Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen said:
It is obligatory upon the student of knowledge to
be devoted to reciting the Noble Qur’aan, memorizing it, understanding it and
acting upon it. This is because the Qur’aan is the strong Rope of Allaah. It is
the foundation of knowledge… It is unfortunate that some students of knowledge
do not memorize the Qur’aan. In fact, some of them cannot recite the Qur’aan properly
with tajweed. This is a great
drawback in the methodology of seeking knowledge. As such, I reiterate that it
is obligatory upon the students of knowledge to be devoted to memorizing the Qur’aan,
acting on it, inviting to it and understanding it in accordance with the
understanding of the pious predecessors.”
Source: Kitaab al-‘Ilm,
p. 30 by Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Uthaymeen
Hereunder are some of the sayings of the Salaf on
the need to give priority to the knowledge of the Qur’aan:
Al-Maymoonee said: “I asked Abū ʿAbdullāh Imām Aḥmad: Which is more beloved to you, that I should I
begin teaching my son, the Qur’aan or the hadeeth? He said:
“No! The Qur’aan.” I
said: Shall I teach him all of it? He replied: “Unless that is
difficult, in which case teach him some of it.” Then he said to me:
“If he begins reciting first, then he will learn correct recitation and will
persevere in it.” [1]
Ibn Taymīyyah (d.718H) – raḥimahullāh –
said: “As for
seeking to memorize the Qur’aan then this is
to be given preference over many of the things that the people consider to be
knowledge, but are – in reality – either totally useless or having little
benefit. It is also to be given precedence in learning especially by those who
wish to acquire knowledge of the Religion, its principles and its
particulars. Since what is prescribed for such a person at this time
is that he should begin by memorizing the Qur’aan,
as it is the foundation of the branches of knowledge of the
Religion. This is contrary to what is done by many of the people of
innovation, in that one of them will pre-occupy himself with superfluous parts
of knowledge; such as kalām (theological
rhetoric) and argumentation; or very rare matters of differences; and blind
following, which there is no need for; or very strange and rare aḥādīth which
are not established, nor of benefit; and many discussions do not establish
proofs. And he abandons memorizing the Qur’aan which
is more important than all of this.”[2]
Al-Khatīb al-Baghdādī (d.463H) – raḥimahullāh– said: “It is fitting for a student that he begins with
memorization of the Book of Allāh – since it is the greatest of the branches of
knowledge and that which should be placed first and given precedence.”[3]
Al-Ḥāfiẓ al-Nawawī (d.676H) – raḥimahullāh– said: “The first thing he should begin with – is
memorization of the mighty Qur’aan, which is the
most important of the branches of knowledge. And the Companions and those that
follow them did not use to teach hadeeth or fiqh except
to one who had memorized the Qur’aan When he has
memorized it, let him beware of preoccupying himself from it with hadeeth, fiqh or
other things, to the extent that it leads him to forget anything of the Qur’aan,
or makes that likely."[4][5]