assalamu aleikum Im new to seeking knowledge. I want to become better muslim and i found the best way is to seek knowledge. My question is regarding note taking. Everything in islam is important, how do i know what to write down especially when the shaikh explains a fiqh or aqidah or any of the islamic books? I am not good at or should i say I'm TERRIBLE at note taking. what do you recommend me to do? when i listen to an audio of a shaikh explaining aqidah or fiqh books such abu shujac, he gives a good explanation and i record everything down and i literally write everything he says and it takes me multiple hours just to write 5-10minutes of his actual lecture time. If I decide to write briefly, its so bad that I don’t understand what I wrote or its not enough information for me to have grasp on this particular field please help me, give me practical advise? my note taking is bad and sometimes shaytan tells me or creates doubt and says stop this knowledge because you will never be able to finish this book or go all the way in your studies. many times i struggle with my self and sometimes i study for some time then quit then i begin again How do scholars become scholars in islam? can you give me a timetable to follow? Can you give me inspirational struggle stories how a scholar overcame his weakness and excelled in islamic studies. Looking for your response

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

Seeking knowledge is one of the best deeds that a Muslim should be keen on doing. It is a path that leads to Paradise. It is by knowledge that a Muslim can know his religion and perform his acts of worship in a correct manner. It is for this reason that it is a path to Paradise.

In addition to this, if a person teaches knowledge to the people, then this is one of the greatest acts of worship by which one gets closer to Allaah. Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Whoever treads a path seeking knowledge, Allaah will make his path to Paradise easy.” [Muslim]

Also, Abu Umamah Al-Baahili narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Allaah, His angels and all those who dwell in the heavens and the earth, even the ants in their holes and the fish, supplicate for those who instruct people in virtuous knowledge.” [At-Tirmithi] Remembering such virtues helps a person stay firm on this path.

You should also keep in mind that the quest for greatness in religious and worldly matters is not achieved by laziness and comfort. You undoubtedly know that many people strive, exhaust their bodies, and stay awake at night for worldly matters; they do all this for the sake of a meaningless temporary pleasure of this worldly life. There is a lesson in these people for those who reflect. A Muslim has all the more reason to be patient and have diligience in doing that which pleases the Lord of mankind.

Look, for instance, at how Moosa (Moses) set out on a long journey in search of knowledge which he did not know and which the Prophet of Allaah, Al-Khidhr knew; and look how the Companions used to travel in order to learn one single Hadeeth. Al-Bukhari entitled a Chapter in his Saheeh "The Chapter of going out in search of knowledge and Jabir ibn Abdullah set out on a trip of one month to ‘Abdullaah ibn Unays for one single Hadeeth". Also, Imaam Muslim narrated in the introduction of his Saheeh from Yahya ibn Abi Katheer, that he said: “Knowledge could not be acquired by bodily comfort [i.e. without exhausting one’s body in acquiring it]."

Hence, you should roll up your sleeves, seek help from Allaah and then from the people of great determination among the seekers of knowledge, and you should not let a door for the devil discourage you from seeking knowledge. The devil makes every effort for a person to remain ignorant so that he can deceive and lure him. Ignorance for the devil is like darkness for the thief [as darkness helps the thief to steal without being recognized] as Ibn Abbas said.

As regards the matter of taking notes, we advise you to focus in listening to the Shaykh during his lecture in a study circle so that you would fully understand what he says, and find a way to record the lesson so that you can write down the benefits afterwards, as you can record the speech of the Shaykh on a tape and then listen to the tape and stop it whenever required in order to write down the idea, and you may listen again and again to record everything in a perfect way. The means of recording have become widely available nowadays, praise be to Allaah.

For more benefit on some etiquettes of seeking knowledge, please refer to Fataawa 21750 and 166265.

Allaah Knows best.