Question
As-salamu `Alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh (May Allah’s Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be upon you!)
I have made up my mind after graduation to memorize the Qur’an and Hadiths and to read useful books in order to be a caller to Allah and benefit the people. Two months had passed and I did not memorize anything because I got bored of reading. When I open a book, I read the first two pages then I close the book! Moreover, I suffer from forgetfulness and lack of concentration. Could you guide me, may Allah reward you the best?
Answer
In the name of Allah who guides people to the truth and He is the One whose aid is to be implored.
O valued brother, “And who is better in speech than he who [says: “My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness),” and then stands firm (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah’s (Islâmic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: “I am one of the Muslims.”” [Surat Fussilat: 33].
May Allah bless you and those who have ambition to be callers to Allah, and congratulations on your graduation.
There are some points you can benefit from to help you read, of the most important are the following:
First, intention: Ath-Thawry was asked: Which is better: Knowledge or Jihad? He said: I do not know anything better than knowledge if a person has a good intention. He was asked: O Abu `Abdullah, what is the meaning of having intention in regard to knowledge? He said: A person should learn knowledge for the sake of Allah and wish for the Hereafter. [Rabi`ul-Abrar of Az-Zamakhshary].
So, you have to renew the intention perhaps Allah would enlighten your heart and make reading the books of the people of knowledge and wisdom dearer to you, such as: Scholars, the people of Hadith, the Fuqaha’ (Muslim jurists), commentators, historians, narrators, grammarians, linguists, and writers.
Second, reading is an intellectual activity that is based on training the muscles of the brain “Mental power” which looks like body muscles. If they are not strengthened by training and exercise, it will become weak, and if the body does not get used to sports, these muscles will suffer severe pains at the first exercise. Likewise the brain, if it is not get used to reading, it will suffer from reading books.
As athletes advise those who do not train themselves for sports to continue practice even with the presence of muscles’ pain until the body gets used to sports. Likewise, those who are not accustomed to reading, the advice is to overcome their pains by reading until they get used to it.
Third, let it be known that reading the books of scholars, jurists, and commentators are the real world because if you are bored to read the books of Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) for example, you have got bored after sitting with him for two minutes. If you are bored to sit with Shaykhul-Islam, do not bother yourself to look at his books.
Fourth, fix a time for you to read everyday provided that you pick up the time of your mental activity and the readiness of your mind to receive new information, half an hour after the `Asr Salah every day.
Fifth, the position of reading should be encouraging to reading, but sitting on a chair made for relaxation or sleeping make the mind takes the position of sleeping. So, the brain begins to send signals for sleep because of that wrong position, so you get bored and have the desire to sleep.
Sixth, do not be a passive reader, but interact with the book author as if he is talking to you, write some comments and linguistic explanations for difficult vocabularies in addition to your previous information connected with the topic with a pencil in the margins.
Seventh, there are some palm editions which facilitate reading books such as the editions of “Dar As-Salam,” so buy them and put them in your pockets to read during waiting times outside the house because the most valuable things to spend your times in are reading valuable books.
Eighth, bypass the pages which you do not need to read, for example the book of Ar-Rad `Ala Az-Zanadiqah wal Jahmiyyah of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul), studied and verified by Daghsh Al `Ajamy, edition of Dar Al Qabas. The book starts from p. 169 after the cover, so although they are precious pages but they are not meant for reading.
Ninth, getting started to read the abridged books of knowledge, then if your mind gets used to reading and it has a good impact on you then you may read the original copies.
Tenth, you have to listen along with reading because reading will not make you a caller to Allah. So, listen to your sheikhs with the available means, such as: Audio tapes, television episodes, YouTube, attending knowledge sessions, and attending knowledge sessions, and so on.
Allah (Glory be to Him) knows the truth, and praise be to Allah alone.
