What is the meaning of "read to the شيخ (shaykh)" in the Shar'i sciences, and does it mean the student reading by himself or merely attending the lesson? And when is the شيخ considered a شيخ to the student? And is it permissible to narrate a hadith heard from the internet with an isnad (chain of narration)?
"When it is said that someone 'read to' a shaykh in a certain field of knowledge, it means that they read to him some books or things related to that field. If it is said that he 'read a certain book to him,' it usually means that the shaykh explained the book to him or listened to him recite it to correct him. This includes attending lessons, or the shaykh reading while the student listens. The shaykh is considered the student's shaykh even if the student benefited only a little from him. As for what is heard from the Internet, it is considered beneficial if it is confirmed that the voice belongs to the shaykh mentioned."
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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