Translation: Misbaah Olagunju
The Second Counsel (O Student of Knowledge) is:
العمل بما نعلم
IMPLEMENTING WHAT WE LEARN
O brothers; verily the harvest of knowledge is action, and Allah has faulted the one who says what he does not act upon, in His book, He said:
(یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفۡعَلُونَ كَبُرَ مَقۡتًا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ مَا لَا تَفۡعَلُونَ)
“O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? * Most hateful it is with Allah that you say that which you do not do.”
[Surah As-Saf 2 - 3]
Due to this, whenever the companions —Allah be pleased with them— recited (learn) ten (10) verses from the Qur’an, they put them into use instantly, therefore they learn action along with knowledge.
So my brother, may Allah make you fortunate, aspire to be upright before Allah —the exalted— with pure intentions, and by putting what you learn into action, and accustom yourself to this, whether the affair is an utterance or an act, such that you immediately put to practice whatever you learn.
And when you have accustomed yourself to this, you shall attain a lofty station in eemaan (belief) by the leave of Allah —the exalted—, and when the student of knowledge implement most of what he learn, then it will make him acquire lots of knowledge which has previously escaped him, and if he accustoms himself to implementing what he learn, then that is surely an indication of numerous goodness for him by the permission of Allah —the exalted—.
However when he learn but doesn’t act, then undoubtedly he is sinning as a result, therefore, knowledge either becomes an evidence in favour of the servant or evidence against him, and it has been reported by Muslim that the prophet —Allah raise his rank and grant him peace— said:
“And the Qur’an is either a proof for you or against you".
The Qur’an becomes proof in favour of the servant if he implements it, and becomes proof against him if he doesn’t.
Al-Wasaayaa Litulaabil Ilm (5-9) — Ash-Shaykh Dr. Abdullah bin Abdul'Azeez Al-‘Anqaree
