السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
I will be penning down some virtues of Seeking Islamic Knowledge and how it is superior to other forms of worship, and how an ‘Aalim of the religion is held in high esteem with Allah سبحانه وتعالى.
In-Sha-Allah!
I will jot down verses from The Quran and Ahadith, plus some words of the scholars as well to elaborate on my point.
Seeking Islamic Knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim male and female.
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, said, “Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.”ﷺ (Ibn Mājah 224,Sahih)
The knowledge referred to here is the obligatory knowledge of The Deen of Islam and not the worldy sciences as mentioned by some people.
Qaadhi ‘Iyaadh [D.554H](Rahimahullah) said that a Muslim must know the basics of Islam, that is, believing in the Oneness of Allaah The Almighty and in the prophethood of Muhammad,and knowing how to perform Salah (prayer), etc.
That is, every Muslim must learn the knowledge which is obligatory upon him, like Tawheed, Risalah and the rest of The Wajibaat (Obligations) of the Deen, in order to be called a ‘Muslim’.
Also every Muslim must learn specific knowledge that is necessary for his field of work in the world.
For ex. if a Muslim is a Businessman, he is obligated to learn the ‘Islamic Fiqh of Business’, a doctor needs ‘Fiqh of Medicine’, but other Muslims need not learn it as it is immediately not necessary for them.
Allah mentions in The Quran that those of The Muslims who learn and accquire Islamic Knowledge are degrees higher (way higher) that those without knowledge.
Allah says:
“Allâh will exalt in degree those of you who believe, and those who have been granted knowledge.
[al-Mujaadilah 58:11]
And only those amongst the Muslims who have the knowledge of Allah and His religion, and are ‘sincere’ in seeking Islamic knowledge fear Allah as He is to be feared the true sense.
Allaah praises them by saying: “It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allâh”
[Faatir 35:28]
Why did so many scholars of the past and present, leave their fathers’ businesses, wealth and fame, and chose Seeking Islamic Knowledge?
Because they wanted to make their path to Jannah easy…
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Allah makes the way to Jannah easy for him who treads the path in search of knowledge.” [Saheeh Muslim]
Is not being just a worshipper sufficient? Why did they struggle to become an ‘Aalim?
The companion, Abu Umamah Al-Bahili, reported that two men were mentioned before the Messenger ﷺ one of them was only a worshiper (Aabid) and the other was a Aalim .
How did the Prophet ﷺ compare them? Let’s see…
The Prophet ﷺ said:The superiority of the Aalim over the (one who is only a) worshiper is like my superiority over the least of you; verily, Allah, His angels, and the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth, even the ant in his hole, even the fish, send blessings upon the one who teaches people to do good. (Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2685)
The scholars are the true inheritors of the Prophets, they’re the bright full-moon on a dark night, the angels cover the knowledge-seeker with their wings, all of the creation of Allah seeks forgiveness for them! Allahu Akbar!!!
Will you after all this discourage people and children from seeking Ilm of The Islamic Sciences?
Nabi ﷺ, said,
(1)“Whoever travels a path in search of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him the path to Paradise.(2)Verily, the angels lower their wings for the seeker of knowledge.(3)The inhabitants of the heavens and earth, even the fish in the depths of the water, seek forgiveness for the scholar.(4)The virtue of the scholar over the worshiper is like the superiority of the moon over the stars. (5)The scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets.(6)They do not leave behind gold or silver coins, but rather they leave behind knowledge. Whoever has taken hold of it has been given an abundant share.” (Abu Dawud 3641)
The world is cursed except for the moments that we worship Allah , the Aalim and the Talib-ul-Ilm (student of knowledge)!!!
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Is not the world cursed and everything in it? Except for the remembrance of Allah and what facilitates it, the scholar or the student.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2322, Hasan (Al-Albani))
The Muslims will be destroyed without Islamic knowledge, and knowledge doesn’t come by just hoarding a library of Islamic books, or browsing some Fatawa websites or sticking to general recorded lessons, rather the existence of scholars is the existence of knowledge, their absence is misery and loss. We will always need experts on Islam to teach us Islam!
