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

                                  Original Arabic

[**من المصائب الكبيرة: ضعف الهمة في طلب العلم!📚
وبيان العلاج من العلامة ابن عثيمين رحمه الله**]

🔹السؤال: فضيلة الشيخ:
يلاحظ ضعف الهمة والفتور في طلب العلم، فما الوسائل والطرق التي تدفع إلى علو الهمة والحرص على العلم؟

🔸فأجاب – حفظه الله ورعاه – بقوله:
ضعف الهمم في طلب العلم الشرعي من المصائب الكبيرة وهناك أمور لابد منها:

الأمر الأول: الإخلاص لله – عز وجل – في الطلب.

والإنسان إذا أخلص لله في الطلب وعرف أنه يُثاب على طلبه وسيكون في الدرجة الثالثة من درجات الأمة فإن همته تنشط {وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُولَئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولَئِكَ رَفِيقا } (النساء الآية:69).

ثانيا:  أن يُلازم زملاء يحثونه على العلم ويساعدونه على المناقشة والبحث، ولا يمل من صحبتهم ماداموا يعينونه على العلم .

ثالثا:   أن يصبر نفسه: بمعني يحبسها لو أرادت أن تتفلت، قال  الله تعال للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : {وَاصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ وَلا تَعْدُ عَيْنَاكَ عَنْهُمْ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا } (الكهف الآية: 28)

▪فليصبر؛
▪وإذا صبر وتعود الطلب صار الطلب سجية له.
▪ وصار اليوم الذي يفقد فيه الطلب يوماً طويلاً عليه.

⛔أما إذا أعطى نفسه العنان فلا.
✋فالنفس أمارة بالسوء.
والشيطان يحثه على الكسل وعدم التعلم.