HOME | DD

Description
Islam gives importance to the acquisition of knowledge

Islam stands as the most rational and precise religion that Allah the Almighty has given to the whole mankind. It gives importance to the acquisition of knowledge. In fact, the first revelation that Allah the Almighty has revealed to His Messenger (s.a.w.s.) for the guidance of mankind pertains to reading. Allah the Most High commands:

“Read! In the name of your Rabb (Only God and Sustainer) Cherisher, Who created — created man, out of a leech-like clot: Read! And your Rabb is Most Bountiful. He Who taught (the use of) the Pen, taught man that which he knew not.” (Qur’an 96:1-4)

When we follow the divine commandment to read, we learn in the Qur’an that aside from reading Allah the Almighty commands us: to know (e.g., 2:194, 196, 203, 223, 235, 14:52) to learn (e.g., 6: 151, 9:122, 12:2, 22:46 also 54, 40:58 and 68:37), to understand (e.g., 2:44, 6:32, 7:169, 10:16, 11:51, 12:109, 21:10, 40:67, 43:3, 47:24, 57:17), to ponder (4: 82 and 23:68) or contemplate (38:29), and even to ask questions (i.e., 10:94 and 43:45).

The Prophet Muhammad r, Allah's Messenger I to the whole mankind (34:28), also enjoins us to acquire knowledge. He r even stresses that it is our obligation to search for knowledge. We read the following authentic Ahadîth:

Anas Ibn Malik t reported that Allah's Messengerr said, “Seeking of knowledge is incumbent upon every Muslim....” (Ibn Majah 1/224 and Tirmidhi 218)

Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrated that Allah 's Messengerr said, “Learn the obligatory acts and the Qur’an and teach them to the people, for I am a mortal.” (Tirmidhi 244)

Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (r.a.) narrated that Allah's Messengerr said to me, “Acquire the knowledge and impart it to the people. Acquire the knowledge of Fara'id (laws of inheritance) and teach it to the people. Learn the Qur’an and teach it to the people; for I am a person who has to depart this world. And the knowledge will be taken away and turmoil will appear to such an extent that two people will not agree in regard to a case of inheritance distribution and find none who would decide between them.” (Tirmidhi 279, Darimi and Daraqutni)

In line with the divine injunctions to acquire knowledge of Islam, Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.s.) inspires us to do our best to seek knowledge. We should, therefore, spend time, efforts, money and other resources to seek knowledge of Islam. We should take guidance and inspiration from the following prophetic teachings:

Anas ibn Malik (r.a.) narrated that Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said: “One who goes out to search for knowledge is (devoted) to the cause of Allah till he returns.” (Tirmidhi 220)

‘Abdullah ibn Abbas (r.a.) narrated that Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said, “Acquiring knowledge in company for an hour in the night is better than spending the whole night in prayer.” (Tirmidhi 256)

Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrated that Allah's Messengerr said, "Learn and recite the Qur’an, for to one who learns, recites and uses it in prayer at night, it is like a bag filled with musk whose fragrance is diffused everywhere. And he who learns it and goes to sleep having it within him, is like a bag with musk tied up in it." (Tirmidhi 2143 Nasa'i and Ibn Majah)

Religious knowledge is the most important knowledge to be learned

Islam as a complete religion, does not limit the acquisition of knowledge into the field of religion. It also encourages us to seek other knowledge, which are beneficial to us. However, it stresses that knowledge of the Qur’an and authentic Ahadîth and prescriptions rightly deduced from the two constitute the essential knowledge:

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr t reported that Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said, “Knowledge consists of three things: the decisive verses (Qur’an), authentic Ahadîth and prescriptions rightly deduced from the two. What is beside them is superfluous.” (Ibn Majah 1/54)

‘Abdullah ibn Amir ibn Al-As narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said, “Knowledge has three categories; anything else is extra; a precise verse, or an established Sunnah (practice), or a firm obligatory duty.” (Abu Daud 2879)

Mu’adh ibn Jabal (r.a.) narrated that some companions of Mu'adh ibn Jabal t said, When Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.s.) intended to send Mu'adh ibn Jabal t to the Yemen, he r asked: “How will you judge when the occasion of deciding a case arises?” He replied, “I shall judge in accordance with Allah's Book.” He was asked: “(What will you do) if you do not find any guidance in Allah's Book?” He replied, “(I shall act) in accordance with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah.” He r asked, “(What will you do) if you do not find any guidance in the Sunnah of Allah's Messenger and in Allah's Book? He replied, I shall do my best to form an opinion and I shall spare no effort.” Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.s.) then patted him on the breast and said: “Praise be to Allah Who has helped Allah's Messenger to find something which pleases Allah's Messenger.” (Abû Dawûd, 3585)

Moreover, it is for our benefit that we learn Islam as it is the knowledge that leads us to Truth against ignorance. Islam teaches us to learn wisdom:

“Say: `Come, I will rehearse what Allah has (really) prohibited you from: join not anything with Him; be good to your parents; kill not your children on a plea of want, We provide sustenance for you and for them; come not nigh to indecent deeds, whether open or secret; take not life, which Allah has made sacred, except by way of justice and law. Thus does He command you, that you may learn wisdom.’” (6:151)

“A.L.R.[4] These are the Verses of the Perspicuous Book. We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an in order that you may learn wisdom.” (12:1-2)

“Do they not travel through the land, so that their hearts (and minds) may thus learn wisdom and their ears may thus learn to hear? Truly it is not the eyes that are blind, but the hearts which are in their breasts.” (22:46)

--> This article is shared from this website : [link]

