Islamic Concept of Knowledge ODP

7/29/2019 Islamic Concept of Knowledge ODP

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IslamicConception of

Knowledge

PRESENTED BY

HAJI MOHAMAD HANIM HAJI MOHAMAD ISA


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One of the distinctive features of Islam is its

emphasis on knowledge. The Quran and the

Islamic tradition (sunnah) invite Muslims to seek

and acquire knowledge and wisdom and to hold

men of knowledge in high esteem.

In the Holy Quran the word al-Ilm, knowledge, and

its derivatives are used more than 780 times. The

first few verses that were revealed to our Holy

Prophet (SAW) mention the importance of

reading, pen, and teaching for human beings:

Read: in the name of your Lord whocreated. He created man fromsomething which clings. Read and yourLord is the most generous. Who taught

with pen. Taught man what he knewnot..." (Quran verses 96:1-5)


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TRADITIONS ATTRIBUTED TO THE HOLY PROPHET (SAW) IN

THIS REGARD, SOME OF WHICH ARE QUOTED BELOW:

It is an obligation for every Muslim to seek knowledge.

Seek knowledge even if it be in China.

Seek knowledge from cradle to grove.

Scholars are the heirs of the prophets.

The ink of the learned will be weighed with the blood ofthe martyrs on the Resurrection Day; and then, the

ink of the learned would be preferred to the blood of

the martyrs. Anyone who pursues a course in search of knowledge,

ALLAH will ease his way to paradise.

The most learned of men is the one who gathersknowledge from others on his own; the most worthy

of men is the most knowing and the meanest is themost ignorant.

Acquire knowledge, it enables its possessor todistinguish right from wrong; it lights the way to

heaven.


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Some Wise Sayings of Imam Ali (AS) in this

regard, which are quoted below:

O you who carry knowledge around with you; are you onlycarrying it around with you? For surely knowledge

belongs to whoever knows and then acts accordingly,

so that his action corresponds to his knowledge. There

will be a people who will carry knowledge around with

them, but it will not pass beyond their shoulders. Their

inner most thoughts will contradict what they display in

public, and their actions will contradict what they know.

Do not turn your knowledge into ignorance and yoursurety into doubt. When you acquire knowledge then

act in accordance with it and when you achieve surety

then proceed with it. Knowledge is accompanied by action. Thus he who knows

acts in accordance with it. Knowledge is called through

action. Thus if called it responds and if left uncalled it

leaves.


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regard, which are quoted below: The one who engages in business without knowledge of its

laws is inevitably dragged into usury. Two types of people will never be satiated, the seeker of

knowledge and the seeker of this world.

The best companion is satisfaction while knowledge is anoble heritage. Good morals are renewable garments and

thought is a clear mirror.

There is no virtue in your possession of excessive wealthand offspring rather virtue and merit are (awarded) by

greater knowledge and insistence and by your devotion to

your Lord.

When a dead person is placed in his grave, four kinds of fire

will cover him, but then the prayer will come and put oneof them out, and the fast will come and put another one of

them out, and then charity will come and put another one

out, and knowledge will come and put the forth one out,

and it will say: If I had come sooner, I would a have put all

of them out, and given you delight for I am with you now,

and you'll not see anything else distressing.


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regard, which are quoted below: The one who engages in business without knowledge of its

laws is inevitably dragged into usury. Two types of people will never be satiated, the seeker of

knowledge and the seeker of this world.

The best companion is satisfaction while knowledge is anoble heritage. Good morals are renewable garments and

thought is a clear mirror.

There is no virtue in your possession of excessive wealthand offspring rather virtue and merit are (awarded) by

greater knowledge and insistence and by your devotion to

your Lord.

When a dead person is placed in his grave, four kinds of fire

will cover him, but then the prayer will come and put oneof them out, and the fast will come and put another one of

them out, and then charity will come and put another one

out, and knowledge will come and put the forth one out,

and it will say: If I had come sooner, I would a have put all

of them out, and given you delight for I am with you now,

and you'll not see anything else distressing.


