The Virtue of Knowledge
Knowledge is the most noble acquisition, the most prestigious pursuit, the most valuable ammunition that one can strive for, and the sweetest fruit that one can harvest. What a person acquires cannot compare to the knowledge that guides him towards guidance or shields him from misguidance. Sufyan ibn 'Uyaynah 🤲 said: "Whoever seeks knowledge has pledged allegiance to Allah."
Knowledge is the inheritance of prophethood, as Allah, glorified be He, says:
﴿وَوَرِثَ سُلَيمانُ داوودَ وَقالَ يا أَيُّهَا النّاسُ عُلِّمنا مَنطِقَ الطَّيرِ وَأوتينا مِن كُلِّ شَيءٍ إِنَّ هذا لَهُوَ الفَضلُ المُبينُ﴾ [النمل: ١٦]
“And Solomon inherited David. He said, "O people, we have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from all things. Indeed, this is evident bounty.”
(Surah An-Naml, 27:16)
Whoever Allah grants the knowledge of the Book (Holy Quran) and the Sunnah, He has chosen him.
The Prophet 🕌, said: “When Allah wants good for anyone, He bestows upon him the Fiqh (comprehension) of the religion.” (Agreed upon).
Seeking knowledge and increasing in it is an honour beyond comparison and a virtue that has no limits. Its rewards are immediate, and its gaining is everlasting. Who seeks it is part of a noble lineage. Allah, glorified be He, says:
﴿يَرفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذينَ آمَنوا مِنكُم وَالَّذينَ أوتُوا العِلمَ دَرَجاتٍ وَاللَّهُ بِما تَعمَلونَ خَبيرٌ﴾ [المجادلة: ١١]
“Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do.”
(Surah Al-Mujadilah, 58:11)
There is nothing more beneficial, by the permission of Allah, for a servant than fortifying themselves with the knowledge of the Shariah.
Following the path of knowledge is a means of attaining eternal bliss in Paradise. The angels eagerly desire to sit with its people, and creation is content with them and seeks forgiveness for them.
The wise devote themselves to the magnification of knowledge and encourage its acquisition. Allah has elevated certain people through knowledge and made them leaders in goodness. How many individuals, who were considered lowly, has knowledge raised to the ranks of the honourable! And how many insignificant individuals, in the eyes of people, has knowledge among the great!
The angels love to sit with its people, and they encompass them with their wings. Everyone in the heavens and on earth seeks forgiveness for them.
The Prophet 🕌, said: “Whoever takes a path upon which he seeks knowledge, then Allah makes a path to Paradise easy for him. And indeed the angels lower their wings in approval to the one seeking knowledge. Indeed, forgiveness is sought for the knowledgeable one by whomever is in the heavens and whomever is in the earth, even the fish in the waters. And the superiority of the scholar over the worshiper is like the superiority of the moon over the rest of the celestial bodies. Indeed, the scholars are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets do not leave behind Dinar or Dirham. The only legacy of the scholars is knowledge, so whoever takes from it, then he has indeed taken the most able share.”
(Abu Dawood and At-Tirmidhi)
- Shaykh Abdul muhsen Al-Qāsim 🕋.
[«Steps Towards Happiness» (209-211)]
