According to the Islamic jurisprudence view, there are two types of obligations: Fard Ain and Fard Kifaya. Those obligations that are individually responsible are called Fard Ain such as five times prayers and Ramadan fasting. Those obligations that are collectively responsible are called Fard Kifaya such as calling for five times prayers in a mosque. Seeking knowledge also either Fard Ain or Fard Kifaya. Wherever doing one thing is a personal obligation, then knowing how to perform it is also obligatory. After completing the study of individual obligations (Fard Ain), one can begin with collective obligations (Fard Kifaya).
With regard to knowledge, the first obligation is to know how to perform one’s obligatory worship. This includes more than one branch of knowledge. Every Muslim should have minimal knowledge of His Lord Almighty Allah, prophets, divine books and other fundamental tenants of faith. As such, everyone should also know how to offer Salaat, fasting and other tenants of Islam. After obtaining this fundamental knowledge, one can study it even further.
The author clarified that knowledge of individual obligations is the most important aspect of a person’s life. After studying them the seeker of knowledge is required to study Quran, hadith, Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and Usoolul Fiqh (fundamental of Islamic jurisprudence)
Studying Arabic is an important collective duty of the Muslim nation. The author wrote a detailed account of the Arabic language because preserving it is as important as preserving Islam. The two most important sources of Islam, namely the Quran and the Hadith, are written in Arabic. Unlike other languages, Arabic has several distinctive features and structures. There are many branches that come under the topic of the Arabic language, mainly the eights.
1. Philology of language,
2. Morphology,
3. Language syntax,
4. Semantics,
5. Figures of speech,
6. Rhetoric science,
7. Science of poetry
8. Rhyme
There are some sub-branches as well:
1. Science of literary composition of articles and poems,
2. Science of Muhadaraat (kind of semantics)
3. Handwriting.
The author appears to be a strong opponent of the study of logic science and Ilmul Kalaam. But it was clarified by reputed scholars that what he opposed was the logic science that was taught among the Greeks. It is proven that later scholars purified it and established pure Islamic theology, which is absolutely committed to Islamic principles. There is no harm in studying it, rather we may say that it is one of the Fard Kifaya (collective duty).
Finally, the author recommends reading the Ihya of Imam Gazzali. This book is considered to be one of the most popular Sufi Islamic works.