Title of Book : Teaching the Student the Method of Studying
(English version of ‘Ta’leem Al-Muta’allim Tareeq Al-Ta’allum’)

Translated by : Moulana Ebrahim Muhammad
Published by : Madrasah Arabia Islamia and Zam Zam Publishers
Language : English
Pages : 124

‘Teaching the Student the Method of Studying’ is the English version of the popular book ‘Ta’leem Al-Muta’allim Tareeq Al-Ta’allum’ authored by the great scholar of Islam Burhaan Al-Deen Al-Zurnooji (Rahimahullah).

The English translation is done by Moulana Ebrahim Muhammad and jointly published by Madrasah Arabia Islamia, South Africa and Zam Zam Publishers, Pakistan. The first edition came out in January 2005.

To know the value of this book, one needs to know the value of its origin. Burhaan Al-Deen Al-Zurnooji (Rahimahullah) wrote ‘Ta’leem Al-Muta’allim Tareeq Al-Ta’allum’ with good intention of guiding the knowledge seekers in the proper and successful way of acquiring knowledge. By the grace of Allah Ta’ala the work became a success and delivered the goods, thus gaining popularity among the teachers, students and scholars at large.

‘Ta’leem Al-Muta’allim Tareeq Al-Ta’allum’ treats inter alia the following subjects:

01. Reality of knowledge and jurisprudence and their virtue

02. Intention while studying

03. Choosing knowledge, teacher and companion and steadfastness in knowledge

04. Honouring knowledge and people of knowledge

05. Effort, punctuality and resoluteness

06. Beginning of lesson, its amount and its sequence

07. Trust

08. Time for seeking knowledge

09. Compassion and advice

10. Seeking benefit

11. Piety while studying

12. Factors which improve memory and factors which impair memory

13. Factors that increase sustenance and factors that decrease sustenance

The book is well organized. It deals with almost all aspects of the learning process. Only the ones who read this book in depth will attain real benefits from it. Most importantly the matters discussed in the book are of paramount importance in terms of educational psychology. The author Imam Burhaan Al-Deen Al-Zurnooji (Rahimahullah) lived in the sixth Hijri century. It is public knowledge psychology was not known to anyone 800 years ago. But the author surprisingly discoursed on the matters that fall in line with today’s psychology.

The book ‘Ta’leem Al-Muta’allim Tareeq Al-Ta’allum’ needs no introduction as it has been in the hands of scholars through the ages and a key textbook in the curricula of Arabic madrasahs for years and years. It is still in use at the Arabic madrasahs. History bears ample testimony to the fact that the book ‘Ta’leem Al-Muta’allim Tareeq Al-Ta’allum’ had received the acclamation and admiration of ulama and educationists and their recommendation for using it as a textbook.

Every word in ‘Ta’leem Al-Muta’allim Tareeq Al-Ta’allum’ is gold and well worth reading and practicing. I say this from my personal experience as I have studied it in the classroom during my madrasah days and still refer to it as and when needed.

Considering the academic and psychological richness of ‘Ta’leem Al-Muta’allim Tareeq Al-Ta’allum’, the Western World embraces it and has started researching it. Many studies and researches have come out as a result of accommodating this amazing book for the research purpose at the Western universities.

‘Ta’leem Al-Muta’allim Tareeq Al-Ta’allum’ which is originally in Arabic, has been rendered into English. The translator Moulana Ebrahim Muhammad has done a wonderful job that should be commended. His work has paved the way for easy understanding by those who do not have a command of Arabic.

Madrasah Arabia Islamia in South Africa and Zam Zam Publishers in Pakistan have jointly published the English version.

The translator and the publishers deserve our appreciation and dua.

The ‘Ta’leem Al-Muta’allim Tareeq Al-Ta’allum’ is highly recommended to students, teachers, scholars, educationists, psychologists and voracious readers and they need to read this priceless book and abide by the advices therein. A student who follows the guidelines given in ‘Ta’leem Al-Muta’allim Tareeq Al-Ta’allum’ to the letter, applies the techniques therein contained duly and strictly adheres to the advices in it, will undoubtedly succeed in the path of seeking knowledge with the help of Almighty Allah.

I am sure that ‘Ta’leem Al-Muta’allim Tareeq Al-Ta’allum’ treasured throughout history will remain a source of guidance, information, motivation and inspiration till doomsday in sha Allah.

May Allah, the Exalted, be pleased with Imam Burhaan Al-Deen Al-Zurnooji, Moulana Ebrahim Muhammad and the publishers and grant them all full rewards!

Ash-Shaikh H. Abdul Nazar

15.03.1442
02.11.2020