Knowledge

Allaah created man and provided him with the tools for
acqruiring knowledge, namely hearing, sight and wisdom.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And Allâh has brought you out from the wombs of your
mothers while you know nothing. And He gave you hearing,
sight, and hearts that you might give thanks (to Allâh)
[al-Nahl 16:78]
Islam is the religion of knowledge. The first aayah of the
Qur’aan to be revealed enjoined reading which is the key
to knowledge. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Read! In the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that
exists).
He has created man from a clot (a piece of thick
coagulated blood).
Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous.
Who has taught (the writing) by the pen.
He has taught man that which he knew not”
[al-‘Alaq 96:1-5]
In Islam, knowledge comes before action; there can be no
action without knowledge, as Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning):
“So know (O Muhammad) that Laa ilaaha ill-Allâh (none
has the right to be worshipped but Allâh), and ask
forgiveness for your sin, and also for (the sin of) believing
men and believing women”
[Muhammad 47:19]
Allaah warns every Muslim against speaking without
knowledge, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And follow not (O man, i.e., say not, or do not, or witness
not) that of which you have no knowledge. Verily, the
hearing, and the sight, and the heart of each of those ones
will be questioned (by Allâh)”
[al-Israa’ 17:36]
Emphasizing the status of knowledge and the scholars,
Allaah calls upon the scholars to bear witness to His
Oneness, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Allâh bears witness that Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the
right to be worshipped but He), and the angels, and those
having knowledge (also give this witness); (He always)
maintains His creation in justice. Laa ilaaha illa Huwa
(none has the right to be worshipped but He), the
All‑Mighty, the All-Wise”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:18]
Knowledge and fear of Allaah may be attained by knowing
His signs and creation. The knowledgeable are those who
know that, hence Allaah praises them by saying
(interpretation of the meaning):
“It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves
that fear Allâh”
[Faatir 35:28]
The scholars occupy a noble status in Islam, and which is
higher than the position of others in this world and in the
Hereafter. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Allâh will exalt in degree those of you who believe, and
those who have been granted knowledge”
[al-Mujaadilah 58:11]
Because of the importance of knowledge, Allaah
commanded His Messenger to seek more of it. Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
“and say: ‘My Lord! Increase me in knowledge’”
[Ta-Ha 20:114]
Allaah praises the scholars, as He says (interpretation of
the meaning):
“Say: ‘Are those who know equal to those who know not?’
It is only men of understanding who will remember (i.e.
get a lesson from Allâh’s Signs and Verses)”
[al-Zumar 39:9]
Those who have knowledge are the quickest of people to
understand the truth and believe in it:
“And that those who have been given knowledge may know
that it (this Qur’aan) is the truth from your Lord, so that
they may believe therein, and their hearts may submit to it
with humility”
[al-Hajj 22:54 – interpretation of the meaning]
Islam calls us to seek knowledge. The Messenger (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) made seeking
knowledge an obligation upon every Muslim, and he
explained that the superiority of the one who has
knowledge over the one who merely worships is like the
superiority of the moon over every other heavenly body.
He said that the scholars are the heirs of the Prophets and
that the Prophets did not leave behind dinars and dirhams
(i.e., money), rather their inheritance was knowledge, so
whoever acquires it has gained a great share. And he
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said that
seeking knowledge is a way to Paradise. He (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever follows a
path in the pursuit of knowledge, Allaah will make a path
to Paradise easy for him.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari,
Kitaab al-‘Ilm, 10)
Islam calls us to learn all kinds of beneficial knowledge.
Branches of knowledge vary in status, the highest of
which is knowledge of sharee’ah, then knowledge of
medicine, then the other fields of knowledge.
The best of all branches of knowledge are the sciences of
sharee’ah through which man comes to know his Lord, and
his [His?} Prophet and religion. This is the knowledge with
which Allaah honoured His Messenger; He taught it to him
so that he might teach it to mankind:
“Indeed, Allâh conferred a great favour on the believers
when He sent among them a Messenger (Muhammad)
from among themselves, reciting unto them His Verses
(the Qur’ân), and purifying them (from sins by their
following him), and instructing them (in) the Book (the
Qur’aan) and Al‑Hikmah [the wisdom and the Sunnah of
the Prophet (i.e. his legal ways, statements and acts of
worship)], while before that they had been in manifest
error”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:164 – interpretation of the meaning]
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: “When Allaah wishes good for a person, He makes
him understand the religion.” (Agreed upon. Narrated by al-
Bukhaari, 69)
Concerning the matter of paying attention to the Qur’aan
and learning and teaching it, the Messenger (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best of you is
the one who learns the Qur’aan and teaches it.” (Agreed
upon. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4639)
There is no goodness in knowledge which is not confirmed
by action, or words which are not confirmed by deeds:
“O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not
do?
Most hateful it is with Allâh that you say that which you
do not do”
[al-Saff :2-3]
The ummah needs knowledgeable people at all times and
in all places. A nation without knowledge and scholars will
live in illusions and sink in darkness. If a person knows
what Allaah has prescribed ..?? {where does this go?}
Whoever conceals this knowledge and deprives the ummah
of it, Allaah will place on him a bridle of fire on the Day of
Resurrection, and he will deserve to be cursed, except for
the one who repents. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
“Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidences and
the guidance, which We have sent down, after We have
made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones
cursed by Allâh and cursed by the cursers.
Except those who repent and do righteous deeds, and
openly declare (the truth which they concealed). These, I
will accept their repentance. And I am the One Who
accepts repentance, the Most Merciful”
[al-Baqarah 2:159-160]
Knowledge brings a great reward. The one who points the
way to something good is like the one who does it. When
the knowledgeable person dies, his reward with Allaah
does not cease when he dies, rather it continues to
increase so long as people benefit from his knowledge. The
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“When a man dies, all his deeds come to an end except
for three – an ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge or a
righteous son who will pray for him.” (Narrated by Muslim,
1631)
If the scholar spreads his knowledge among the people, he
will have a reward like that of those who follow him. The
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“Whoever calls people to right guidance will have a reward
like that of those who follow him, without it detracting
from their reward in the slightest, and whoever calls people
to misguidance will have a burden of sin like that of those
who follow him, without it detracting from their burden in
the slightest.” (Narrated by Muslim, 2674)
Proper understanding of Islam is one of the best of good
characteristics with which a Muslim may be honoured, as
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: “When Allaah wishes good for a person, He makes
him understand the religion.” (Agreed upon).
Reading Qur’aan, learning it and teaching it, are among the
best deeds, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said: “There should be no envy (hasad)
except between two people, a man to whom Allaah has
given (knowledge of?) the Qur’aan, so he recites it night
and day, and a man to whom Allaah has given wealth, so
he spends it (in good deeds) night and day.” (narrated by
Muslim, 815)

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