader’s chair) when he was a child. So ‘Abdu’l-Muttalib used to say, ‘This son of mine will have a high status (in the future).’
If someone were to ask: ‘If I have vigour, but I was not blessed with the things I am after, what should I do?’
The answer would be: ‘If you miss out on certain types of sustenance you are bound to earn other types.’
It is unlikely that Allah grants you vigour then does not aid you. Hence, you should examine yourself because perhaps you have not been grateful for something that He has given you, or perhaps you were tested with some temptations (hawa) that you could not abstain from.
Know that He may have prevented you from many worldly gains as He wants to favour you with the pleasure of knowledge because you are too weak and He knows what is best for you.
I would like to further explain something for you: A beginner in seeking knowledge ought to learn a bit from each type of knowledge. He must focus on fiqh as it is the most important but without neglecting knowledge related to Qur’an, hadith and history. He should then sharpen his tongue with grammar and knowledge of linguistics. When knowledge directs him to know Allah, he will see that many doors have opened for him and not anyone else.
He should also dedicate some of his time towards commerce and earning money by appointing one to handle his business where possible, and to ensure not to be extravagant and wasteful. This is because acquiring the knowledge and acting upon it until one reaches the rank where he knows his Lord will captivate his feelings to the point of occupying him from everything else. Indeed, this is a status that is free of all defects.
If he has the urge (shawq) for marriage, it is better for him to find a slave-woman for free women who often require more responsibilities and are more demanding. He should also practice coitus interruptus while being with the slave-women until he is sure of their character and religiousness as only then he can seek children from them otherwise he should opt for others.
I advise him not to marry a free woman unless he knows she is fine with him marrying another woman and having slave-women. In such a case, he should focus on enjoying the time with her and not to exhaust himself in discharging his semen for that will consume his strength and affect his capacity.
The abovementioned is the case where a person combines the ultimate types of pleasures. I have phrased my words in a suggestive and indicative manner, for the smart one will know what I have not written herein.
(Source: al-Hafiz Abu’l-Faraj ibn al-jawzl [d. 597AH] “CAPTURED THOUGHTS being” a translation of his masterpiece ‘Sayd al-K hatir)
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John Doe
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