To What Extent Is Islam Concerned with Knowledge?
Katheer ibn Qays rahimahullaah reported:
“I was sitting in the company of Abu Darda (radiallaahu anhu) in the mosque of Damascus when a man came, and said:
‘Abu Darda, I have come to you from the
City of Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam); I have not
come for any need (but to ascertain a hadeeth) for I have been told that
you narrated it from Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam).’
Abu Darda said I heard Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) saying:
“He who treads a path in
search of knowledge Allah will direct him to tread a path from the paths
of Paradise, and the angels would accord welcome to the seekers of
knowledge and all that is found in the heavens and the earth and even
the fish in the depth of the water seek forgiveness for the scholar, and
the superiority of the scholar over the worshipper is like that of the
full moon at night over the rest of the stars. And verily the scholars
are the heirs (inheritors) of the Prophets who leave behind neither
dinar nor dirham. They only leave knowledge as their heritage: so
whoever acquires it has acquired a huge fortune.”
Reported by Imam Ahmad, Imam Abu Dawud and Imam Ibn Majah (graded authentic)
To what extent is Islam concerned with knowledge?
Allah created man and provided him with the tools for acquiring knowledge, namely hearing, sight and wisdom.
Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And Allah 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 Allah)”
[al-Nahl 16:78]
Islam is the religion of knowledge. The first ayah of the Qur’an to be revealed enjoined reading which is the key to knowledge.
Allah 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 Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“So know (O Muhammad) that Laa
ilaaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), and
ask forgiveness for your sin, and also for (the sin of) believing men
and believing women”
[Muhammad 47:19]
Allah 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 Allah)”
[al-Israa’ 17:36]
Emphasizing the status of knowledge and the scholars, Allah calls
upon the scholars to bear witness to His Oneness, as He says
(interpretation of the meaning):
“Allah bears witness that Laa
ilaaha 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 Allah may be attained by knowing His signs and
creation. The knowledgeable are those who know that, hence Allah praises
them by saying (interpretation of the meaning):
“It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah”
[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.
Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Allah 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, Allah commanded His Messenger to seek more of it.
Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“and say: ‘My Lord! Increase me in knowledge’”
[Ta-Ha 20:114]
Allah 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 Allah’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’an) 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 Allah 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 Allah be upon him) said that seeking knowledge
is a way to Paradise.
He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“Whoever follows a path in the pursuit of knowledge, Allah will make a path to Paradise easy for him.”
(Narrated by al-Bukhari, 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
shari’ah, then knowledge of medicine, then the other fields of
knowledge.The best of all branches of knowledge are the sciences of shari’ah through which man comes to know his Lord, and his [His?} Prophet and religion. This is the knowledge with which Allah honoured His Messenger; He taught it to him so that he might teach it to mankind:
“Indeed, Allah 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’an), and
purifying them (from sins by their following him), and instructing them
(in) the Book (the Qur’an) 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 Allah be upon him) said:
“When Allah wishes good for a person, He makes him understand the religion.”
(Agreed upon. Narrated by al-Bukhari, 69)
Concerning the matter of paying attention to the Qur’an and learning
and teaching it, the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him) said:
“The best of you is the one who learns the Qur’an and teaches it.”
(Agreed upon. Narrated by al-Bukhari, 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 Allah 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 Allah has prescribed….. Whoever
conceals this knowledge and deprives the Ummah of it, Allah 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.
Allah 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 Allah 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 Allah 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 Allah 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 Allah 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 Allah be upon him) said:
“When Allah wishes good for a person, He makes him understand the religion.”
(Agreed upon)
Reading Qur’an, learning it and teaching it, are among the best
deeds, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“There should be no envy
(hasad) except between two people, a man to whom Allah has given
(knowledge of?) the Qur’an, so he recites it night and day, and a man to
whom Allah has given wealth, so he spends it (in good deeds) night and
day.”
(Narrated by Muslim, 815)
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