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KNOWLEDGE IS BETTER THAN WEALTH BECAUSE

OF THE FOLLOWING SEVEN [ 7 ] REASONS:

Knowledge is inheritance of Prophets while wealth isinheritance of Firauns (Pharaohs).

Knowledge does not diminish (rather increases) withspending, while wealth diminishes with spending.

Wealth requires to be protected, while knowledge

protects its owner. Knowledge will enter the Kafan (Shroud) while wealth

will be prevented from doing so.

Wealth reaches both believers and unbelievers (Kafir),while knowledge is reserved only for those who are

worthy of it.

Knowledge will facilitate passing over the Seraat(Bridge over Hell) while wealth will pore hurdles.

People are always in need of scholars while they mightnot be in need of those possessing wealth.


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SOME WISE SAYINGS OF IMAM JAFAR AL-SADIQ (AS)

ON KNOWLEDGE:

Knowledge is a shield, truthfulness is might, ignorance

is abasement, understanding is glory, generosity issuccess, good behavior causes friendship, he who

has knowledge about his time, ambiguous things do

not attack him.

Whoever attacks a matter without knowledge cuts off

his own nose. Verily, knowledge is a lock and its key is the question.

Allah does not accept any act without knowledge, thereis no knowledge without act, so whoever knows,

knowledge leads him to act, and whoever does not

act gets no knowledge, but belief is a little of a little. Enough for the fear of Allah is knowledge and enough

for self-importance is ignorance.

Indeed, the most knowledge of all men in Allah is themost satisfied of them with death.


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Explanation of one of the famous Hadith of the Holy

Prophet (SAW): Acquisition of knowledge is incumbent

on every Muslim. Accordingly, the tradition intends to state that at whatever stage of

knowledge one May be, he should strive to make further advance. TheProphet means that acquisition of knowledge is obligatory for all

Muslims, scholars as well as ignorant men, beginners as well as

learned scholars. Whatever stage of knowledge man may attain, he is

still like a child entering into adulthood i.e. he should learn things

which were not obligatory for him earlier.

The tradition implies that a Muslim can never be relieved of hisresponsibility of acquiring knowledge.

No field of knowledge or science is undesirable or detestable in itself; forknowledge is like light and so it is always desirable. The reason that

some of the sciences have been regarded as "undesirable" is because

of the undesirable effects they produce.

The knowledge which is incumbent on every Muslim to acquire is the onethat elevates man's position in the next world, and that which brings

him the knowledge of his self, his Creator, prophets, messengers of

ALLAH, elite of Islam, signs of ALLAH, doomsday, and whatevercauses proximity of ALLAH or divergence from the Almighty's way.

The levels of acquisition of this knowledge differ from person to person inaccordance with their talents, and even in the case of a particular

person, the level of attainment changes with his evolution. Therefore,

there is no limit to the acquisition of this type of knowledge, and no

matter what level one reaches, it is still incumbent on him to attain a

higher level (this of course depends on his capacity and patience too).


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HOLY PROPHET (SAW) SAYINGS:

Seek knowledge by even going to China,for seeking knowledge is incumbent on

every Muslim.

Wisdom is the believer's lost propertytherefore, wherever he finds it, he

deserves more than anyone else to have

it.IMAM ALI (AS) SAYINGS:

Wisdom is the lost property of believers,then seek it even if it be with polytheists,

because you deserve to have it morethan they do.

Grasp wisdom from whoever offers it toyou, see what is said not who Says it.


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All these sayings indicate that acquisition

of knowledge is not confined to

learning the principles and laws of

religion, because it is quite obviousthat China in those days was not the

center of theological studies, but it was

famous for its industry. Moreover, it is

clear that the laws and principles of

Islam could not be learnt from atheists

or polytheists.

Another reason for believing that

'desirable' knowledge is not confined to

theological studies or the Shari'ah lawsdealing with permissible and forbidden

is the invaluable heritage itself left by

Muslim scholars of the first few

centuries after Hijrah.


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It is also confirmed by contemporary historians that Muslim

scholars have been the torch bearers of science for

many centuries, and their works were used as text

books in Europe for several hundred years.In fact, a major reason why Muslim scholars assimilated the

scientific heritage of other nations was that they did not

see any conflict between the goals of science and

religion, and were convinced that both religion and

science aimed to demonstrate the unity of nature which

in turn is an indication of the Unity of its Creator. It wasfor this very reason that theology and rational and

physical sciences made up a conjoint discipline to be

taught in theological schools and mosques.

