From The Great Calamities: Weakness of One’s Zeal in Seeking Knowledge and The Cure for It

Question posed to al-Imam Shaykh ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy upon him): Noble Shaykh, one experiences weakness in one’s zeal and laziness when it comes to seeking knowledge. What are the means and the ways which push one to have a high zeal for and diligence in [seeking] knowledge?
The Shaykh answered: Having weakness in one’s zeal for seeking the legislated knowledge is from the great calamities. There are matters that are a must (in order to remove this calamity).

 The first matter is: Sincerity for Allah in seeking the knowledge. When the person is sincere in seeking knowledge for Allah’s sake, and he knows that he will be rewarded for seeking it and that he will be on the third level (of the people) from this ummah, his zeal will become vigorous. Allah has mentioned:
وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُولَئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولَئِكَ رَفِيقا 

Whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger, then they will be in the company of those on whom Allah has bestowed His Grace, of the Prophets, the Siddiqun (those followers of the Prophets who were first and foremost to believe in them), the martyrs, and the righteous. And how excellent these companions are! (Soorah an-Nisaa: 69)

The second matter: The person should stick with colleagues that encourage him to seek knowledge; they assist him upon the debating (of knowledge-based topics) and research (of the knowledge). He doesn’t become bored of their companionship as long as they assist him in acquiring knowledge.
The third matter: He makes himself patient. Meaning by that, he restrains himself if his soul wants to leave off seeking knowledge. Allah has stated to His Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam):
وَاصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ وَلا تَعْدُ عَيْنَاكَ عَنْهُمْ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا  

And keep yourself patiently with those who call on their Lord morning and afternoon, seeking His Face, and let not your eyes overlook them, desiring the beauty of this worldly life.

(Soorah al-Kahf: 28)

Therefore let him be patient. When he is patient and becomes accustomed to seeking knowledge, the seeking of knowledge becomes a natural trait for him. And the day in which he doesn’t seek knowledge becomes a long day upon him. As for when the person gives his soul the reigns (of control), then no, (don’t do this)! There’s a part of the soul that commands with evil and the Shaytaan encourages the person to be lazy and not learn.
Source: http://www.ibnothaimeen.com/all/books/article_17907.shtml

Translated by: Abu Yusuf Khaleefah

12th of Dhul Hijjah, 1435 (6th of October, 2014)

Masjid Nur Allah, LeFrak City, Corona, NYC