How I seek islamic knowledge as a student

Summary

The speaker discusses their journey in learning Arabic, focusing on its precision and vast vocabulary compared to English. They recount the importance of relearning Arabic to improve their Quranic recitation, emphasizing the value of understanding and writing the language. They also cover their study of Tajweed, the rules for proper Quranic pronunciation, and the significance of practicing with a tutor. The video highlights the challenges of memorizing the Quran, maintaining pure intentions in seeking knowledge, and avoiding superficial motivations, like impressing others. Practical learning methods, like using flashcards and books, are also shared.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker emphasizes the richness and precision of the Arabic language compared to English, especially in terms of vocabulary and meaning.
• 📝 The speaker is learning Arabic systematically, focusing on reading and writing to improve Quran recitation and memorization.
• 🎯 One of the key goals is to improve Quran recitation fluency, particularly when Arabic letters join together in words.
• 📖 Writing and reading in Arabic help improve Quran recitation, making memorization easier as familiar words become recognizable.
• 🔍 The speaker mentions the importance of understanding the Quran, not just learning Arabic for conversation but for deeper comprehension and correct recitation.
• 🎓 The speaker learned Tajweed (rules of Quranic pronunciation) through a methodical approach, including daily practice and reviewing notes on pronunciation rules.
• 👥 Having someone to check one's recitation is highlighted as essential for improvement, as well as participating in a supportive learning community like a Discord server.
• 📜 The speaker transitioned to learning Arabic vocabulary using flashcards and practicing with native speakers, finding both writing and speaking beneficial.
• 📖 Memorizing Quran with a physical mushaf (copy of the Quran) and focusing without distractions is seen as a more effective approach than using digital tools.
• ⚖️ Maintaining pure intentions while seeking knowledge is critical, as the speaker warns against learning to impress others rather than for the sake of Allah.

Q & A

What does the speaker highlight about the Arabic language compared to English?

The speaker highlights that Arabic is more detailed and precise than English. Arabic has more vocabulary and certain words that cannot fully translate into English.

Why does the speaker emphasize learning to write in Arabic?

The speaker emphasizes learning to write in Arabic because it enhances reading fluency, particularly with reciting the Quran. It also helps with better memorization and recognition of frequently encountered words in the Quran.

How does the speaker describe the connection between reading and memorizing the Quran?

The speaker explains that being able to read Arabic fluently aids in better memorization of the Quran. When you see words repeatedly in the Quran and practice them, memorization becomes easier.

What tools or resources does the speaker use for learning Arabic and Tajweed?

The speaker uses AMA to learn Arabic and Quran 101 to learn Tajweed rules. They also practice with flashcards and recommend having someone check recitation for improvement.

What does the speaker mention about the goal of learning Arabic?

The speaker clarifies that the goal of learning Arabic is not just to converse in the language but to understand and read the Quran properly with correct pronunciation and meaning.

What method does the speaker suggest for effective Quran memorization?

The speaker suggests listening to a favorite reciter, focusing with zero distractions for one to two hours, and using a physical copy of the Quran (Mushaf) for memorization. They also recommend setting up a structured and focused environment for better retention.

Why does the speaker caution against memorizing the Quran for the wrong reasons?

The speaker warns that memorizing the Quran for reasons such as impressing others, like Fatima’s father in marriage, can lead to insincerity in one’s actions. It is important to memorize with pure intentions to please Allah.

What advice does the speaker give about learning from scholars?

The speaker advises watching qualified scholars' videos and reading their work for a deeper understanding of the Quran. Additionally, they emphasize that understanding the Quran requires context provided by scholars.

What is the importance of intention in seeking knowledge, according to the speaker?

The speaker stresses that maintaining a pure intention in seeking knowledge, only for the sake of Allah, is crucial. They caution against performing religious acts for social validation or to impress others.

How does the speaker handle balancing multiple areas of learning?