Description
Islam gives importance to the acquisition of knowledge

Islam stands as the most rational and precise religion that Allah the Almighty has given to the whole mankind. It gives importance to the acquisition of knowledge. In fact, the first revelation that Allah the Almighty has revealed to His Messenger (s.a.w.s.) for the guidance of mankind pertains to reading. Allah the Most High commands:

“Read! In the name of your Rabb (Only God and Sustainer) Cherisher, Who created — created man, out of a leech-like clot: Read! And your Rabb is Most Bountiful. He Who taught (the use of) the Pen, taught man that which he knew not.” (Qur’an 96:1-4)

When we follow the divine commandment to read, we learn in the Qur’an that aside from reading Allah the Almighty commands us: to know (e.g., 2:194, 196, 203, 223, 235, 14:52) to learn (e.g., 6: 151, 9:122, 12:2, 22:46 also 54, 40:58 and 68:37), to understand (e.g., 2:44, 6:32, 7:169, 10:16, 11:51, 12:109, 21:10, 40:67, 43:3, 47:24, 57:17), to ponder (4: 82 and 23:68) or contemplate (38:29), and even to ask questions (i.e., 10:94 and 43:45).

The Prophet Muhammad r, Allah's Messenger I to the whole mankind (34:28), also enjoins us to acquire knowledge. He r even stresses that it is our obligation to search for knowledge. We read the following authentic Ahadîth:

Anas Ibn Malik t reported that Allah's Messengerr said, “Seeking of knowledge is incumbent upon every Muslim....” (Ibn Majah 1/224 and Tirmidhi 218)

Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrated that Allah 's Messengerr said, “Learn the obligatory acts and the Qur’an and teach them to the people, for I am a mortal.” (Tirmidhi 244)

Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (r.a.) narrated that Allah's Messengerr said to me, “Acquire the knowledge and impart it to the people. Acquire the knowledge of Fara'id (laws of inheritance) and teach it to the people. Learn the Qur’an and teach it to the people; for I am a person who has to depart this world. And the knowledge will be taken away and turmoil will appear to such an extent that two people will not agree in regard to a case of inheritance distribution and find none who would decide between them.” (Tirmidhi 279, Darimi and Daraqutni)

In line with the divine injunctions to acquire knowledge of Islam, Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.s.) inspires us to do our best to seek knowledge. We should, therefore, spend time, efforts, money and other resources to seek knowledge of Islam. We should take guidance and inspiration from the following prophetic teachings:

Anas ibn Malik (r.a.) narrated that Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said: “One who goes out to search for knowledge is (devoted) to the cause of Allah till he returns.” (Tirmidhi 220)

‘Abdullah ibn Abbas (r.a.) narrated that Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said, “Acquiring knowledge in company for an hour in the night is better than spending the whole night in prayer.” (Tirmidhi 256)

Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrated that Allah's Messengerr said, "Learn and recite the Qur’an, for to one who learns, recites and uses it in prayer at night, it is like a bag filled with musk whose fragrance is diffused everywhere. And he who learns it and goes to sleep having it within him, is like a bag with musk tied up in it." (Tirmidhi 2143 Nasa'i and Ibn Majah)

Religious knowledge is the most important knowledge to be learned

Islam as a complete religion, does not limit the acquisition of knowledge into the field of religion. It also encourages us to seek other knowledge, which are beneficial to us. However, it stresses that knowledge of the Qur’an and authentic Ahadîth and prescriptions rightly deduced from the two constitute the essential knowledge:

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr t reported that Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said, “Knowledge consists of three things: the decisive verses (Qur’an), authentic Ahadîth and prescriptions rightly deduced from the two. What is beside them is superfluous.” (Ibn Majah 1/54)

‘Abdullah ibn Amir ibn Al-As narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said, “Knowledge has three categories; anything else is extra; a precise verse, or an established Sunnah (practice), or a firm obligatory duty.” (Abu Daud 2879)

Mu’adh ibn Jabal (r.a.) narrated that some companions of Mu'adh ibn Jabal t said, When Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.s.) intended to send Mu'adh ibn Jabal t to the Yemen, he r asked: “How will you judge when the occasion of deciding a case arises?” He replied, “I shall judge in accordance with Allah's Book.” He was asked: “(What will you do) if you do not find any guidance in Allah's Book?” He replied, “(I shall act) in accordance with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah.” He r asked, “(What will you do) if you do not find any guidance in the Sunnah of Allah's Messenger and in Allah's Book? He replied, I shall do my best to form an opinion and I shall spare no effort.” Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.s.) then patted him on the breast and said: “Praise be to Allah Who has helped Allah's Messenger to find something which pleases Allah's Messenger.” (Abû Dawûd, 3585)

Moreover, it is for our benefit that we learn Islam as it is the knowledge that leads us to Truth against ignorance. Islam teaches us to learn wisdom:

“Say: `Come, I will rehearse what Allah has (really) prohibited you from: join not anything with Him; be good to your parents; kill not your children on a plea of want, We provide sustenance for you and for them; come not nigh to indecent deeds, whether open or secret; take not life, which Allah has made sacred, except by way of justice and law. Thus does He command you, that you may learn wisdom.’” (6:151)

“A.L.R.[4] These are the Verses of the Perspicuous Book. We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an in order that you may learn wisdom.” (12:1-2)

“Do they not travel through the land, so that their hearts (and minds) may thus learn wisdom and their ears may thus learn to hear? Truly it is not the eyes that are blind, but the hearts which are in their breasts.” (22:46)

--> This article is shared from this website : [link]