Essential Points for a Student of 'Ilm to Remember

1. Have ikhlāṣ when seeking ʿilm. Ikhlāṣ will make your efforts a means of reward.

2. Abstain from sins, as it is a barrier for the one who wishes to comprehend and retain ʿilm.

3. Abstain from loving the Dunyā and attaching your heart to it, as the love of the Dunyā distracts one from preparing for the Ākhirah.

4. Abstain from arrogance, as it destroys one's ikhlāṣ and prevents one from seeking ʿilm from those with more knowledge.

5. Be punctual with your ʿibādah.

6. Avoid issuing fatāwā when you have not trained under scholars, and seek guidance from seniors when doing so.

7. Do not hasten in opening institutes and establishing learning centres when you are deficient in ʿilm, and when you do, it should be with the counsel of senior scholars.

8. Likewise, do not hasten in authoring books and circulating them when you are still young and deficient in your ʿilm and experience.

9. Do not indulge in scholarly disputes and in issuing criticism against scholars.

10. Avoid thinking you are self-dependent and no longer referring to your teachers for counsel and advice.

11. Avoid indulging in disputes with other students, as this only harms and wastes your time.

12. As a student of ʿilm, you should practise zuhd (asceticism) and waraʿ (God-consciousness).

13. Do not attribute big titles to yourself, but when required, humbly mention your credentials.

14. When you become qualified, do not shy away from speaking at gatherings with the intention of sharing ʿilm or advising the people.

15. The effects of seeking ʿilm should become visible on you by practicing upon the sunnahs, refraining from doubtful matters and constantly remembering Allah.