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Virtues of Knowledge

In the name of Allāh, most Gracious, the most Merciful

Verses of the Qur’ān

And say: `My Rabb! Increase me in knowledge.” (20:114)

“Are those who know equal to those who know not?” (39:9)

“Allāh will exalt in degree those of you who believe, and those who have been granted knowledge.” (58:11)

“It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allāh.” (35:28)

The first verse of the Qur’ān that was revealed to the Prophet, Ṣallallāhu ʾAlayhi Wa Sallam, urges Muslims to seek knowledge: “Read! In the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that exists).” (96: 1)

Aḥādīth

Muʿāwiyāh Raḍiyallāhu ʿanhu reported: The Messenger of Allāh Ṣallallāhu ʿAlayhi Wa Sallam said, “When Allāh wishes good for someone, He bestows upon him the understanding of Dīn.”
[Al-Bukhārī and Muslim]

Ibn Masʿūd Raḍiyallāhu ʿanhu reported: The Prophet Ṣallallāhu ʿAlayhi Wa Sallam said, “Envy is permitted only in two cases: A man whom Allāh gives wealth, and he disposes of it rightfully, and a man to whom Allāh gives knowledge which he applies and teaches it.” [Al-Bukhārī and Muslim]

Abū Hurayrah Raḍiyallāhu ʿanhu reported: The Messenger of Allāh Ṣallallāhu ʿAlayhi Wa Sallam said, “Allāh makes the way to Jannah easy for him who treads the path in search of knowledge.” [Muslim]

Abū Hurayrah Raḍiyallāhu ʿanhu reported: The Messenger of Allāh Ṣallallāhu ʿAlayhi Wa Sallam said, “He who calls others to follow the Right Guidance will have a reward equal to the reward of those who follow him, without their reward being diminished in any respect on that account.” [Muslim]

Abū Hurayrah Raḍiyallāhu ʿanhu reported: The Messenger of Allāh Ṣallallāhu ʿAlayhi Wa Sallam said, “When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Ṣadaqah Jāriyah (ceaseless charity); a knowledge which is beneficial, or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (for the deceased).” [Muslim]

Anas Raḍiyallāhu ʿanhu reported: The Messenger of Allāh Ṣallallāhu ʿAlayhi Wa Sallam said, “He who goes forth in search of knowledge is considered as struggling in the Cause of Allāh until he returns.” [Tirmidhī]

Abū Umāmah Raḍiyallāhu ʿanhu reported: The Messenger of Allāh Ṣallallāhu ʿAlayhi Wa Sallam said, “The superiority of the learned over the devout worshipper is like my superiority over the most inferior amongst you (in good deeds).” He went on to say, “Allāh, His angels, the dwellers of the heaven and the earth, and even the ant in its hole and the fish (in water) supplicate in favour of those who teach people knowledge.” [Tirmidhī]

Abū al-Dardā’ Raḍiyallāhu ʿanhu reported: The Prophet, Ṣallallāhu ʿAlayhi Wa Sallam said, “The learned are the heirs of the prophets. The prophets leave behind neither dinars nor dirhams, but only knowledge; therefore, he who acquires it has in fact acquired an abundant portion” (Tirmidhī)

Abū Umāmah Raḍiyallāhu ʿanhu reported: The Messenger of Allāh Ṣallallāhu ʿAlayhi Wa Sallam said,” Whoever goes to the Masjid for the purpose of learning or teaching knowledge, receives the reward of a Ḥājī whose Ḥajj was perfect.” (Ṭabrānī)

Ibn Masʿūd Raḍiyallāhu ʿanhu reported: I heard the Messenger of Allāh Ṣallallāhu ʿAlayhi Wa Sallam saying, “May Allāh freshen the affairs of a person who hears something from us and communicates it to others exactly as he has heard it ( i.e., both the meaning and the words). Many a recipient of knowledge understands it better than the one who has heard it.” (Tirmidhī)

Commentary: Besides mentioning the eminence of knowledge, this ḥādīth contains inducement for preaching and inviting people towards the path of Allāh. It also urges us to communicate knowledge exactly as we have heard it, without changing anything in the least.

Statements of the Pious:

Imām Aḥmad ibn al-Ḥanbal, may Allāh have mercy on his soul, said, “People need knowledge more than they need food and drink, for while food and drink are needed twice or three times a day, knowledge is needed all the time.”

Ibn al-Qayyim, May Allāh have mercy on his soul, said, “If getting closer to the Lord of the Worlds and joining the world of the higher group of the angels were the only virtues of knowledge, this alone would be enough merit and honour. But knowledge also has other virtues, for no one can gain glory in this world and in the hereafter without it.

Ibn al-Qayyim, May Allāh have mercy upon his soul, said, “He who acquires religious knowledge, acts on its dictates, and teaches it to others will be called a great person in the kingdom of the heavens.”

Imām al-Šhāfiʿī, May Allāh have mercy on his soul, said, “After the obligatory deeds, nothing is more beloved to Allāh than studying knowledge.”

Imām Aḥmed ibn al-Ḥanbal, May Allāh have mercy on his soul, said,” Man is in need of knowledge more than he is in need of water and bread because knowledge is needed at every moment whereas bread and water is only needed at intervals.”

Poetry:

The poem of Imām al-Šhāfiʿī, May Allāh have mercy on his soul, on the beauty of man, knowledge and piety

Be patient when the teacher is harsh and strict upon you, because his reprimands and admonishments will strengthen your knowledge

اصبر على مرِّ الجفا من معلمٍ فإنَّ رسوبَ العلمِ في نفراتهِ

The one who is not ready to bear hardships in the quest of knowledge will have to bear the disgrace of ignorance for the rest of his life

ومنْ لم يذق مرَّ التعلمِ ساعة تجرَّعَ نلَّ الجهل طولَ حياته

He who did not seek knowledge whilst he was strong and young, four takbīrs should be said upon him as he is a dead man

ومن فاتهُ التَّعليمُ وقتَ شبابهِ فكبِّر عليه أربعاً لوفاته

By Allāh! The worth and personality of a young man is recognised by his knowledge and piety, if these two qualities are absent then he is worthless

وَذَاتُ الْفَتَى ـ واللَّهِ ـ بالْعِلْمِ وَالتُّقَى إذا لم يكونا لا اعتبار لذاتهِ