Hence we may conclude that the word Ilm as it occurs in

the Quran and Sunnah appears in its generic sense

rather than referring exclusively to religious studies. Onthis ground it can be said Islam has only discourage

Muslims from preoccupying themselves with any pursuit

of such branches of knowledge whose harm is greater

than their benefit (like magic and sorcery and games of

chance used for gambling).


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The relevant sayings of the Prophet

(SAW) may be noted:

The best fields of knowledge are those

which bring benefit.

O ALLAH! Benefit me through knowledgethat You have bestowed on me, teach me

whatever would benefit me, and increase

my knowledge.

Imam Ali (AS) is related as having

said:

There is no good in knowledge which doesnot benefit.

Knowledge is too immense in scope foranyone to be able to learn all of it. So

learn from each science its useful parts.


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Is worshipping ALLAH is only through prayers, fasting

and so on? And I have not created the Jinn and the men except that

they should serve Me. (51:56)

And that you should serve Me; this is the right way. (36:61)

Therefore, the main objective of man should be seeking proximity

to ALLAH and attaining His consent; and his activities should

be focused in this direction. Anything that brings about this

proximity or guides in that direction is praiseworthy. Thus

knowledge is useful only if it is an instrument for obtainingknowledge of ALLAH, and His pleasure and proximity;

otherwise knowledge itself is an inscrutable veil (Hijab-e-

Akbar), whether it is linked with the sciences of nature or the

sciences of the Shari'ah.

It is obvious that worshipping ALLAH is not only through prayers,

fasting and so on. In fact, any move in the direction ofproximity to ALLAH is considered as worship. One of the

means to help man in his way towards ALLAH is knowledge,

and of course it is only in this case that knowledge can be

considered valuable. By the help of knowledge a Muslim can

gain proximity to ALLAH in various ways and manners.


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God can beworshippedand servedby means of

knowledge;bliss in thisworld andHereafter

comesthrough

knowledge;and adversity

of this world

Our great Prophet (SAW) is

related as having said:

First of all, he canincrease his cognition

of God.


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Secondly, he can

effectively help in the

advancement ofIslamic society and

realization of Islamic

goals:

A tradition has been quoted

from our great Prophet

(SAW):

Should death occurto a man who is

learning

knowledge withthe purpose of

reviving Islam, hisposition in

paradise will be

(only) one stagebelow (that of) theprophets.


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Thirdly, he can guide other people. It is

reported from our dear Prophet (SAW) as

having said:

God will patronize mysuccessors. He was

asked. Who are yoursuccessors? He

answered, those whorevive my traditionsand teach them to

God's servants.


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Fourthly, he can solve

many problems of

human society, Our

great Prophet (SAW) is

quoted as having said:

All People are

God's family.Among them,

God's favorites

are those who aremore useful to His

family.


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The knowledge employed in the above mentioned ways

is deemed to be useful; otherwise, it would not have

any real value:"This is because Allah is the truth and that whichthey call upon besides Him is the falsehood." (31:30)"And the word of Allah is the highest." (9:40)

Our great Prophet (SAW) is related as having said:He who learns knowledge for other than God, and his

aim be other than God, will abide in fire (hell).

One whose knowledge increases but his salvationdoes not keep pace with it, his remoteness from God

increases.

Any knowledge not helping man on his way to Allah is

similar to the load of books carried on the back of a


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My Lord, save mefrom the useless

knowledge.

Any knowledgehelping man in

performing his Godassigned role in this

world is useful,

other than that is

considered uselessknowledge.

The only limit set to the

acquisition of knowledge

in Islam is that Muslims

should seek useful

knowledge. Our great

Prophet (SAW) is

reported as having said:


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The shortest distancebetween a problem

and a solution is the

distance between yourknees and the floor.

The one who kneels tothe Almighty (s.w.t.) can

stand up to anything.

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Islamic Concept of Knowledge ODP

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