Shaykh Muḥammad bin Ṣāliḥ Al-ʿUthaymīn (raḥimahullāh) was asked what is the best of ways which aides in seeking knowledge?
He replied by saying:
The best of ways is to strive against yourself. Therefore strive against yourself. And let it have patience in seeking knowledge, and memorizing the Book of Allāh The Mighty and Magnificent, and then what has been authentically reported on the authority of the Prophet (may Allāh raise his rank and grant him peace) like ‘ʿUmdatul Aḥkām’, then accompanying the scholars who are well known to be upon the correct ʿAqīdah, path and methodology. And when traders of wealth toil day and night to increase their wealth, then a student of knowledge seeks that which is more noble than wealth, so he should toil during his day and night until he attains that which Allāh has promised in His saying,
یَرۡفَعِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمۡ وَٱلَّذِینَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ دَرَجَـٰتࣲۚ
“Allāh will raise in rank those of you who believe, and those who have been granted knowledge.”
[Sūrah Al-Mujādilah: 11]
Source: Majmūʿ Al-Fatāwā war-Rasāʾil Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn Vol. 26, Pg. 165-166
Translated by: Zubayr bin Muḥammad ʿAbbāsī
