BENEFIT 456: Intensive Courses and Seminars Are Not Newly Introduced Practices

In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful This is a message from a brother who asks: Do “intensive courses” or “knowledge-based seminars” (Ad-dawrat Al-‘ilmiyyah) have any basis in the Sunnah and the way of the righteous predecessors? And is there any reason to reject them or consider them as an innovation introduced into the Salafi Da'wah? These are the two questions. First Question: Is there a basis in the Prophetic Sunnah or the way of the Salaf for "knowledge-based seminars" or "intensive study sessions"? Answer: Yes, they do have a basis in the pure Sunnah. This is evident from the practice of the Prophet ﷺ. As narrated in Sahih Muslim from ’Amr ibn Al-Akhtab (may Allāh be pleased with him): “The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ led us in the Fajr prayer, then ascended the pulpit and delivered a sermon until the time for Dhuhr came. He then descended and prayed, ascended the pulpit again and continued the sermon until ‘Asr. Then he descended, prayed, and ascended again, delivering the sermon until sunset. He informed us about what had happened and what will happen, and the most knowledgeable among us was the one who remembered the most.” The point of evidence is very clear. The Prophet ﷺ condensed an immense amount of teaching into a single day — the kind of content that could take months or more to cover. Similarly, in the hadith of Hudhayfah (may Allāh be pleased with him): “The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ stood among us and informed us of everything that would occur until the Hour. Those who remembered it retained it, and those who forgot did so. My companions know it. At times I see something and recognise it as what the Prophet ﷺ had mentioned — just as a man recognises another man’s face after being away from him and then seeing him again.” This hadith is also narrated by Imam Muslim. The point of evidence is evident: the Prophet ﷺ addressed in one sitting the trials and events up to the Day of Judgment — as Imam An-Nawawi (may Allāh have mercy on him) titled the chapter: The Prophet's information about What Will Occur Until the Hour. In summary, intensive study sessions are rooted in the practice of the Prophet ﷺ. As for the Salaf, they too engaged in similar practices — some would hold gatherings to dictate thousands of hadiths, and there are books known as Amāli (dictations) compiled from such sessions. Some scholars would even read entire books to their students in a single sitting. These practices are well-established among the righteous predecessors. Second Question: Is there a reason to reject this method and consider it foreign to the Salafi Da'wah? Answer: If a matter has a foundation in the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ or the practice of the Salaf, then there is no justification for rejecting it. Rather, the blame is on those who criticise it without basis. Once this is understood, there is no reason to reject the concept of “intensive courses” or “knowledge-based seminars” as long as they are free from violations of Shari'ah. What should be rejected are seminars or courses that are accompanied by forbidden practices — such as tasweer, begging, Hizbiyyah, groupism, and the like. Similarly, it is objectionable if Knowledge-based seminars become the sole focus of learning to the exclusion of year-round study, which can lead to diminishing the value of sustained knowledge-seeking and the approach of students who devote themselves to study over long periods. Nothing benefits a student of knowledge more than continuous engagement in learning and full dedication to it, rather than relying solely on short-term intensive courses. However, as the saying goes: What cannot be attained in full should not be abandoned in entirety. As for organising such events occasionally to take advantage of the availability and energy of certain students, to encourage them in memorisation and mastery of texts and treatises — or to benefit from the presence or visit of a scholar or teacher in a particular place or time — this should not be