Shaikh Abu Ibraahim Muhammad bin Maani’ (may Allah preserve him) said:

“What is begun with of Knowledge

al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi (may Allah be pleased with them): “It is necessary for the student to begin with memorizing the Book of Allah, the Almighty, the Majestic, since it is the most honorable of sciences and most deserving to be given precedence and and preference. Then the one who can recite the Quran should [then] study the Ahaadith of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and His Sunnan. It is obligatory upon the people to seek it since it is the foundation of the Legislation and its base. Allah, the Exalted said:

وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانتَهُوا

And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it) [59:7]

And the Exalted said:

مَّنْ يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ

He who obeys the Messenger (Muhammad), has indeed obeyed Allah [4:80]

And the Exalted said:

وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَى

Nor does he speak of (his own) desire [53:3]”

[al-Jaami al-Akhlaaq ar-Raawi wa Adaab as-Saami’ (27-29) al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah print as cited in al-Fawaakih al-Janniyyah Minl-Athaar as-Salafiyyah pg. 11]

Translated by

Faisal bin Abdul Qaadir bin Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan