Knowledge
Since 2012-11-17
Knowledge plays a big role in a Human's life, in reference to this importance Allah first revealed of the Qur'an to his Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) the Word Iqra (Read).
{Read! In the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that exists) (1) He has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood) (2) Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous (3) Who has taught (the writing) by the pen (4) He has taught man that which he knew not.} [Surat Al-‘Alaq 96:1-5].
{اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ (1) خَلَقَ الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ (2) اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ (3) الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ (4) عَلَّمَ الْإِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ} سورة العلق
Transliteration: Iqra biismi rabbika allathee khalaqa (1) Khalaqa alinsana min AAalaqin (2) Iqra warabbuka alakramu (3) Allathee AAallama bialqalami (4) AAallama alinsana ma lam yaAAlam
Importance of knowledge
Knowledge plays a big role in a Human’s life, in reference to this importance Allah first revealed of the Qur’an to his Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) the Word Iqra (Read). It was the first order that Allah gave to his prophet and his followers after him to read and learn, so man would acknowledge the crucial role of this knowledge in his life and great need for it. When the order was {Read! In the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that exists)}
{اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ}
Transliteration: Iqra biismi rabbika allathee khalaqa
It was apparent that the first knowledge to be sought is the one that leads and acquaints man to his Lord and Creator, Glorified and Exalted Be he. Allah Almighty linked knowledge to his name because he is the source of all knowledge including man’s faculties that was gifted to him in his nature, Allah Almighty said:
{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).} [Surat Al-Nahl 16:78].
{وَاللَّـهُ أَخْرَجَكُم مِّن بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ شَيْئًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَالْأَفْئِدَةَ ۙ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ} سورة النحل: 78
Transliteration: WaAllahu akhrajakum min butooni ommahatikum la taAAlamoona shayan wajaAAala lakumu alssamAAa waalabsara waalafidata laAAallakum tashkuroona
He made hearing and sight the instruments of collecting it and the heart receives, thus comprehending the way Allah, Glorified and Exalted be he, taught it. From Allah comes all good and even if man ascended in the hierarchy of knowledge it would be from Allah’s Grace granting him knowledge and success, this applies to all good we see, its from Allah Almighty not from man. He must ascribe this favour to the One worthy of gratitude, not being like Qaarun when he said {This has been given to me only because of the knowledge I possess}[Surat Al-Qasas 28:78],
{قَالَ إِنَّمَا أُوتِيتُهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ عِندِي} سورة القصص: 78
Transliteration: Qala innama ooteetuhu AAala AAilmin AAindee
Thank Allah Almighty for this grace {And whatever of blessings and good things you have, it is from Allâh} [Surat Al-Nahl 53:78],
{وَمَا بِكُم مِّن نِّعْمَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّـهِ} سورة النحل: 53
Transliteration: Wama bikum min niAAmatin
Allah Almighty is the One who taught you O Man.
It doesn’t stop here; Allah Almighty also stated the tool that will reserve this knowledge:
{Who has taught (the writing) by the pen (4) He has taught man that which he knew not.} [Surat Al-‘Alaq 96:4-5].
{الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ ﴿٤﴾ عَلَّمَ الْإِنسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ} سورة العلق: 4-5
Transliteration: Allathee AAallama bialqalami (4) AAallama alinsana ma lam yaAAlam
Therefore the way to collect, interpret and reserving knowledge is through the Pen (writing). Ibn Al-Qayim said about the pen in his book Muftah Dar As-Sa’adah (The key to the Abode of Joy) as quoted by Al-Qasimy: “Through it knowledge becomes eternal, rights are proved, wills are known, testimonies are reserved, transactions between people are fixed and the traditions of the predecessors scripted for the successors. If it wasn’t for writing some eras would have been missing from the memory of man, Sunnan (traditions) and rulings would have been mixed up and successors wouldn’t be acquainted with their predecessors. Most of the defects intruding people’s religion and lives are caused by the forgetfulness that erases the imaging of knowledge in their hearts so books were made as containers to this knowledge from loss, like cupboards that save you belongings from being lost. Thus, learning to write is one of the greatest blessings granted by Allah, Glorified and exalted be he, after Qur’an.”
Real knowledge is to fear
{……..It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is All-Mighty, Oft-Forgiving.} [Surat Fatir 35:28].
{إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّـهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ} سورة فاطر: 28
Transliteration: innama yakhsha Allaha min AAibadihi alAAulamao inna Allaha AAazeezun ghafoorun
Real knowledge is to fear Allah, Glorified and Exalted be he, this is the main objective of knowledge. A person learns primarily to benefit himself and act upon what he learnt to achieve this fear, the one who learns ablution and praying perfecting them the way prescribed by Allah, Glorified and Exalted be he, and taught to His Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) is who fears Allah genuinely, because he fears that he won’t perform them the way Allah The All-Knower prescribed hence neglecting its pillars, this kind of fear is the reason that made him achieve this knowledge.
Real fear of Allah Also leads to the correct knowledge, the ascetic Imam Al-Hassan Al-Basrey (May Allah have mercy on him) said: “There are two types of knowledge; knowledge through the tongue and the other through the heart. The knowledge of heart is the beneficial knowledge and the knowledge of tongue is proof of Allah on the son of Adam.” (Al-Thul Wal Inkisar Dimn Wasa’il Ibn Rajab 1/296).
Beneficial knowledge is the one that resides in hearts leading it to tranquility and fear, humbleness to Allah is humility and need to Him. If it doesn’t reside in the hearts it will only reach the tongue which will be a proof against him and others in accordance to what Ibn Mas’ud (May Allah be pleased with him) said: “Some folks recite the Qur’an, but their recitation doesn’t exceed their clavicles, but if this reciting resides in the heart it would benefit its bearer.” (Al-Thul Wal Inkisar Dimn Wasa’il Ibn Rajab 1/296).
Proof of knowledge
{Shall he then who knows that what has been revealed unto you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) from your Lord is the truth be like him who is blind? But it is only the men of understanding that pay heed.} [Surat Ar-Ra’d 13:19].
{أَفَمَن يَعْلَمُ أَنَّمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ الْحَقُّ كَمَنْ هُوَ أَعْمَىٰ ۚ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ} سورة الرعد: 19
Transliteration: Afaman yaAAlamu annama onzila ilayka min rabbika alhaqqu kaman huwa aAAma innama yatathakkaru oloo alalbabi
Allah has favoured the one who knows the truth, which is Islam, over the blind that sees and hears but doesn’t comprehend anything of what he observes from the teachings of Islam. This is the one Allah meant good for him, it is said that this verse was revealed on Hamzah Ibn Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him ) and Abu Jahl as stated in Tafsir Ibn Kathir.
The high status of people of knowledge
Allah Almighty raised the ranks of true people of knowledge linking them to His name and elevated their status revealing the importance of knowledge and people bearing it, Allah Exalted be His praise, said:
{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)……..} [Surat Al-‘Imran 3:18].
{شَهِدَ اللَّـهُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ وَأُولُو الْعِلْمِ...} سورة آل عمران: 18
Transliteration: Shahida Allahu annahu la ilaha illa huwa waalmalaikatu waoloo alAAilmi
{…….Allâh will exalt in degree those of you who believe, and those who have been granted knowledge….} [Surat Al-Mujadilah 58:11].
{...يَرْفَعِ اللَّـهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ...} سورة المجادلة: 11
Transliteration: yarfaAAi Allahu allatheena amanoo minkum waallatheena ootoo alAAilma darajatin
Allah’s wisdom required that for the difference between who knows and who doesn’t know, who knows is more aware of Allah than whom have been ignorant of Him, Praise to Him Almighty, thus approximates the person of knowledge to Him. They are like travelers one of them knows the roads and the other doesn’t out of ignorance, hence the one eligible to reach the high rank, status, faith and proximity is the person of knowledge not the ignorant.
People of Knowledge are the heirs of Prophets
It was narrated by Kathier Ibn Qays saying: I was sitting with Aby Ad-Darda in a Masjid in Damascus, a man approached Aby Ad-Darda and said to him, “I came to you from the city of the Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) to learn a Hadith people said you narrate it from the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) not for any other reason. He said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) say: “Whoever walks through the path of knowledge seeking knowledge through it, Allah will give him a path to paradise and the Angels will lower their wings pleased with the student of knowledge and every creature in the heavens and earth will ask for forgiveness to the person of knowledge even the fish in the deep water. A person of knowledge is favoured over a worshipper like brightness of a full moon to other planets and people of knowledge are the heirs of Prophets, as prophets didn’t leave behind any Diraham or Dinar (money) to be inherited, but they left knowledge as inheritance, hence whoever attains it, had attained endless fortune. [Reported by Abu Dawud and authenticated by Al-Albani].
