“Knowledge is something masculine. None love it except the male amongst the men and the female amongst them [i.e men] dislike it.”

A statement by Zuhri rahimahullah. Being the dunya is given the description of feminine characteristics. Islamic knowledge was given an opposite description being that it requires strong characteristics to bear and pursue. And those who are soft and aren’t tough enough to bear the obstacles of seeking knowledge are referred to having some of the characteristics of the females. Allahu Musta’an.

A person would need to man up to seek knowledge and to have a strong personality.

Mentioned by

AbdulFattaah Bin Uthman
Abu Fajr

Some lines which are ascribed to Al-Imam Shaafi’e and to others:

أخي لن تنال العلم إلا بستة سأنبیك عن تفصیلها ببیان

ذكاء وحرص واجتهاد وبلغة وصحبة أستاذ وطول زمان

“My brother you will not attain knowledge except with six things. I will inform you of their explanation with clarification.

Intelligence, eagerness, seriousness, and what will suffice a person’s needs [i.e. something of sustenance/livelihood], and accompanying a teacher and a long time”. End quote.

Translated by

Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan

Ascribed to Al-Imam Shaafi’e:

ومن لم يذق ذل التعلم ساعة * تجرع ذل الجهل طول حياته

Whoever does not taste the humility of learning, even for an hour
Will drink the humility of ignorance for the rest of his life

ومن فاته التعليم وقت شبابه * فكبر عليه أربعا لوفاته

For him who misses out on learning in his youth,
Then announce four takbirs over him for his death is due

Translated by

AbdulFattaah Bin Uthman
Abu Fajr