The Most Complete Gift Of God Is — A Life Based On Knowledge:

In Islam, Knowledge comes before Action; there can be no Action without Knowledge.

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“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).

The System of Islam is based on the Knowledge of Qur’an and Sunnah. The First aayah of the Qur’an to be revealed enjoined reading which is the key to knowledge.

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“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)

Allah (swt) warns every Muslim against speaking without Knowledge, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“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 Allah)” (Al-Israa’ 17:36).

Islam Calls Us To Seek Knowledge:

The Messenger (saw) made seeking knowledge an Obligation upon every Muslim, and he (saw) 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 (saw) said that 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. And he (saw) said that seeking knowledge is a way to Paradise. He (saw) said: “Whoever Follows a path in the pursuit of knowledge, Allah will make a path to Paradise easy for him.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, Kitaab al-‘Ilm, 10).

Islam Calls Us To Learn All Kinds Of Beneficial Knowledge:

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 Allah honored His Messenger (saw); He taught it to him so that he might teach it to mankind.

The Seeker of Knowledge should begin by attaining some general Knowledge of the texts of Revelation because they are the main source for the Religion of Allah, May He be exalted.

Islam is the path of “Knowledge.” No other religion or Ideology has so much emphasized the importance of 'ilm.

Types Of Knowledge In Islam:

Sayyiduna Jabir (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “There are Two types of Knowledge — The First type is that Knowledge which is in the heart of a person and this is the one that is Beneficial Knowledge.

The Second type is that Knowledge which is on the tongue then it is this Knowledge that will be used as evidence of Allah Ta’ala against a person.” (Tarikh Baghdad, vol. 5 pg. 568).

Muslim Scholars Classify Knowledge Into Two Main Categories:

Individually Obligatory Knowledge (Farḍ ʿayn):

This refers to knowledge of the essentials of Islamic beliefs that every Muslim must know. Seeking this Knowledge is an Obligation on each and every Muslim.

All obligatory knowledge details al-ʿilm al-sharʿî, that is Knowledge pertaining to the Islamic Faith, acts of worship, and the regulation of transactions in the daily dealings of a Muslim.

Communally Obligatory Knowledge (Farḍ kifâyah):

Possession of this category of knowledge is not a duty required of every individual but rather falls upon a “sufficient number” within the community as a whole.

Hence, if a group of individuals in the community undertakes to acquire this kind of knowledge, all other individuals are exempt from this duty, and the community unit is free from negligence in regard to the responsibility of acquiring this type of knowledge.

Examples of such knowledge include studying Islamic Law and other basic Islamic sciences, industries, and professions, which are vital for the spiritual, social, and functional welfare of society.

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Do they not then consider the Qur’an carefully?” (Al-Nisa’ 4:82).

Considering words is only of benefit if one understands them.

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, We have made it a Qur’aan in Arabic that you may be able to understand (its meanings and its admonitions)”(Al-Zukhruf 43:3).

The Messengers explained to the people that which was revealed to them by their Lord, and they had to convey it clearly to mankind. What is required of the people is to understand what the Messengers conveyed to them, and understanding implies Knowledge and Action.

Whoever knows (the difference between) Good and Evil and does not Follow good and warn against evil, has not understood. Hence no one can be counted as being a man of understanding unless he does what will benefit him and avoids what will harm him.

So the insane person who cannot distinguish between the one and the other may fall into things that will harm him and may run away from things that may benefit him.

“That from the first of those for whom the Fire will be made to blaze on the Day of Resurrection will be a scholar who does not act upon his knowledge”.

Knowledge is joined to Action, and Action is the Fruit of Knowledge, so Knowledge without Action is like a tree without Fruit, there is no benefit in it, and Knowledge was sent down to bring about action.

Just as action without Knowledge will be an affliction and misguidance for its person. If a person acts without Knowledge, then his Action will be affliction and a burden upon the person.

He (saw) said: “Whoever does an action which our affair is not in accordance with, then it will be rejected”. (Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 15/108).

Proper Understanding of Islam is one of the best of good characteristics with which a Muslim may be honored, as the Prophet (saw) said: “When Allah wishes good for a person, He makes him understand the religion.” (Agreed upon).

Zayd ibn Arqam reported: The Messenger of Allah(saw) said:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُ وَمِنْ قَلْبٍ لاَ يَخْشَعُ وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لاَ تَشْبَعُ وَمِنْ دَعْوَةٍ لاَ يُسْتَجَابُ لَهَا

O Allah, I seek refuge in you from the knowledge that does not benefit, from a heart that is not reverent, from a soul that is not content, and from a supplication that is not answered. (Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2722).

JazakAllah (May Allah reward you with goodness)for reading.

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