The Blessings of the Circles of Knowledge – Shaykh Ibn Baz

Shaykh ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Bāz رحمه الله

There is no doubt that circles of knowledge occupy a position of immense importance. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would establish such gatherings, sitting with his Companions رضي الله عنهم, teaching and admonishing them from time to time. They would gather around him in circles to learn from him.

Likewise, after his passing, the Companions رضي الله عنهم continued this practice, establishing circles of knowledge in which they taught the people. This tradition was then inherited by the scholars throughout every generation until the present day.

The benefits of these gatherings are immense. The student of knowledge attends, listens attentively, and brings the book from which the lesson is being delivered so that he may derive the fullest benefit and record important points that might otherwise be forgotten. Writing down beneficial knowledge is of tremendous value, for a person may hear something and later forget it, whereas writing preserves knowledge and safeguards its benefit.

Likewise, members of the general public attend these gatherings, listen attentively, benefit from what they hear, and ask about matters they do not understand. All of this is among the deeds beloved to Allah ﷻ.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“When you pass by the gardens of Paradise, then graze therein.”

They asked:

“O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, what are the gardens of Paradise?”

He replied:

“The circles of remembrance.”¹

In another authentic narration recorded by both Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, the Prophet ﷺ was sitting in the mosque teaching his Companions رضي الله عنهم, who had gathered around him in a circle.

Three men entered the mosque.

One of them came forward and sat within the circle.

The second sat behind the circle.

The third turned away and departed.

When the Prophet ﷺ had finished speaking, he said:

“Shall I inform you about these three men?”

They replied:

“Yes, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”

He ﷺ said:

“As for one of them, he sought refuge with Allah, so Allah granted him refuge.”

This referred to the one who entered and joined the gathering.

“As for the second, he felt shy, so Allah showed shyness towards him.”

This referred to the one who remained seated behind the circle without pushing his way forward.

“As for the third, he turned away, so Allah turned away from him.”

This contains a severe warning against turning away from gatherings of knowledge and neglecting the pursuit of beneficial knowledge.

Likewise, it is recorded in both Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, on the authority of Muʿāwiyah ibn Abī Sufyān رضي الله عنه, that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever Allah intends good for, He grants him understanding of the religion.”²

This is a tremendous ḥadīth. It demonstrates that one of the greatest signs that Allah intends good for His servant is that He grants him understanding and insight into the religion. Conversely, one of the signs of deprivation is that a person neglects to seek understanding of the religion, turns away from it, and remains heedless.

It is also recorded by Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever travels a path seeking knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise.”³

Seeking knowledge is among the greatest acts of worship and one of the most important obligations upon every Muslim.

Therefore, my advice to every Muslim man and woman is to be diligent in seeking understanding of the religion, to pursue beneficial knowledge through every lawful means available, and to seize every opportunity to learn.

References

1. Al-Tirmidhī, Muḥammad ibn ʿĪsā. Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, no. 3510. Declared ḥasan by al-Albānī.
2. Al-Bukhārī, Muḥammad ibn Ismāʿīl. Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, no. 71; Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj. Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, no. 1037.
3. Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj. Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, no. 2699.

Ibn Bāz, A.A. (n.d.) Importance of the Circles of Knowledge (Ḥalaq al-ʿIlm). Nūr ʿalā al-Darb. Available at: https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas (Accessed: 25 July 2026).

Translator’s note: This is an edited translation adapted from a Nūr ʿalā al-Darb radio programme answer by Shaykh ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Bāz رحمه الله.