The Status of Knowledge in Islam

Furthermore, the very first verse revealed of the Holy Qur'an did not command prayer, nor Zakat, nor even Jihad; rather, it commanded reading.

Allah the Almighty says:

{Read in the name of your Lord who created.

Created man from a clinging substance.

Read, and your Lord is the most Generous} .

(Al-'Alaq: 1-3)

We have inherited from the Chosen One (peace and blessings be upon him) consistent reports and biographies showing that jurists, scholars, and reciters among the Companions were prioritized over others in state administration, in leading Jihad and military expeditions, in the collection and distribution of funds, and in governance and the judiciary.

In this regard, we express our profound gratitude and appreciation to our fathers and grandfathers, who bequeathed to us noble values, wisdom, and proverbs that glorify knowledge and scholars.

They understood the true right of knowledge and its power to adapt life and overcome difficulties.

Indeed, some of our ancestors may have been illiterate, but they were not "ignorant"; for the truly ignorant person is the one who ignores the rights of God and the rights of people.

How many of today’s "educated" people and degree holders deny God's blessings and reject the nation's right to the debt they owe it?

We inherited from our ancestors life-regulating values that glorify knowledge.

They held the mosque and the Kuttab (traditional school) in high sanctity, considering them among the "Gardens of Paradise."

However, we have neglected these values, which has led our enemies to produce sciences and knowledge many times more than what Arabs produce, despite our bright past in the fields of science and learning.

Why have we retreated to this state?

It is our duty to always remind ourselves of the priorities in our religion, which raised scholars to the summit, as they are the "Heirs of the Prophets.

" There is no honor greater than Prophethood, and no message greater than the chosen Revelation.

Islam and Knowledge:

In our religion: The one who has memorized the most of the Book of Allah and is the most knowledgeable in jurisprudence is prioritized to lead people in prayer (Imamate), as stated in the Hadith:

(The one who should lead the people is the one who is best versed in the Book of Allah...)

; because he is the most knowledgeable in managing the affairs of prayer.

In our religion: Seeking knowledge is better than voluntary acts of worship.

It is reported that Ibn Wahb intended to leave the circle of Imam Malik to perform prayer, so the Imam guided him by saying:

"That which you are currently engaged in (learning) is not inferior to that which you are going toward (voluntary prayer), provided the intention is sincere."

In our religion: Knowledge comes before Jihad, and the ink of scholars is weighed against the blood of martyr.

Through knowledge, the virtue of Jihad is recognized, and through scholars, people are mobilized for battle.

Without sound knowledge, fighting would be a blameworthy rebellion or a suicide for the sake of misleading whims, as the Khawarij did in the past and as extremist movements do today.

In our religion: Knowledge is the path to Paradise and the means to knowing God.

Two definitive texts from the Qur'an point to this:

[saying]

{Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding. Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, , "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire"}

(Al-Imran: 190-191).

From the Sunnah: At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawood narrated on the authority of Abu al-Darda (in a Marfu' report) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

"Whoever follows a path in pursuit of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise. Verily, the angels lower their wings for the seeker of knowledge out of pleasure for what he does. Verily, forgiveness is sought for the scholar by those in the heavens and those on the earth, even the fish in the water.

The superiority of the scholar over the worshiper is like the superiority of the moon over all other heavenly bodies. Verily, the scholars are the heirs of the Prophets; the Prophets do not leave behind dinars or dirhams, rather they leave behind knowledge. So whoever takes it has taken an abundant portion.