The Etiquette of Seeking Knowledge (Al-Hidaayah)

…to adorn oneself with beautiful etiquette, noble manners, good behaviour, and pious conduct are distinguishing characteristics of the people of Islaam, and knowledge – the most precious pearl in the crown of the purified Sharee’ah – cannot be attained except by those who adorn themselves with its etiquette and those who leave evil qualities associated to it. For this reason the scholars devoted their attention to this etiquette, outlined its importance and wrote books solely on this topic; either pertaining to (general conduct) with all types of knowledge or to specific types of knowledge such as the etiquette of the carriers of the Noble Qur’aan, the etiquette of the muhaddith, the etiquette of the muftee, the etiqutte of the qaadee (judge), the etiquette of the muhtasib (the one who enjoins good and forbids evil for the sake of Allaah) and so on. The issue of this book is the general conduct of those who take the path seeking the knowledge of the Sharee’ah.