A Famous Question everyone asks about seeking knowledge answered by ibn Utheymeen Rahimahullah;

Q) what do you advise for the one seeking legislative knowledge, but he is far from the scholars along with knowledge, but before him is collection of books from them are Usool and the summarized books?

A) I advice him with that he is keen and eager upon being a student of Knowledge and seek aid from Allah the most powerful and high, then take help from the knowledgeable people. If a person meets knowledge at the hands of the scholar, he will learn more in shorter period of time then the number of book and he will be faced with many opinions that were differed over. I don’t say like the one says, “it is not possible to reach (gain) knowledge except with a scholar or a sheikh” this is not correct. Because the reality is that he is lying, but if you study with a Sheikh, he will clarify for you the way and specify it.

Question 29 (page 131) from the excellent book, “كتاب العلم” by Sheikh ibn Utheymeen Rahimahullah.

Translated by: Naveed Sultan