«من سلك طريقا يطلب فيه علما، سلك الله به طريقا من طرق الجنة، وإن الملائكة لتضع أجنحتها رضا لطالب العلم، وإن العالم ليستغفر له من في السماوات ومن في الأرض، والحيتان في جوف الماء، وإن فضل العالم على العابد كفضل القمر ليلة البدر على سائر الكواكب، وإن العلماء ورثة الأنبياء، وإن الأنبياء لم يورثوا دينارا ولا درهما، ورثوا العلم فمن أخذه أخذ بحظ وافر» رواه أبو داود وصححه الألباني
That’s why Prophets are the most knowledgeable among people, knowing Allah and being aware of him. The honour of knowledge and its importance is according to its content and the extent of need by people. There is nothing demanded more by people than knowing Allah and his religion that’s why knowledge is the legacy of Prophets (peace be upon them). Prophets didn’t leave any money to be inherited but they left knowledge for this main reason it is an obligation upon every Muslim to seek from this knowledge and learn from it the amount that is important for him and cannot live without.
In the Hadith also the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) states the reward of the one walks in the path of knowledge and obstacles eliminated for this sake. All creatures ask for forgiveness for the bearer of knowledge even fish in the deep see because through this knowledge he sought he will spread among people and teach them the difference between righteousness and corruption, therefore creatures including people will be blessed with peace and justice that follow the prevalence of knowledge.
The knowledgeable man of Allah
{……..On the contrary (he would say): "Be you Rabbâniyyin (learned men of religion who practice what they know and also preach others), because you are teaching the Book, and you are studying it."} [Surat Al-‘Imran 3:97].
{وَلَـٰكِن كُونُوا رَبَّانِيِّينَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ الْكِتَابَ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ} سورة آل عمران: 79
Transliteration: walakin koonoo rabbaniyyeena bima kuntum tuAAallimoona alkitaba wabima kuntum tadrusoona
A knowledgeable man of Allah who builds himself and others, acts upon what he learns and teaches it to others, and he is the one who educates people with little particularities of knowledge before the complex ones. The knowledgeable man of Allah carries wisdom and Fiqh (understanding) taking people gradually up the ladder of knowledge eliminating obstacles in perfection and insight. Al-Asma’y and Al-Isma’ily said: “Al-Rabani refers to Al-Rab (The Lord), the one who takes heed of what he was commanded of by his Lord from knowledge and Deeds. (This is our morals when we become true believers by Muhammad Al-Khazindar).
It was narrated that Huthaifa said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) say: “Do not gain knowledge to try to exceed people of knowledge, boast in front of the fools or to attract the attention of people to you whoever does that will be in Hellfire”.” [Reported by Ibn Majah and declared good (Hasan) by Al-Albani].
«لا تعلموا العلم لتباهوا به العلماء أو لتماروا به السفهاء أو لتصرفوا وجوه الناس إليكم فمن فعل ذلك فهو في النار» رواه ابن ماجه وحسنه الألباني
Therefore the main aim from seeking knowledge is the Countenance of Allah not to boast and quarrel; this is a significant mark that distinguishes the knowledgeable man of Allah from whom claimed to be one. One of the characteristics the knowledgeable man of Allah carries is steadfastness on what he learned of true knowledge even if people neglect him, moreover he doesn’t follow them in their corrupt ways.
Being right is not by number, where large number was detested by Allah Almighty in many places in the Quran when he said:
{Or say they: There is madness in him? Nay, but he brought them the truth [i.e. Tauhîd: Worshipping Allâh Alone in all aspects, the Qur’ân and the religion of Islâm], but most of them (the disbelievers) are averse to the truth.} [Surat Al-Muminun 23:70].
{أَمْ يَقُولُونَ بِهِ جِنَّةٌ ۚ بَلْ جَاءَهُم بِالْحَقِّ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ لِلْحَقِّ كَارِهُونَ} سورة المؤمنون: 70
Transliteration: Am yaqooloona bihi jinnatun bal jaahum bialhaqqi waaktharuhum lilhaqqi karihoona
{And if you obey most of those on the earth, they will mislead you far away from Allâh’s Path. They follow nothing but conjectures, and they do nothing but lie.} [Surat Al-An’am 6:116].
{وَإِن تُطِعْ أَكْثَرَ مَن فِي الْأَرْضِ يُضِلُّوكَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَخْرُصُونَ} سورة الأنعام: 116
Transliteration: Wain tutiAA akthara man fee alardi yudillooka AAan sabeeli Allahi in yattabiAAoona illa alththanna wain hum illa yakhrusoona
Wathakker Website
- Category:
- Source: