Assalamu’alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim

1. Introduction

Friends whom Allah has blessed, in this era of instant everything, consistency—_istiqāmah_—has become a luxury. Many people start with enthusiasm, but few endure until the end, especially when it comes to seeking knowledge. Yet the path of knowledge is deliberately designed to be full of trials so that its value becomes noble.Psychologically and spiritually, knowledge will not take root in a soul that only seeks comfort.

Allah SWT has made it clear that receiving His revelation and knowledge requires a strong mental readiness.Allah SWT says:إِنَّا سَنُلْقِي عَلَيْكَ قَوْلًا ثَقِيلًا

“Indeed, We will cast upon you a weighty word.” (QS. Al-Muzzammil: 5)

The nature of knowledge is _thaqīl_—heavy. That is why the Messenger of Allah ﷺ reminded us that the key to gaining the blessing of knowledge and deeds is not in how instant they are, but in their continuity.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: أَحَبُّ الأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ أَدْوَمُهَا وَإِنْ قَلَّ

“The deeds most beloved to Allah are those done consistently, even if they are few.” (HR. Bukhārī and Muslim)

2. Lessons and Message

Knowledge is the inheritance of the Prophets. Seeking knowledge is not merely to know, but an act of worship. When we feel tired and struggle in learning, every bead of sweat and every moment of sleepiness is counted as the reward of striving in Allah’s path. Don’t give up just because you don’t understand it today.Let us remember the story of Ibn Ḥajar al-‘Asqalānī in his youth. He once despaired in his studies because he felt his mind was dull and he struggled to memorize. So he went home. On the way, he took shelter in a cave and saw water droplets falling consistently onto a large rock. Over time, that hard rock became perforated—only because of gentle water drops that never stopped.He cried and realized: “If a hard rock can be pierced by water, how could my soft heart not be penetrated by knowledge?” He returned to studying consistently until he became a great scholar and authority in hadith.Seeking knowledge is like planting a teak tree. It doesn’t grow overnight like bean sprouts. It takes years, battered by wind and rain, yet its roots grip the earth firmly and its trunk becomes invaluable. Consistency is its fertilizer.Nowadays, many of us want to become smart through the “heavenly express lane” but are too lazy to read. We want to sleep and wake up already having memorized an entire book. In the end, some study using the “SKS” method—Sistem Kebut Semalam, or “Cram-All-Night System.” Worse yet, some even use their textbooks as pillows, hoping the knowledge will seep in through the pores of the pillowcase.Of course, what seeps in isn’t the knowledge, but the map of continents on the pillow—aka our drool! Knowledge is approached with walking feet and awake eyes, not through sweet dreams.

3. Conclusion and Closing

Brothers and sisters, difficulty in seeking knowledge is a selection test. It’s Allah’s way of determining whether we deserve to be raised in rank. Don’t stop when you’re tired; stop when you understand. One page every day is far better than a thousand pages once in a lifetime.Imām ash-Shāfi‘ī said: “If you cannot endure the hardship of learning, then you must endure the bitterness of ignorance.”May Allah grant us all the quality of istiqāmah in seeking knowledge until the end of our lives.

والله أعلم بالصواب

الحمد لله رب العالمين

Wassalamu’alaikum Warahmaullahi Wabarakatuh.

ِAbu Sultan Al-Qadrie