Knowledge is ...

Knowledge is the pursuit of truth.

Knowledge, as Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: serves as a guiding light and all light leads ultimately to the Divine source.
Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth.
[NB: Education is the organized transfer of information. The information must be based on fact/truth or else it would be misinformation].

The Prophet also emphasized the sanctity of knowledge by saying "knowledge is worship". The very fact that Allah communicated knowledge to Prophet Adam (pbuh) indicates the significance of knowledge as an integral component in the existence of humans as rational beings.

Imam Shaf'ie brings to our attention the sanctity of acquiring knowledge when he said: there is nothing more sacred after the fundamental obligations of faith than searching for knowledge.

Acquiring Knowledge is obligatory

"Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim, male and female." (There is no gender barrier to learning.)
Knowledge is the key to human progress and its acquisition is absolutely essential in enabling the human being to fulfill his/her mission and function as the vicegerent of Allah on earth.

The fact that Allah commenced the final Divine communication (al-Qur'an) with Iqra; an injunction exhorting the pursuance of knowledge and that Allah elevates those who pursue/possess knowledge.

Knowledge and Action

The life of a human being is directly dependant on thoughts and actions:

• the caliber of knowledge greatly influences the quality of thought
• the quality of thought affects the quality of action

The stronger the co-ordination between good thought and sincere action the more fruitful life becomes. Sayyedna 'Ali said: "The completion of Faith is the seeking of knowledge and acting upon it".

Knowledge is of no use if it neither benefits the knower nor those around the knower. The Prophet (pbuh) said that the persons most disgraced on the Day of Judgment will be those who did not benefit from their learning.

Wise is the saying No person is truly a scholar unless he acts upon what he knows.

Those who act upon their knowledge benefit themselves and benefit the world around them and opens the scope for greater learning. The Prophet said: whosoever acts upon what they know, Allah will grant them knowledge of what they do not know.

Seek knowledge ... always

The scope of knowledge is, of course, much wider than the scope of action. The scope of action is limited; knowledge has no limits.

The Prophet (pbuh) said: "Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave". (There is no age barrier to learning).

Pursuing knowledge is never-ending process. Seek knowledge even if it be in China. (There is no geographical or cultural barrier to learning) The Prophet also said: "Whosoever goes out in search of knowledge Allah eases the way for such a person to paradise."

Knowledge as treasure

Knowledge is a treasury, said the Prophet. It is valuable, and unlike material treasure, does not decrease when imparted or utilized.

Sayyedna 'Ali said: "Knowledge is superior to wealth; knowledge protects you while you have to protect wealth; wealth decreases by using it while knowledge grows as it is dispensed".

Prophet Muhammad said scholars are inheritors of the prophets.

Our knowledge is limited

Allah confirms that human knowledge is very limited

Wise scholars have said: whoever says "I am learned" is indeed ignorant.

Imam Shaf'ie therefore said: Sufficient is it a sign of foolishness that you are impressed with yourself. He also said: "Every time I set myself the task to learn, the more I realize how little I know; The more I learn the more I become aware of how ignorant I am".

O Allah,
Enrich us through knowledge,
Adorn us with humility,
Ennoble us with piety, and
Beautify us with a sense of pardoning.

_______________________

By: Br. Sadullah Khan

See Learning Bridge for Published Lectures, Friday Sermon, Audio & Video Lectures