What is the Importance of seeking Knowledge?

What is the Importance of Seeking Knowledge?

Ch 1 –The Importance of Knowledge

1.   Being Knowledgeable is one of the attributes of Allah

Allah has said in the Qur’an in Surah At Tahreem 66:2

وَاللَّهُ مَوْلَاكُمْ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيْمُ الْحَكِيْمُ

 “And Allah is your Protector, and He is The All-Knowing, The Most Wise.”

2.   Knowledge is a virtue and ignorance is a vice.

Imam Shafa’ai (May Allah have mercy on him) said,

كَفَى بِالْعِلْمِ فَضِيْلَةً أَنْ يَّدَّعِيْهِ مَنْ لَيْسَ فِيْهِ وَيَفْرَحَ إِذَا نُسِبَ إِلَيْهِ
وَكَفَى بِالْجَهْلِ شَيْئًا أَنْ يَتَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ مَنْ هُوَ فِيْهِ وَيَغْضَبَ إِذَا نُسِبَ إِلَيْهِ

 “It’s enough for knowing the importance of knowledge that even those who do not possess knowledge claim to possess it! When knowledge is attributed towards such people, they are pleased. About ignorance, it is enough that even those who are ignorant disown it (ignorance). When ignorance is attributed (to such ignorant people) they get angry about it.”

[HILYATUL AWLIYA VOL 9: PG 146, SECTION ON IMAM SHAFA’AI]

3.   The First revelation was about Knowledge

Allah has said in the Qur’an in Surah Al Alaq 96:1-5       

اِقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَ . خَلَقَ الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ .
اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ . الَّذِيْ عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ .
عَلَّمَ الْإِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ .

“Read in the name of your Lord Who Created –

Created man from a clinging substance;

Read! And your Lord is The Most Generous;

Who taught by the pen;

Taught man that which he knew not.”

4.   The Command to seek increase in our knowledge

Allah has said in the Qur’an in Surah Taha 20:114

وَقُلْ رَّبِّ زِدْنِيْ عِلْمًا

And say, “My Lord, increase me in knowledge”

5.   Al Hikmah (Wisdom) is great good

Allah has said in the Qur’an in Surah Al Baqarah 2:269   

يُؤْتِيْ الْحِكْمَةَ مَنْ يَّشَاءُ
وَمَنْ يُّؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوْتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيْرًا
وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلاَّ أُوْلُواْ الأَلْبَابِ

 “He gives wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever has been given wisdom has certainly been given much good, but none will grasp the Message but men of understanding.”

6.      Knowledge is the reward of the righteous in this world

Allah has said in the Qur’an in Surah Al Qasas 28:14

وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَاسْتَوَى آتَيْنَاهُ حُكْمًا وَّعِلْمًا
وَكَذَلِكَ نَجْزِيْ الْمُحْسِنِينَ  

 “When he (Musa) reached maturity and became full-grown, We bestowed on him (Hikmah) Wisdom and Knowledge. Thus do We reward the righteous.”

7.   Importance of Knowledge over Worship.

Prophet Muhammad (صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) said:

فَضْلُ العِلمِ أحَبُّ إلَيَّ مِنْ فضْلِ العِبَادَةِ
وَخَيْرُ دِيْنِكُمْ الوَرَعُ  

 “The increase in knowledge is dearer to me than increase in Ibadah. And the most excellent thing in your religion is Taqwa”

(REPORTED BY HUDAIFA (R.A.) IN BAZZAR, MUSNAD AT-TAYALISI, HAAKIM AND REPORTED BY SA’D (R.A.) IN HAAKIM. AUTHENTICATED (SAHEEH) BY ALBANI IN SAHIH AL JAAMI 4214)

8.   Knowledge benefits even after death

Prophet Muhammad (صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) said:

إِذَا مَاتَ الْإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَنْهُ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثَةٍ
إِلَّا مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ أَوْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَّدْعُوْ لَهُ  

 “When a man dies, all his acts come to an end except three - continuing charity, or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious son, who prays for him (for the deceased).

(NARRATED ABU HURAYRAH IN SAHIH MUSLIM 4005 (KITAB AL WASSIYAH), ADAAB AL MUFRAD BY BUKHARI, (SAHEEH) IN SAHEEH AL JAAMI 793)

Ch 2 – The Importance of Seeking Knowledge

1.   Seeking Knowledge is Compulsory

Prophet Muhammad (صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) said:

طَلَبُ العِلْمِ فَرِيْضَةٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ
وَ إِنَّ طَالِبَ العِلْمِ يَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُ كُلُّ شَيءٍ حَتَّى الحِيْتَانُ فيِ البَحْرِ.

