The Importance of Acquiring Knowledge in Islam
“Read! In the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that exists).
He has created man from a clot.
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” [Surah - al-‘Alaq v:1-5]
The very first word in the first revelation to our beloved Prophet
(pbuh) was Iqra meaning ‘read’. This establishes the importance
of knowledge in Islam.
Allah swt created man and blessed him with the faculties of
hearing, sight and wisdom to acquire knowledge. He taught us
the use of pen and He also taught us what we did not know and
have means of knowing. In the above Ayats two methods of
knowledge acquisition are narrated:
1. Knowledge which one acquires through learning by use of
the pen and paper and
2. The knowledge which man did not know and has no means
of knowing. This knowledge is revealed by Allah through His
messengers (pbut) and His books.
Allah swt says: “And Allah has brought you out from the
wombs of your mothers while you know nothing. And He
gave you hearing, sight, and hearts so that you might give
thanks (to Allah) - Surah al-Nahl - v: 78
Allah also says: " Say: "Are those who know equal to those
who know not - Surah Al-Zumur – v: 9)
Once Muwawiyah Ibn Abi Sufyan (ra) gave a sermon in which he
said, "I heard Allah's Messenger (pbuh) saying, "If Allah wants to
do good to a person, he makes him very knowledgeable in the
Deen.”
This is because knowledge is the basis of all good; it generates
actions that are based on the commandments of Allah and the
instructions of the Prophet. Hence, every Muslim must endeavour
to acquire knowledge. Allah swt instructed all of us to ask Him to
increase our knowledge.
Allah says: “and say: ‘My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.
[Surah Ta-Ha v: 114]
Thus Islam calls us to seek knowledge. The Prophet (pbuh) made
seeking knowledge an obligation upon every Muslim.
In a Hadith Abu Darda (ra) narrated that: I heard the Prophet of
Allah (pbuh) saying:
 If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allah will
cause him to travel on one of the roads of Paradise.
 The angels will lower their wings in their great pleasure with
one who seeks knowledge, the inhabitants of the heavens
and the Earth and the fish in the deep waters will ask
forgiveness for the learned man.
 The superiority of the learned man over the devout is like
that of the moon, on the night when it is full, over the rest of
the stars.
 The learned are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets
leave neither dinar nor dirham, leaving only knowledge, and
he who takes it takes an abundant portion.
Ibn Abbas (ra) narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: A single
scholar of religion is more formidable against Shaitan than a
thousand devout persons
Therefore, Islam calls us to learn all kinds of beneficial
knowledge. Our holy prophet (pbuh) use to make Dua after
every Fajr Salah which was reported by Ibn Majah
‘O Allah, I ask You to grant me beneficial knowledge,
abundant sustenance and cure from all diseases”
The best of all faculties of knowledge is the knowledge of alQur’an because through this the believer recognises his real
Creator, understands the pillars of Islam and Iman. This is the
knowledge given to the Messenger to enable him to teach the
mankind their raison d’être.
Though, initially, all men are created equal by Allah, but those
who are God Conscious i.e. have Taqwa and have been granted
knowledge move up to higher ranks. Allah says about those who
believe and acquire knowledge:
"Allah will raise up, to ranks and degrees, those of you who
believe and who have been granted knowledge. And Allah is
well-acquainted with all you do." - Surah, Al-Mujadilah v: 11
When a person is granted knowledge, he understands and
appreciates the vastness of Allah's creation, and thus becomes
more acquainted with Allah's attributes and qualities.
Consequently, he wholeheartedly witnesses that his Creator is
the only one worthy of worship, and then submits to Him humbly.
This, in return, generates in his heart a full appreciation and love
for Allah.
Knowledge brings great rewards. The one who points the way to
something good is like the one who does it. When the
knowledgeable person dies, his rewards from Allah swt does not
cease with his death, rather it continues to increase so long as
people continue to benefit from his knowledge.
