LEARN FROM OTHERS - Be Open Minded

In the name of the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful Allah
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بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

When a man is married, his paradigms shift. His priorities turn around. All of a sudden, he is keen to live a happy married life, but how will he do so? I met a friend who was older than me, and married for longer than me. Known for his piety and good conduct, he gave me seven pieces of advice despite being shy and uncomfortable in providing them.

Do not be shy to gain knowledge from the expert advice of others, and from experience and sound advice, especially if the giver is a pious and wise individual.

In addition to the Quran and Sunnah, we should benefit from the experience and wisdom of others. Consider how Musa alaihis salam went in search for knowledge from Khidr.

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَاهُ لَا أَبْرَحُ حَتَّىٰ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِيَ حُقُبًا

And when Musa said to his young man (servant): I shall not cease until I reach the confluence of the two seas or I go on for ages. (18:60)

Musa, alaihis salam, sought to gain knowledge from someone else, who knew what he did not know. This is despite Musa being given the Torah in which was guidance and light.

وَكَتَبْنَا لَهُ فِي الْأَلْوَاحِ مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مَّوْعِظَةً وَتَفْصِيلًا لِّكُلِّ شَيْءٍ

And We wrote for him on the Tablets of everything an admonition, and an expounding of everything. (7:145)

Whoever holds to the Quran will not go astray, but this doesn’t mean knowledge and wisdom can’t be gained from other places. The Quran itself draws our attention to the world, to history, to different things, reminding people to contemplate and think.

وَذَكِّرْهُم بِأَيَّامِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ

And remind them of the days of Allah. Indeed in that are signs for everyone patient and grateful. (14:5)

For in advice and experience Allah has kept a lot of knowledge, the religion is sincerity, and the word of wisdom is the lost treasure of the believer.

الْكَلِمَةُ الْحِكْمَةُ ضَالَّةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ فَحَيْثُ وَجَدَهَا فَهُوَ أَحَقُّ بِهَا

The word of wisdom is the lost property of the believer. Wherever he finds it, he is most deserving of it .(Tirmidhī 2687, Hasan (fair) according to Al-Suyuti)