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Fatwa CenterThe age at which a Muslim must learn religious obligations
Question
Salaam alaikum, Praises be to Allaah, the Lord of the Aalameen. Prayers be on Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) and upon his family and his companions and upon the believers. What is the hadith or in which hadith (also if any Quraanic references), that the knowledge (of Islaam) should (it is necessary to) be acquired while you have attained puberty (or at least in your life) and not only thinking, that following only 5 pillars of Islaam is enough to attain salvation? Please reply me for such that I can put forth to my parents regarding gaining knowledge of Islaam and its jurisprudence.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
Allaah created His Slaves so that they would believe in Him and to worship him without associating any partners with Him. Therefore they must learn what is required from them to attain the belief in this Oneness of Allaah and how to worship Him. They must acquire enough knowledge in order to avoid committing prohibitions so that they would worship Allaah according to His Commands and according to the Sunnah of the Prophet .
Hence, a Muslim must learn the obligations which he is obliged to fulfil as soon as he reaches puberty, like how to perform ablution, prayer and the like. When Ramadan or Hajj comes, he is obliged to learn their rulings, and if he is a businessman, he is obliged to learn the rulings of buying and selling so that he would not deal with people with Riba (interest and/or usury). The companions of the Prophet did the same, whenever they wanted to do something or were faced with a difficult matter, they would ask the Prophet about its ruling.
As regards the narrations which are mentioned about the obligation of seeking knowledge, the Prophet said: "Seeking (Islamic) knowledge is an obligation on every Muslim, male or female." [At-Tabaraani]
Concerning the verses which are mentioned about learning the Tawheed [Oneness of Allaah] and acts of worship, Allaah Says (what means): {So know, [O Muhammad ], that there is no deity except Allaah.}[Quran 47:19].
Also the Prophet said: "Pray as you see me praying." [Al-Bukhari]
The Prophet also said: “Whoever performs ablution as he is ordered and prays as he is ordered, his previous sins are forgiven.” [An-Nasaa'i]
Concerning the rulings of Hajj, the Prophet said: “Learn from me your rituals of Hajj.” [Muslim]
For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 88098 and 82087.
Allaah Knows best.
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