Six Things Needed to Attain Knowledge

These beautiful lines are famously attributed to Imām al-Shāfiʿī (رَحِمَهُ اللهُ):

أَخِي لَنْ تَنَالَ الْعِلْمَ إِلَّا بِسِتَّةٍ
سَأُنْبِيكَ عَنْ تَفْصِيلِهَا بِبَيَانِ

ذَكَاءٌ وَحِرْصٌ وَاجْتِهَادٌ وَبُلْغَةٌ
وَصُحْبَةُ أُسْتَاذٍ وَطُولُ زَمَانِ

“My brother, you will not attain knowledge except through six things.
I will tell you clearly what they are:

Intelligence, eagerness, diligent effort, sufficient provision,
the company of a teacher, and a long period of time.”

There is a lot to reflect on in these few words.

Knowledge does not come through intelligence alone. It requires:

ذَكَاءٌ — the ability to understand.

حِرْصٌ — genuine eagerness and desire to learn.

اجْتِهَادٌ — consistent effort and hard work.

بُلْغَةٌ — enough provision and means to continue seeking knowledge.

صُحْبَةُ أُسْتَاذٍ — studying under a teacher and benefiting from their guidance.

طُولُ زَمَانِ - time
Knowledge is not built in a few weeks or months.

Perhaps the last point is especially important today.

We often want knowledge quickly. But real learning is something built slowly, consistently, under guidance, over years.

Intelligence helps — but without eagerness, effort, a teacher and patience, it is not enough.