The speaker admits that balancing multiple areas of learning, such as Arabic, Tajweed, and Quran memorization, requires prioritizing certain activities. They advise focusing on one thing at a time rather than trying to do everything at once.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Learning Arabic: A Journey of Relearning and Progress

The speaker begins by emphasizing the richness of the Arabic language compared to English, noting the vast vocabulary that can't always be translated. They reflect on their experience relearning Arabic, starting in January, to improve their fluency. Despite knowing how to read it, they realized they needed to improve, especially when words are joined together, which hindered their Quran recitation. The speaker highlights the benefits of writing and reading in Arabic for improving Quran memorization and understanding. They showcase their systematic learning process, which took about a month, stressing the importance of learning the language to access knowledge from books written by scholars.

05:01

📝 Mastering Tajweed for Better Quran Recitation

After relearning how to read Arabic, the speaker moved on to studying Tajweed (the rules of Quranic recitation). They explain how learning Tajweed improved their Quran recitation, as they had previously memorized it without correct pronunciation. Using Quran 101 and other resources, the speaker shares how they took notes and practiced the different rules daily. They also highlight the importance of having someone check their recitation for accuracy. By the end of February, they had made significant progress and were able to read the Quran properly, though they didn't cover every rule of Tajweed.

10:02

🎯 Using Flashcards and Conversations for Arabic Language Learning

The speaker discusses their approach to learning Arabic vocabulary, using flashcards to reinforce the words they learned. They acknowledge that while writing down notes helps, speaking with native speakers is more effective for language retention. The speaker emphasizes the balance between both approaches and shares how they practiced with flashcards throughout the week, reviewing vocabulary consistently. They also highlight the importance of enjoying the learning process to stay motivated. By doing so, they made steady progress in Arabic while continuing to read and understand the Quran.

📖 Using Multiple Qurans for Reading and Memorization

The speaker describes their use of two Qurans: one for reading and the other for understanding, with one version containing both Arabic and English translations. They explain how this helps them grasp the meaning of the Quran while continuing to practice their Arabic recitation. By switching from digital Quran apps to physical copies, they found their memorization improved significantly. The speaker also suggests using a favorite reciter for audio memorization practice. They recommend focusing entirely on Quran memorization for one to two hours without distractions for the best results.

⚠️ The Dangers of Wrong Intentions in Quran Memorization

The speaker highlights a common issue where people memorize the Quran with the wrong intentions, such as impressing others or seeking approval. They caution against this mindset, explaining that actions done for worldly recognition, like impressing someone's father for marriage, can invalidate the sincerity of worship. The speaker references a Hadith about Muslims losing their good deeds on the Day of Judgment due to insincere intentions and warns of the consequences of minor shirk (associating partners with Allah in intentions).

📚 The Importance of Studying the Seerah (Prophet’s Biography)

The speaker discusses the value of reading the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) through various sources, acknowledging that some books may contain weak Hadiths. They emphasize checking the authenticity of such Hadiths through references provided in the books. While the speaker is not deeply studying the Seerah at the moment due to other priorities, they continue to engage with relevant content through lectures and videos. They recommend balancing personal obligations with Islamic studies to avoid burnout.

💡 Etiquette in Seeking Knowledge and Avoiding Riya (Show-Off)

The speaker addresses the proper etiquette (adab) in seeking knowledge, emphasizing the importance of maintaining pure intentions. They reference a book by a scholar that guides readers on how to stay focused on pleasing Allah and avoid the temptation of showing off (riya). The speaker warns about the prevalence of insincerity on social media, where people may outwardly appear to be doing things for the sake of Allah but may have hidden intentions. They conclude by stressing the need to regularly check and purify one’s intentions in seeking knowledge and performing good deeds.

Keywords

💡Arabic Language

Arabic is highlighted in the video as a more detailed and precise language compared to English, with a richer vocabulary. The speaker emphasizes the importance of learning Arabic for religious purposes, particularly for reading and understanding the Quran. This is central to the video's theme of spiritual growth and learning.

💡Tajweed

Tajweed refers to the set of rules for proper pronunciation and recitation of the Quran. The speaker discusses their journey in learning Tajweed after mastering the basics of Arabic, underlining its significance for accurate Quranic recitation. It symbolizes the speaker's desire for precision in worship and devotion.

💡Quran

The Quran, the holy book of Islam, is central to the speaker's journey. They focus on the importance of not just reading the Quran, but also understanding it and applying its teachings. The speaker shares their progress in reading, memorizing, and reciting the Quran with proper pronunciation, reflecting their spiritual development.

