Praise be to
Allaah.
Allaah created man
and provided him with the tools for acqruiring knowledge, namely hearing, sigh
tand 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).
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)
From Usool al-Deen
al-Islami by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem al-Tuwayjri
FATWA:10471
Knowledge &
Propagation » Knowledge » Seeking knowledge
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