Sacred knowledge is received through manners before memorisation — the tools serve the adab, they do not replace it.
Embarking on the Zad Academy journey is not a withdrawal from life — Islam is a way of living, not an abandonment of daily responsibility. The Prophet ﷺ taught excellence in every daily action, and seeking knowledge is itself an act of worship when approached correctly.
Semester one, at a glance
Whoever travels a path in search of knowledge, Allah makes easy for him a path to Paradise.
The scholars are the heirs of the Prophets.
Before you begin
- Renew your intention (niyyah) before every session — seek this knowledge for Allah’s sake, not for status or to be seen.
- Begin with dua: “Rabbi zidni ‘ilma” — “My Lord, increase me in knowledge” (Qur’an 20:114).
- Approach with humility — you are not simply attending a class; you are seeking to inherit something from the legacy of the Prophets.
Sustaining the journey spiritually
- Where you’re able, guard the night prayer (tahajjud) or the pre-dawn hour — it softens the heart and has long been treasured by students of knowledge as a blessed, clear-headed time to revise.
- Keep the tongue moist with dhikr and istighfar between study blocks — it is not “wasted” time away from study, it feeds it.
- Avoid persistent sin. The scholars taught that sin dulls the heart and makes knowledge slower to settle, however sharp the mind.
- Stay cheerful in your learning — sadness and self-criticism make retention harder, not more sincere.
The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those done consistently, even if small.
Treat the session like a majlis of 'ilm
The greatest struggle in online or self-directed study is presence — guard it as you would in a physical gathering of knowledge.
Passive hearing
Audio plays while the mind wanders; "I'll just watch the recording properly later." Eyes on the screen, thoughts elsewhere.
Active listening
Following the teacher's thread of thought, noting key points as they arise, treating each class as your one chance to learn it live.
Remove distractions
Notifications off. One fixed, quiet spot reserved only for study.
Arrive early
Settle in, test your audio, and be ready before the lesson begins.
Don't be a passive viewer
Engage as if the teacher is in the room. Ask, answer, admit when you didn't understand.
Give it the masjid's seriousness
Give the online class the same reverence and effort you'd give a lesson in the masjid.
A few more class habits
- Sit with good posture and dressed presentably — even at home, don’t attend half-asleep or mid-chore.
- Don’t let your attention chase every noise or notification — a distraction outside the lesson doesn’t deserve more of your focus than the lesson itself.
- A cough or sneeze is fine — say alhamdulillah quietly; try to suppress a yawn rather than let it show.
- Save side conversations — messages to a classmate, quick replies — for after class.
- When the mind drifts, gently bring it back without guilt. This is a skill to train, not a flaw to feel bad about.
When an elephant once passed by a gathering of Imam Malik, every student turned to look — except one, who kept facing the teacher. When asked why, he said: "I did not come to see an elephant; I came to see the teacher." However small the distraction, the lesson deserves the greater share of your attention.
Studying from home is a mercy — but the barakah of ‘ilm depends on how we seek it, not where. Ease should never diminish the seeker.
Adab towards the teacher
The teacher is a means of barakah — honour them as students of knowledge always have, even through a screen.
Honour & humility
Lower yourself before the one teaching you; arrogance blocks the light of knowledge from settling.
Full attention
Eyes on the lesson, not multitasking or scrolling. You'll feel like you're still following — but the barakah of the session is missed.
Ask with respect
Pose questions politely, at the right time, without interrupting. A sincere question is often answered anyway before you get to ask it.
Make dua for them
Pray for your teachers by name. Their barakah in your learning is tied to your gratitude and respect toward them.