💡Memorization

Memorization is a key theme in the video, particularly in the context of Quranic memorization. The speaker stresses the benefits of consistently practicing memorization, using tools like physical Mushaf (copies of the Quran) instead of digital devices, to achieve fluency and deepen understanding of the Quranic verses.

💡Intentions

The concept of maintaining pure intentions is crucial in the speaker's message. They warn against memorizing the Quran or seeking knowledge for the wrong reasons, such as to impress others, and emphasize that the ultimate goal should be seeking Allah's pleasure. This highlights the importance of sincerity in religious practices.

💡Recitation

Recitation refers to the act of reading the Quran aloud, often with specific attention to correct pronunciation (Tajweed). The speaker recounts their own journey of improving recitation and how it enhances their overall experience with the Quran. Recitation is presented as a skill that deepens spiritual engagement.

💡Scholars

Scholars, as mentioned in the video, are viewed as important sources of knowledge. The speaker stresses the need to learn from scholars, particularly when seeking deeper understanding of Islamic texts. They encourage watching lectures or reading books by scholars to complement one's personal study and understanding.

💡Flashcards

The speaker uses flashcards as a tool to aid in learning Arabic vocabulary. Flashcards are an example of a methodical approach to language learning, which the speaker finds engaging and helpful for memorizing new words. This reflects the speaker's structured and disciplined approach to mastering Arabic.

💡Mushaf

The Mushaf refers to the physical, written copy of the Quran. The speaker prefers using a Mushaf over a phone for memorizing the Quran, explaining that it helps with focus and provides a better connection to the text. This highlights the significance of traditional practices in religious study.

💡Riya

Riya is the act of showing off in religious practices, which the speaker identifies as a major pitfall in spiritual life. They caution against performing religious acts, like Quran memorization, for the sake of impressing others. The speaker stresses that intentions should always be directed towards pleasing Allah.

Highlights

Arabic language has more detailed and precise vocabulary than English, which cannot be fully translated.

The speaker started learning Arabic again in January, realizing the importance of reading and writing for fluency and Quranic recitation.

Combining reading and writing in Arabic improves Quran memorization and understanding.

The speaker shares progress in learning Arabic, such as mastering letter combinations and practice that took about a month.

Learning Arabic allows access to books by scholars without relying on translations.

After learning Arabic basics, the speaker moved on to Tajweed (proper Quranic pronunciation) to improve Quran recitation.

Consistency in learning Tajweed rules, such as Mad rules, led to gradual progress over time.

Recitation checks by others, including via Discord, helped refine the speaker's Quran recitation.

Learning Arabic words alongside Quran reading improved both comprehension and pronunciation.

The speaker used flashcards to practice Arabic vocabulary, focusing on finding an enjoyable way to learn and stay motivated.

Memorizing Quran became easier after switching from using a phone to using a physical Mushaf (Quran).

Applying Quranic teachings to daily life is as important as memorization; reading without application is seen as pointless.

The speaker warns against memorizing Quran for the wrong intentions, such as impressing others, emphasizing sincerity in worship.

Studying the Seerah (Prophetic biography) is encouraged but with caution about unauthentic sources; reference checking is important.

The importance of keeping one’s intentions pure while seeking knowledge, avoiding social media-driven motives, and focusing solely on pleasing Allah.

