Sheffield, UK: His Eminence Shaykh-ul-Islam Prof. Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri addressed students of Al-Ma’rifa in a deeply spiritual and reflective session titled “The Unbroken Chain”.

Shaykh-ul-Islam spoke on the journey of ta‘allum, the receiving of sacred knowledge, and explained that the seeker of knowledge, the muta‘allim, must begin with the purification of intention. Learning is not merely an external act of study, reading or memorisation. It is an inner journey of turning towards Allah Almighty, standing in His court and entering a state of munajat, speaking to Allah with humility and sincerity.

Shaykh-ul-Islam reminded the students that every act of learning must carry a niyyah. The intention should be to receive ma‘rifa, to understand the commandments of Allah Almighty and the guidance of His Beloved Messenger ﷺ, and to become a humble servant of Allah. He explained that one cannot truly aspire to servanthood without first seeking to understand what Allah Almighty wants from His servant.

A central message of the session was humility. Shaykh-ul-Islam advised students never to become proud of what they have learnt, but to always consider themselves at the beginning of the journey. The seeker should continue to purify the self, strive sincerely and aspire only to become a true servant of Allah Almighty. When this path is followed with sincerity, blessings come as a matter of course.

Shaykh-ul-Islam gave the example of three types of trees: a large tree with no leaves that provides no shade, a tree with leaves that gives shade and a fruit-bearing tree. He explained that the branches of a fruit-bearing tree bend down with humility, while a tree without fruit remains straight, stiff and stubborn. In the same way, true knowledge makes a person humble, while knowledge without inner transformation leaves a person rigid and ignorant.

He explained that true ilm takes a person away from the world of “me, myself and I”. It removes selfishness and opens the heart towards selflessness, service and concern for others. Since ilm is an attribute granted by Allah Almighty, sincere pursuit of knowledge should begin to transform the character, conduct and attributes of the seeker for the better.

Shaykh-ul-Islam also warned that the interpretation and benefit of knowledge only enter the heart when the intention is pure. Without sincerity, knowledge may remain on the tongue or in the mind, but it does not illuminate the heart or transform the spiritual state of the seeker. True knowledge disciplines life, purifies the inner self and reforms behaviour.

He reminded the students that Allah Almighty, the angels and the possessors of knowledge bear witness to the oneness of Allah. Therefore, the true possessor of knowledge cannot be unjust. Even holding negative thoughts about others can be a form of injustice. Real knowledge removes injustice from the heart, mind and soul, and brings a person out of the narrow circle of “I, me and mine”.

The session concluded with Shaykh-ul-Islam praying for the students of Al-Ma’rifa and their noble effort to strive for ilm with sincerity, discipline and genuine spiritual purpose.

It was a powerful reminder that sacred knowledge is not only to be acquired, but to be lived, embodied and reflected through humility, service and transformation of the self.