With Allah’s grace, this year’s Ilm Summit kicked off in Houston with Shaykh Yaser Birjas and Yasir Qadhi addressing us on the virtue of knowledge and traveling for it. Like last year, we plan on posting daily glimpses and gems, Live from Houston . . .

• The Prophet stated once: O Abu Saeed al-Khudri, people will come to you in droves one day to learn, so greet them by saying Welcome, welcome to the inheritance of the Messenger of Allah and teach them well. [Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah]

مَرْحَباً مَرْحَباً بِوَصِيَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ

• It is said the first to travel for knowledge was the Prophet Musa. When he was asked who was the most learned in the world, he replied I am. Jibreel informed him that there is one whom Allah has taught that which you do not know and spoken to him directly. Musa immediately placed someone else in charge of the Israelites (Yusha b. Nun, who was to become a prophet after him) and set out for this person. Imam al-Bukhārī placed this account in the beginning of the chapter on traveling for the sake of knowledge.
• Jabir b. Abdullah traveled from Syria to Madinah for one month to gain just one ḥadīth from Abdullah b. Unays.  [this account is authentic at the level of Hasan, and mentioned by al-Bukhārī in his chapter headings, as well as in Khalq Af ‘āl al-‘Ibād; also related by Aḥmad, al-Ḥākim]
• Some of the blessings and benefits of traveling for knowledge:

1. The physical travel itself is rewarded
2. The seclusion from distractions is extremely beneficial
3. The environment and aura of knowledge also benefits

• Some of the etiquette of seeking knowledge [from Ibn Jamaa’ah, died 733H]:

1. Deviating from one’s comfort zone and pushing yourself to the edge
2. Keep yourself slightly hungry while seeking knowledge but full while teaching
3. Use of study sessions
4. Learning patience and perseverance before learning knowledge
5. Walking/exercise to keep one’s  mind fresh
6. Good companionship- those who are sincere, pious and devoted to knowledge, not lazy and distracting
7. Taking notes