AL-GHULAAM

Islam is the religion of knowledge

Allah created man and provided him with the tools for acquiring knowledge, namely hearing, sight and wisdom (السمع والبصر والعقل), Allah says;

والله أخرجكم من بطون أمهاتكم لا تعلمون شيئاً وجعل لكم السمع والأبصار والأفئدة لعلكم تشكرون  

“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 Allah) [al-Nahl 16:78] 

The first aayah of the Qur’an to be revealed enjoined reading which the key to knowledge is. Allah says: 

اقرأ باسم ربك الذي خلق ، خلق الإنسان من علق ، اقرأ وربك الأكرم ، الذي علم بالقلم ، علم الإنسان ما لم يعلم

“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). Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous. 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 Allah says:

  فاعلم أنه لا إله إلا الله واستغفر لذنبك وللمؤمنين والمؤمنات

“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:

ولا تقف ما ليس لك به علم إن السمع والبصر والفؤاد كل أولئك كان عنه مسؤولا    

“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] 

Allaah calls upon the scholars to bear witness to His Oneness, as He says:

 شهد الله أنه لا إله إلا هو والملائكة وأولوا العلم قائماً بالقسط لا إله إلا هو العزيز الحكيم  

“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:                             إنما يخشى اللهَ من عباده العلماء

“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:                                   يرفع الله الذين آمنوا منكم والذين أوتوا العلم درجات

“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 say:                                                                                                                                             وقل رب زدني علم

 And say: ‘My Lord! Increase me in knowledge’”  [Ta-Ha 20:114]  

Allaah praises the scholars, as He says:          قل هل يستوي الذين يعلمون والذين لا يعلمون إنما يتذكر أولوا الألباب 

“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: 

 وليعلم الذين أوتوا العلم أنه الحق من ربك فيؤمنوا به فتخبت له قلوبهم

“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] 

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:

 العلماء ورثة الأنبياء وأن الأنبياء لم يورثوا ديناراً ًو لا درهماً إنما ورثوا العلم فمن أخذه أخذ بحظ

 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.

Seeking knowledge is a way to Paradise.  And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

من سلك طريقاً يطلب فيه علماً سهل الله له طريقاً إلى الجنة

“Whoever follows a path in the pursuit of knowledge, Allaah will make a path to Paradise easy for him.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari)    

Islam calls us to learn all kinds of beneficial knowledge. Although, 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 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: 

 لَقَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ بَعَثَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِنْ كَانُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ

“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)    

Knowledgeable person wished good by Allaah. The Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:                                                                                                                  من يرد الله به خيراً يفقهه في الدين  “When Allaah wishes good for a person, He makes him understand the religion.” (Agreed upon. Narrated by al-Bukhaari) 

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:

 إن الذين يكتمون ما أنزلنا من البينات والهدى من بعد ما بيناه للناس في الكتاب أولئك يلعنهم الله ويلعنهم اللاعنون ، إلا الذين تابوا وأصلحوا وبينوا فأولئك أتوب عليهم وأنا التواب الرحيم 

“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:

إذا مات الإنسان انقطع عمله إلا من ثلاثة إلا من صدقة جارية , أو علم ينتفع به , أو ولد صالح يدعو له  

 “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) 

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:

من دعا إلى هدى كان له من الأجر مثل أجور من تبعه لا ينقص ذلك من أجورهم شيئاً , ومن دعا إلى ضلالة كان عليه من الإثم مثل آثام من تبعه لا ينقص ذلك من آثامهم شيئاً

“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)