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Advice Regarding Being a Student of

Knowledge and Taking Notes
AUGUST 12, 2011 BY EDITOR

Answered by Sidi Tabraze Azam

Question: I have problems with taking notes in Islamic lectures and classes. What
methods would you recommend using? Or what advice could you give in order to
improve this problem? GPS FOR THE SOUL

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I hope you are in the best of health and spirits inshaAllah. Jazakum Allahu Khayr for
your excellent question.

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Our tradition is deeply rooted in proper manners (adab); or the right way of doing
things. For this reason, the scholars have always stressed its importance in training new
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Imam Zarnuji (Allah be pleased with him), the author of the excellent work Instruction of
the Student and the Method of Learning (Ta`lim al-Muta`allim fi Tariq al-Ta`allum),
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writes that it is of the utmost importance that one has deep respect for the knowledge
one is studying and its people.
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It is narrated that Sayyiduna `Ali (Allah be pleased with him) said, I am the slave of the
one who teaches me a single letter.
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Imam Ghazali (Allah be pleased with him) mentioned that, We didnt attain unto this
knowledge except by way of humility. Similarly, Imam al-Halwani (Allah be pleased abusive husband alcohol assisting in sin
with him), a great Hanafi, is reported to have said, We didnt attain unto this knowledge awra baseless misgivings convert death
except by way of exaltation (i.e. of the knowledge and deeming it something great); for I
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have not touched a single piece of paper except in a state of ritual ablution (wudu).
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Furthermore, Ibn Jama`ah (Allah be pleased with him) noted in his work, Memoir of the fornication gender interaction
Listener and the Speaker in the Training of Teacher and Student (Tadhkirat al-Sami` ghusl hajj headscarf (hijab) intention
wal Mutakallim fi Adab al-`Alim wal Muta`allim), that one should appear before ones
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teacher in a state of purity, of clothing and body. One should be focused in ones state,
not tired, hungry, or otherwise. This is in order that one can fully benefit from the
teacher and his instruction.
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When one realizes the greatness of that which is being sought, those it is being sought
from and that one is seeking to attain a portion of the Prophetic inheritance, one
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humbles oneself, is in awe of knowledge and its people and gives ones all. supplications purity qur'an Ramadan

reader repentance supplication

The etiquettes (adab) to follow are many. The more one adheres to them, the greater
the benefit one attains. Act upon that which one knows, and Allah will grant one tawba waswas waswasa woman
knowledge of that which one knows not.
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Taking Notes

Below are some general guidelines which may be of benefit:

[1] Jot down key topics/words;

[2] Divide ones paper into sections;

[3] Use headings and bullet points to organize ones notes for each particular topic;

[4] It is useful to have a different coloured pen, or a highlighter, available to highlight

key points;

[5] Write up ones notes as soon as one can (with detail);

These are simply general guidelines. Here are some useful links related to note-taking
and systems:

[i] How to Take Notes like Thomas Edison

[ii] How to Take Lecture Notes

[iii] Geek to Live: Take study-worthy lecture notes

Some Recommended Readings

[1] Instruction of the Student: The Method of Learning

[2] Memoir of the Listener and the Speaker in the Training of Teacher and Student

[3] Imam Ghazalis Book of Knowledge

[4] The Book of Knowledge from The Gardens of the Righteous (Riyad al-Salihin)

[5] The Path of Muhammad: A Book on Islamic Morals and Ethics

[6] Ten Adab of Seekers of Knowledge Notes by Ayaz Siddiqui

May Allah grant us all the divinely granted success (tawfiq) to benefit from the
knowledge we learn and its people. Amin.

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalaam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani

FILED UNDER: GENERAL COUNSEL

TAGGED WITH: IMAM ZARNUJI, INSTRUCTION OF THE STUDENT AND THE METHOD OF LEARNING,
SACRED KNOWLEDGE, STUDENT OF KNOWLEDGE, TAKING NOTES, THE ETIQUETTE OF SEEKING
KNOWLEDGE
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