SELF STUDY

MUTAA LA AH

Mutaala-ah (مطالعة) is derived from the term tuloo (طلوع) which means to rise, to emerge. This infinitive verb (i.e. the masdar (مصدر ) belong to the section known in Ilm-e-Sarf as Baab Mufaa-alah (مفاعلة) . A characteristic (خاصية) of this baab is tadiyah, i.e. transformation of the verb into the active state. Hence, the meaning of mutaala-ah will be:“to extricate, to bring out or to take out.”

Mutaala-ah here refers to the self-study of lessons prior to attending classes. Mutaala-ah comprises three aspects:

1. Solving all problems pertaining to Ilm-e-Sarf.

2. Solving all problems pertaining to Ilm-e-Nahw.

3. Establishing the actual meaning of the lesson.

Mutaala-ah does not mean merely to brush or glance over the words and rattle them off. The student of Deeni knowledge has to hear in mind the reality and importance of this system of self-study and engross himself therein. An important requirement for mutaala-ah is solitude. Success in mutaala-ah will be commensurate with the degree of solitude the student adopts.

i.: Initially the student will experience difficulty in the exercise of correctand true mutaala-ah and inspite of expending considerable time in it he will perceive little progress (i.e. quantitatively). After having spent much time he may succeed in solving only one or two lines of the lesson. However, constancy in mutaala-ah will lead to improvement in ability and speed to solve the intricacies of the lessons. The sharpness in his intellect will increase considerably. Moreover, he will experience great intellectual pleasure from his mutaala-ah. The lessons will become grounded in his mind. This then is the way to create intellectual ability and progress.

It is therefore essential to sacrifice time and comfort in the exercise of mutaala-ah. The student must banish indolence from his itinerary. As far as is possible mutaala-ah must be undertaken before attending any lesson in class.