Helping students of knowledge in their studies

Shaykh Ibn Qudāmah al-Ḥanbalī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه was asked a question about Imam ꜤAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه, to which he explained:

I met him towards the end of his life. I was living in his madrasah at that time. We were looked after to such an extent, that he would sometimes send his own son Yaḥyā to light lamps for us, and even send food for us from his own home.^[1]

Dear Islamic brothers! Look at the care and affection Shaykh ꜤAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه showed students of Islamic knowledge, even sending food for them from his own home.

We too should address the needs of students of knowledge as per our financial ability. For example, if a person has no financial concerns, he should, for the sake of Allah Almighty and with good intentions, contribute to fulfilling the needs of poor Islamic students. For example, he can provide them with Islamic books, clothes, and accommodation. This way, one can include himself in the ranks of those who serve and help Islam. Perhaps by virtue of this good deed, Allah Almighty will become pleased with us forever. Perhaps by virtue of this, we will be forgiven.

Think of it this way. We want to give good food to our children. We want to see them in nice clothes. We take great care of them, trying to protect them from the cold or hot weather, and other things like this. In the exact same way, we should consider students of Islamic knowledge, as they may be in need of many basic necessities.

Today, we celebrate and learn from the life of Shaykh ꜤAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه. If we look at what he did, we see him excusing the shortcomings of his students and supporting them in their studies.