The Prophet (pbuh) said: “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.” (Sahih Muslim)
Prophet (pbuh)used to encourage his companions to seek
knowledge: Ibn Masood relates that the Prophet said, "Only two
persons are worthy of being envied; a person upon whom Allah
bestows richness and gives him the power to spend it in a
righteous cause; and a person upon whom Allah bestows wisdom
by which he judges and which he teaches." He ordained all his
companions and, thus, every Muslim who possesses some
knowledge -- even as little as one verse -- to disseminate what
they know to others: He said, "Convey (what you learn from me)
even if only one verse…" (Sahih Bukhari)
He assured all those who disseminate his knowledge that they
will get the same reward of any Muslim who acts upon that
knowledge. The first and most crucial obligation on us is to
acquire knowledge and secondly to practice and preach this
knowledge.
No man becomes a true Muslim without knowing the meaning of
Islam, because he becomes a Muslim not through birth but
through knowledge. He accepts Islam consciously and
deliberately and accepts the teachings of the Prophet (pbuh) and
act accordingly. Unless we come to know the teachings of the
Prophet (pbuh) how can we believe in him, have faith in him and
act according to what he taught? It is therefore impossible for us
to be a Muslim, and to live in a state of ignorance.
A person without knowledge is like someone walking along a path
in complete darkness. Most likely his steps will wander aside and
he can easily be deceived by Shaitan. This shows that the
greatest danger lies in our ignorance of Islamic teachings that is
not being aware of what the Qur’an teaches us and what
guidance has been given by the Prophet (pbuh).
But blessed with the light of knowledge we will be able to see
plainly the correct path to be taken at every step in our lives. We
shall also be able to identify and avoid the dangerous paths of
Kufr, Shirk and immorality when we come across it. In addition
whenever a false guide meets us on the way, a few words with
him will quickly establish that he is not a guide who should be
followed.
The acquiring of knowledge is a form of worship, like reading the
Quran and pondering upon it or travelling for the purpose to gain
knowledge. Every one of us, young or old, man or woman, should
at least acquire sufficient knowledge to enable ourselves to
understand the essence of the teachings of the Quran and the
purpose for which it has been sent down.
Not only should we seek knowledge, but also once we learn
something we should practice what we have learnt as knowledge
without action is useless. A learned person without action will be
the worst off on the Day of Resurrection.
The main purpose of acquiring knowledge should be to bring us
closer to Allah. It is not simply for the gratification of the mind or
the senses. One of the purposes of acquiring knowledge is to
gain the good of this world, not to destroy it through wastage,
arrogance and in the reckless pursuit of higher standards of
material comfort.
Abu Said Al-Khudri (ra) narrated that: Allah’s Messenger (pbuh)
said, "A believer is never satisfied with the beneficial knowledge;
he goes acquiring it till his death and enter into Paradise."
The best thing that we can give to our children is knowledge of
Islam. It is the best education and the best means to fight
ignorance and drive away evil. The Prophet (pbuh) says in the
following Hadith: Sa’id bin Al-Aas narrated that Allah’ Messenger
(pbuh) said, "A father gives his child nothing better than a good
education." (Tirmidhi).
When we teach Islam to our children, we raise them to be
righteous and responsible Muslims who will subsequently treat us
with kindness and respect. Islam is the only religion that clearly
raises the status of the parents to a high degree and honour. In
fact, Allah in many ayat of the Qur’an has commanded us to
please our parents after pleasing Him. After our firm belief in Him,
our Creator has enjoined us to treat our parents with kindness
and respect.
Therefore, we must give importance to the acquisition of Islamic
knowledge and impart the same to our children so that they will
pray for our success. When we guide our children to Islam, they
become righteous Muslims who pray, to Allah and the benefit,
continue to reach us even after we die.
Let us pray that we realise the importance of Islam in our lives. It
is essential for us to live the life of a believer. Therefore let us
resolve that we will find some time from our busy schedule to
learn about Islam. May Allah swt guide us to the right path,
ameen.