STUDY SKILLS IN ISLAM

1. Intention

Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, deeds depend upon intentions. Indeed, every person will be rewarded based on their intentions…” (Bukhari and Muslim).

On the surface, studying for exams may seem like a necessary chore, its purpose murky and meant only to move on to the next level of education. It’s easy to fall into auto-pilot and not really think about why we’re doing it.

In reality, seeking knowledge can be a way for us to grow in closeness to God by better understanding the world He has created. Making this intention will give us the motivation we need at difficult times when we want to put off studying. It will also help when we become discouraged trying to understand a difficult topic.

With good intentions, routine things which may not look religious otherwise become sources of reward in the eyes of God, the Merciful.


Since time immemorial we’ve learned that the purpose of life is to worship:

And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. (51:56)

Surprise of the century: This relates to everything in student life too. Every boring assignment, every 8:30 AM class with a less-than-articulate professor, every sleepless night—there’s a reason for the madness. As students, our habits define our experiences. Take a moment to step back and dream big. Why are you here? This is one question that won’t be asked in any multiple choice exam, but one that you should ask yourself often.
Islam encourages you to dream big. School tells you what the world can give you, Islam asks you what you can give to the world. Dream big and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, as your rewards are based on the audacity, ambition and depth of your dreams.


2. seek knowledge






Allah tells us in the Qur’an to get extra help from our teachers, TAs, RAs, or anyone else:

And ask the people who remember, if you do not know yourself (16:43)

Pro Tip: To really test the depth of your knowledge, ask deeper questions. ‘Rattle the cages’ of assumptions, test the limits of theories and contemplate on alternative approaches.

Now if you don’t need to ask others for help, know that you should help out others. A fundamental goal of Islam and Muslims is service. Help others and make the world a better place.

And Allah will help those who help Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might. (22:40)

Pro Tip: If you’re intention is to help others for the sake of Allah, as part of being a good Muslim and for the sake of Islam—then Allah will help you out. (Now don’t be helping a sister at 10pm alone on campus, just to show how righteous Muslims really are!)


 3. Hard Work, Dedication, and Patience

We learn from Muhammad what it means to struggle and persevere for a mission. When you’re on a mission you hustle, you exert yourself, you put all that you have into reaching the finish line.

One of the earliest revelations:

Spend the night awake in prayer, except for a little bit of sleep. (73:2)

Allah is teaching the Prophet that when you have a purpose, you must be dedicated, sleeplessly striving for your vision. When you’re driven with intention, Allah tells us we don’t have time to sleep. You’re living to make your dreams a reality, while others are sleeping to glimpse at dreams during the night.

We also learn dedication from the story of Nuh :

He said, “My Lord, indeed I invited my people [to truth] night and day.” (71:5)

When studying is worship, when you have a goal, when you have a mission—Islam teaches us through the stories of the Prophets that we must persevere and sleeplessly struggle for our dreams.
Pro Tip: Whatever your level of dedication, hustle to commitment: raise your bar higher. Ask, what can you do (or not do) to make yourself more successful? Maybe taking 45 minute showers isn’t that productive? Or maybe you can survive on 5-6 hours of sleep?



 4. Silence

 

Sometimes when you learn and have studied you are tempted to make your tongue loose, and you sometimes like to talk more than you like to listen.
“Whoever believes in the last day let him say what is good or remain silent” [Bukhari]
Imam Shafi’ee said if you wish to say something, let him think, if you conclude that there is no harm, speak. If you conclude that your words will bring about harm, do not speak.
Luqman (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked “How did you become so wise? He replied: I do not ask for what I don’t need, and I don’t speak about what does not concern me.” [Excerpts taken from book ‘The Manners of the Knowledge Seeker’]





5.  Eliminate Your Ego and Arrogance

 

Allah teaches us intellectual humility:
 

Above every knowledgeable person, is someone with more knowledge. (12:76)

Your mind, your memory, your marks, your GPA, your whatever—it’s all from Allah. Just as you didn’t choose to be born with a nose on your face and not on your toes, you didn’t select your inborn talents.

Is not hell the [proper] abode for all who [thus] deny the truth (29:68)

Pro Tip: Know your place and don’t get arrogant with what you know.