Twenty Volumes Is Nothing: Perseverance in the Pursuit of Knowledge

Shaykh Ṣāliḥ ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz Āl al-Shaykh (b. 1378 AH / 1959 CE) said: “I once asked the renowned man of letters and editor of a major portion of Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī, Shaykh Maḥmūd Muḥammad Shākir (d. 1418 AH / 1997 CE), to recommend a book on the Arabic language for me to read. He replied, ‘Read Lisān al-ʿArab.’ I said, ‘Lisān al-ʿArab consists of twenty volumes. How can I read that?’ He responded, ‘Then go and find another career in trade or employment. Knowledge is not suitable for you. Twenty volumes are nothing. We read it to our shaykh twice, and on the third occasion we did not even complete it.’ I believe he was referring to his teacher, Shaykh Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Muʿṭī al-Marṣafī (d. 1354 AH / 1935 CE).”

*For those who wish to start their journey in reading Lisān al-ʿArab may click here – May Allāh ﷻ aid you.

Ṣalaḥ al-Irānī: Shaykh Maḥmūd Muḥammad Shākir (d. 1418 AH / 1997 CE) was among the most distinguished Arab scholars of the modern era, renowned for his mastery of Arabic language, literature, and textual criticism. His response was not intended to discourage learning, but rather to emphasise that true scholarship demands patience, perseverance, and willingness to endure difficulty. Lisān al-ʿArab, compiled by Ibn Manẓūr (d. 711 AH / 1311 CE), is among the most comprehensive dictionaries of the Arabic language. Its length and depth reflect the vastness of Arabic linguistic heritage. For earlier scholars, reading such a work in its entirety, and even repeating it, was considered part of rigorous scholarly training. Shākir’s statement, “Knowledge is not suitable for you,” highlights a fundamental principle: seeking knowledge is not a casual pursuit. It requires long-term commitment, intellectual discipline, and readiness to sacrifice comfort and ease. Those who are unwilling to exert themselves are unlikely to attain genuine scholarly depth.