“Seeking Knowledge is compulsory for every Muslim. Indeed, all creatures, even the fishes in the sea, seek forgiveness for the seeker of knowledge.”

(NARRATED BY ANAS (R.A.) AND RECORDED BY IBN ABDUL BARR IN “JAAMI BAYAAN AL ALIM” AND AUTHENTICATED (SAHEEH) BY ALBANI IN SAHEEH AL JAMI AS SAGEER 3914)

2.   The Path to paradise is made easy for those who tread the path of acquiring knowledge

Prophet Muhammad (صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) said:

مَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيْقًا يَلْتَمِسُ فِيْهِ عِلْمًا
سَهَّلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِهِ طَرِيْقًا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ

 “Whoever treads on a path seeking knowledge, due to it Allah will make the path to Paradise easy for him.”

(NARRATED BY ABU HURAYRAH AND RECORDED IN MUSNAD AHMAD, SAHEEH MUSLIM: 6518, ABU DAWOOD, TIRMIDHI, IBN MAJAH,  SAHIH AL JAAMI 6577)

3.   The Angels honour the person who treads on the path of acquiring knowledge

Prophet Muhammad (صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) said:

مَا مِنْ خَارِجٍ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ بَيْتٍ فِيْ طَلَبِ الْعِلْمِ
إِلَّا وَضَعَتْ لَهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَجْنِحَتَهَا رِضًا بِمَا يَصْنَعُ 

“The angels spread their wings for the one who leaves home seeking knowledge, (the angels) being pleased with what he is doing.”

(NARRATED BY SAFWAN BIN ASAAL AND RECORDED IN MUSNAD AHMAD, IBN HIBBAN, IBN MAJAH, BAIHAQI, SAHIH AL JAAMI AS SAGHEER 5702)

4.   The one who treads on the path of acquiring knowledge is like the one who does Jihaad in the way of Allah

Prophet Muhammad (صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) said:

مَنْ جَاءَ مَسْجِدِيْ هَذَا
لَمْ يَأْتِهِ إِلَّا لِخَيْرٍ يَتَعَلَّمُهُ أَوْ يُعَلِّمُهُ
فَهُوَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيْلِ اللَّهِ

“Whoever comes to this Mosque of mine –and he does not come there except for learning good or for teaching it – he has the status of the Mujahid in the Way of Allah.”

((PART OF A HADITH] NARRATED BY ABU HURAYRAH AND RECORDED IN IBN MAJAH, MUSTADRAK HAAKIM, SAHIH AL JAAMI 6184)

5.   The excellence of those who sit in the gatherings of knowledge

Prophet Muhammad (صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) said:

وَمَا اجْتَمَعَ قَوْمٌ فِي بَيْتٍ مِنْ بُيُوْتِ اللَّهِ
يَتْلُوْنَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَيَتَدَارَسُوْنَهُ بَيْنَهُمْ
إِلانَزَلَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّكِيْنَةُ وَغَشِيَتْهُمُ الرَّحْمَةُ
وَحَفَّتْهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَذَكَرَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِيْمَنْ عِنْدَهُ

“Whenever people gather in a house from the houses of Allah (mosques) and recite the Book of Allah and learn and teach the Qur'an (among themselves) except that Tranquillity will descend upon them, Mercy will cover them, the angels will surround them and Allah will mention them in the presence of those near Him.”

(NARRATED BY ABU HURAYRAH AND REPORTED IN SAHIH MUSLIM: 6518, MUSNAD AHMED, ABU DAWOOD, TIRMIDHI, IBN MAJAH, SAHEEH AL JAAMI (SAHEEH) 6577)            

Ch - 3 The Importance of memorizing Knowledge

1.   The Importance of Memorizing The Qur’an

Prophet Muhammad (صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) said:

مَنْ حَفِظَ عَشْرَ آيَاتٍ مِنْ أَوَّلِ سُوْرَةِ الْكَهْفِ عُصِمَ مِنَ الدَّجَّالِ  

 “If anyone learns by heart the first ten verses of the Surah al-Kahf, he will be protected from the Dajjal.”

(REPORTED BY ABU AD DARDA AND RECORDED IN SAHIH MUSLIM:1766, MUSNAD AHMED, ABU DAWOOD, NASAI, SAHEEH AL JAAMI 6201)

2.   The Importance of Memorizing the Hadith

Prophet Muhammad (صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) said:

نَضَّرَ اللَّهُ امْرَأً سَمِعَ مِنَّا حَدِيْثًا
فَحَفِظَهُ حَتَّى يُبَلِّغَهُ غَيْرَهُ
فَرُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَفْقَهُ مِنْهُ
وَرُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ لَيْسَ بِفَقِيْهٍ 

“May Allah keep that person hale and hearty who hears a saying of mine and memorizes it until he narrates it to others. Many a bearer of knowledge narrates it to such people who understand it better than he did. And many bearers of knowledge do not understand it.