Transcripts

the first thing that I'm going to

mention is the Arabic language now I say

this because it's more detailed and

precise than the English language and

Arabic itself has more words more

vocabulary that it can't necessarily

fully translate into English so the

first thing I'm going to show you right

now is me learning it I'm going to show

you like systematically what I did first

and how I'm progressing and where I'm

going to try and go to so the first

thing I did

I don't know if you can see it but right

here I'm learning Arabic this was at the

start of the year so January I'm

relearning it now I could have had the

ego and said you know I already know how

to read it like good enough I don't need

to relearn it and what I didn't realize

is that I could read it but it wasn't as

good and as fluent because there were

some words like for example this

one oh I'll show you right now here when

they join together together I would

always be like stuck while reciting and

I didn't realize the value of being able

to write in Arabic and also read it

because when it goes hand in hand your

reading of the Quran becomes better your

memorization becomes better because

there are certain words that you've seen

before already and repeating them

already you're like oh I remember this

word in the Quran that I was trying to

you know write and also learn so there's

a way that this way is just really

helpful so I'll show you

more like here you can see that scene

I'm trying to learn each like

combination and then doing a bit of

practice and it did take quite a while

for me to finish it like it took me a

month or so and this is going to be

really important for anyone really if

they're trying to seek knowledge because

there are books written by Scholars or

people of great like intellect in the

different languages and if you don't you

know know them know the language you

can't really access them and you'll have

to r on a translation to explain it for

you so here again you can see me

finishing it this was when I finished it

I look really dark like ignore that but

you can see I finished it like here and

eventually once I finished it I moved on

to Taj now once I could read it

obviously now I want to be able to

perfect my reading of the Quran now this

also leads me on to my point where

Arabic is not the final goal right the

final goal isn't to converse and speak

in Arabic the final goal is to

understand the Quran and to be able to

read it properly in a correct and

measured way like Allah subhana wa tala

says in the Quran somewhere I'll have it

on the screen right now somewhere so

yeah so

Taj this is when I first

started um this was also near the start

of the year so I was doing okay so for

the Arabic by the way I I was using AMA

to learn it and for the tajid I was

using a Quran 101 I'll have both of the

links to both of them in the description

so the first thing I started off with

was mut and

M so it's like the different mad rules

and I kept going right I kept after I

learned like all of the rules I was

doing like a little bit each

day I got on to writing notes on each

one you can see here like writing notes

on each rule and then going back to it

each day trying to remember it and this

was really helpful because before when I

used to memorize Quran I didn't use it

in I didn't memorize it with correct

pronunciation I didn't memorize it with

correct Taj it was sounding a bit funny

and I had a guy from my Discord server

which is also in the description you

know check my recitation and this is

something very important as well I would

say you should have someone to check

your recitation go in person and check

it and that can be very helpful for you

and you know here are more

pages this was towards the end of

February so I was making you know good

progress I was pretty like happy and

then once I this was like the last page

or so I didn't cover 100% like every

single Taj read situation but I covered

everything I need to know to be able to

read properly so here's like one of the

final Pages here are all of like some of

the stop

symbols here are some of the like uh

different like you know words that I was

learning and yeah so after I finished

tajid I moved on to learning different

Arabic words now at the same time I was

still you know reading Quran it's not

like I stopped reading Quran completely

no I was still read it but I wasn't like

reading it in Arabic much it was only to

practice now once I had we down I was

reading Quran way more because I could

understand more of how to say such in

words I could practice and apply what I

had learned from here so the next thing

was Arabic like learning the language

and again I used

AMA and uh this is how I started

so you can see here oh that's not the

first page is it oh it is so yeah so I'm

writing notes now I would say this isn't

the best way to learn are the best ways

to actually go and speak to people who

know the language and I know some people

who do know the language and I practice

with them sometimes and that's better

than just writing it down however you

can't really just do one I would say

doing both is very helpful and that gets

me on to these

flashcards so what I did was I would

learn each word so these are the words

that I was learning and what I would do

is on the back page I would uh write you

know each word down and then throughout

my day or throughout like the week or

something I would go look at the flash

card and I would be like okay what am I

looking at today right let's say I'm

doing um well let's just do say I'm

doing the first lesson so what I would

do is I would try and say okay what's

paper and then I would think okay

paper right I don't know if my

pronunciation could be really bad but

I'm still learning right

right okay and then at the back I would

check is that correct yes or no and then

I would continue you

know uh you know I would just continue

down the list going

down you know keep going and then making

sure that I get every single word down

correctly so I would continue doing this

like for each lesson I think this is

really like good because like checking

each you know

words you know doing it in a way like

this it's quite fun because you know you

can do it in a way that's really boring

and then not really feel motivated or

disciplined enough to continue doing it

but if you do it in a way that you enjoy

and and in a way that you know you find

really helpful that's a better way at

least to me that you can understand the

language and and also make progress so I

have three qurans however I'm going to

show you two right now and I have these

two so this one if you want it I can

show you closer so that you can take a

screenshot and then or you can search it

and pause the

video right there

so this one I actually use it just for

reading um so that I because I'm not an

Arabic speaker I still don't fully know

the AR the language yet however you can

see Sur Al is one of my

favorites absolutely love this Surah so

you can see on one side it's Arabic and

on the other side it's English and what

this does is that it's just for the sake

of actually you know being able to know

what the Quran is saying not to fully

understand it because I would say that

obviously to fully fully understand it

it's better to watch a video on tap by a

scholar by a student of knowledge that

knows what they're doing that's

qualified and you can understand it way

better

there yeah so you can see here that the

Arabic is just fully on both pages and

why this is so good is because before I

couldn't even memorize like one ey a day

and even if I did you know it was quite

small however as I built up consistently

and I stopped like memorizing on my

phone and I switched to the Musa it was

so much better because with the Musa if

you listen to your favorite reciter now

this is very important you listen to

your favorite reciter the day before or

while you're memorizing and then you go

into your room you shut the door you

open the window and then you grab your

Musa and you read you will find it so

much easier you set a timer for like one

or 2 hours zero distractions 100% focus

on the Quran as time goes on you will be

able to memorize more and I just find it

so much more better because being able

to memorize Quran with a mus you know

going to do wo and then going to sit

down and read it's a good feeling I

would say as well go and check the tap

of the Quran go and watch Scholars like

lectures on it and try and you know

apply certain verses to your life

there's a there's a verse in where the

Prophet sallallah alaihi wasam uh no

it's about Allah subhana waala saying

what the prophet sallallah alai wasam

will have said or has said in regards

to people abandoning the Quran I'll have

it on the screen anyway so you can just

like see it for yourself but you can see

that people

we what's the point of reading it and

then you're not even applying what's

being said you know you're not even

doing what the Quran is instructing you

to do it's like there's no point is it

you know if you're doing it for example

to please a person's father for example

I see the trend this is a bit of a side

R but I see the trend of people trying

to impress fatim as Baba right this some

this is something that needs to stop

because if you are going to be reading

the Quran imagine your intention now

memorizing the Quran to become a half is

it's no longer I want to be a memorizer

of the Quran to apply it to my life to

teach others to help others to achieve

the the pleasure of Allah now it's like

I want to memorize Quran so I can you

know get married and I can impress

Fatima's dad while in Salah and leading

it and this is something very dangerous

because a minor sh is something that is

not even a joke there's a Hadith about

uh people coming on the day of judgment

with mountains of Good Deeds imagine

mountains of good deeds and they're all

getting wiped away you know the first

three people coming uh on y being thrown

into Jam Muslims can you believe that

Muslims so that's something that we

really need to take into consideration

so when it comes to a general read of

the S of the Prophet sallallah alai

wasallam sea very very common book

everyone's recommending it but it's for

good reason now I'm not going to lie to

you some of the things in here are not

fully authentic some of the hadiths here

are are weak and you know but the good

thing is that you can check all of the

hadiths like it has a reference list on

the bottom so that's not really a

problem for me so for this it's just a

general read it's not a study of the

book as of now because like I can't do

too many things at once you know

everyone has priorities everyone has

things that they must do however at the

same time it's not like any content

relating to the s that I see I would

just ignore it you know you can still

watch YouTube lectures things like that

on the S however you can't do everything

at once because you know if you have

different things that you must do in

your life that you must attend to you

can't you know try and balance

everything at once so the last one

is by abdah that was quite hard to say

but it goes over the adequat of seeking

know

something that a lot of people skip over

for some reason but I think it's very

important because when you seek

knowledge you have to have a general

understanding of how you want to go

through it how you want to keep your

intentions pure how you want to learn

and benefit how you want to manage

different things and it's better than

this entire video I'm pretty sure

because you know learning from people

who are like way above you is good but

also being able to apply it through

their books and through you know going

through seeking knowledge and how you

can direct yourself in a way that is

pleasing to Allah is very helpful and

you know especially with Ria that I

mentioned before you know doing

something to impress others it's very

very common in social media like we

probably like from a general standpoint

we think when we look at social media

and we look at these student of

knowledge and some of these people we

would normally just think oh yeah

they're doing it for the sake of Allah

but no one knows but Allah so you have

to be very careful and making sure that

your intention stays pure only for the

sake of Allah is definitely very

important so that's about everything