(NARRATED BY ZAID BIN THABIT, REPORTED IN TIRMIDHI AND AUTHENTICATED BY ALBANI IN SAHEEH AL JAAMI 6763)

Ch 4- The Excellence of Knowledgeable People

1.   The one who knows and the one who does not know are not alike

Allah has said in the Qur’an in Surah Az-Zumar 39:9      

  قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِيْ الَّذِيْنَ يَعْلَمُوْنَ وَالَّذِيْنَ لايَعْلَمُوْنَ   

Say, “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?”

2.   The scholars are the witnesses of Tawheed (Oneness of Allah)

Allah has said in the Qur’an in Surah Ale Imran 3:18

شَهِدَ اللّهُ أَنَّهُ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةُ وَأُوْلُواْ الْعِلْمِ قَآئِمَاً بِالْقِسْطِ
لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْعَزِيْزُ الْحَكِيْمُ

“Allah witnesses that there is no deity worthy of worship except He, and [so do] the angels and those of knowledge - maintaining it in justice. There is no deity worthy of worship except He, The Exalted in Might, The Most Wise.”     

3.   The people of knowledge have a high position

Allah has said in the Qur’an in Surah Al Mujadila 58:11

يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِيْنَ آمَنُوْا مِنْكُمْ وَالَّذِيْنَ أُوْتُوْا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ

“Allah will raise high those who have believed from among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees.”

4.   None, except the scholars understand some things

Allah has said in the Qur’an in Surah Al Ankabut 29:43

وَتِلْكَ الْأَمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ وَمَا يَعْقِلُهَا إِلَّا الْعَالِمُوْنَ  

 “And these examples We present to the people, but none will understand them except Those of knowledge.”

5.   Being busy with knowledge saves a person from being cursed

Prophet Muhammad (صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) said:

أَلَاإِنَّ الدُّنْيَا مَلْعُوْنَةٌ مَلْعُوْنٌ مَا فِيْهَا
إِلَّاذِكْرُ اللَّهِ وَمَا وَالَاهُ وَعَالِمٌ أَوْ مُتَعَلِّمٌ

 “Be careful! Indeed this world is cursed and so are all the things in it except the Remembrance of Allah and that which is connected to it, and the scholars and the students (of knowledge).”     

(NARRATED BY ABU HURAIRAH, RECORDED IN TIRMIDHI 174 AND IBN MAJAH, SAHIH AL JAAMI (HASAN) 1609)

Ch 5 - The condemnation of those who do not seek knowledge

1.   The condemnation of ignorance

Allah has said in the Qur’an in Surah Al Baqara 2:67

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوْسَى لِقَوْمِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تَذْبَحُواْ بَقَرَةً قَالُواْ أَتَتَّخِذُنَا هُزُواً
قَالَ أَعُوْذُ بِاللّهِ أَنْ أَكُوْنَ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِيْنَ 

 “And [recall] when Moses said to his people, "Indeed, Allah commands you to slaughter a cow." They said, "Are you making fun of us?" He said, "I seek refuge in Allah from being among the ignorant."”

 فَلاَ تَكُوْنَنَّ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِيْنَ  

Allah has said in the Qur’an in Surah Al Anam 6:35

“So never be of the ignorant.”

2.   The consequence of the one who avoids knowledge and does not try to understand it.

Allah has said in the Qur’an in Surah Al Mulk 67:10

وَقَالُوْا لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ أَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِي أَصْحَابِ السَّعِيْرِ   

 “They will further say: "Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we would not (now) be among the People of the Blazing Fire!"

3.   Ignorance is the cause of misguidance

Allah has said in the Qur’an in Surah Al Anam 6:119

وَإِنَّ كَثِيْرًا لَّيُضِلُّوْنَ بِأَهْوَائِهِمْ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ

 “And certainly do many misguide [others] by their [own] desires without knowledge.”

4.   Blunders of the one who worships without knowledge

It is narrated from Sa'eed ibn Abdul Azeez,

“Umar bin Abdul Azeez wrote to the people of Madinah,

كَتَبَ عُمَرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيْزِ إِلَى أَهْلِ الْمَدِيْنَةِ
إِنَّهُ مَنْ تَعَبَّدَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ كَانَ مَا يُفْسِدُ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا يُصْلِحُ

'Indeed, whoever worships without knowledge does more mischief than good.'”

(REPORTED BY DAARIMI IN HIS INTRODUCTION UNDER THE HEADING, “THE ONE WHO SAYS THAT KNOWLEDGE IS THE FEAR OF ALLAH AND BEING CONSCIOUS OF HIM)