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, said, “Verily, Allah does not withhold knowledge by snatching it away from his servants, but rather he withholds knowledge by taking the souls of scholars, until no scholar remains and people follow ignorant leaders. They are asked and they issue judgments without knowledge. Thus, they are astray and lead others astray.”(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 100, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2673)
Have you noticed the number of scholars of Islam coming down? Have you noticed how parents discourage their children from becoming an Aalim?
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Among the signs of the Hour are the reduction of knowledge, the prevalence of ignorance…” (Part of a Hadith from Al-Bukhari 80, Muslim 2671)
Some parents fear that once their children start seeking Islamic knowledge they will start obeying and copying the Prophet ﷺ and his Sahaba in everything, and they will look out of place when others are imitating the modern trends and celebrity fashions. Be assured, he is in good company!
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” (Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4031)
If a person seeks knowledge, and he tries to be like the Sahaba, but he doesn’t reach anywhere close to them, he will still benefit in the Akhirah!
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: A man came to the Messenger ﷺ, and he said,“O Messenger of Allah, what do you say about a man who loves a people but his deeds do not compare to theirs?” The Prophet said, “A person will be with those whom he loves.” (al-Bukhārī 5817,Muslim 2641)
Some people complain, ‘My child was fine, he was normal, watching movies, enjoying music, mixing with female cousins, and once he started reading Islamic books, he’s only into seeking Islamic knowledge and has become more religious!?’
You know what, Allah has wished good for him now!
The Prophet ﷺ said,”To whomever Allah wills goodness, He grants him understanding of the religion.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 71, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1037)
Dialogue of some parents, ‘I don’t want to see you carrying books, looking like a Moulavi, I just dislike you from going deep into knowledge!!!’ What did the scholars say about such parents who inherently dislike Islamic Knowledge and the Ulama?
Al-Khallaal narrated that a man asked Imam Ahmad: I am seeking knowledge, but my mother has told me not to do that; she wants me to work in trade. He (Imam Ahmad) said to me:
Be kind to her and say something pleasing to her, but do not stop seeking knowledge.
Ibn Muflih said in al-Adaab al-Shar’iyyah (1/646): The author of al-Nuzum said: Do not obey them in forsaking a confirmed naafil action such as seeking knowledge that will not harm them. (End quote , Islamqa.info)
Shaykh Ibn Al-Uthaymeen said:
(It is necessary to seek permission from parents while seeking non-obligatory Islamic knowledge)
… But if he knows that his parents dislike him seeking Islamic knowledge, then he should not obey them, and he should not ask them for permission if he goes out, because their motive is dislike of Islamic knowledge. (End quote, Islamqa.info|60459)
Abu Khaithama narrated: Ishaaq Ibn Sulaimaan Ar-Razi said: I heard Handhala report from ‘Awn Ibn ‘Abdullah that he said: “I said to ‘Umar Bin ‘Abdul ‘Azeez: ‘It was said (to me): If you are able to be a scholar then be a scholar. & if you are not able to do so, then be a student of knowlede. & if you are not able to be a student of knowledge, then love them. & if you can’t love them, then do not hate them.’ So Umar said: `SubhanAllah!Allah has indeed made a way out for this person.”(Book of Knowledge of lmaam An-Nasaa’ee – Al-Albani,Al-Ibaanah.|AbdurRahman.Org)
It is reported that Abū Muslim Al-Khawlānī – Allāh have mercy on him – said: The example of the scholars on earth is that of the stars in the sky: when they appear, the people are guided (they navigate using the stars), but when they disappear, the people get confused and lost.
Al-Bayhaqī, Al-Madkhal ilā Al-Sunan Al-Kubrā #287 (sayingsofthesalaf.net)
It is reported that Imām Al-Shāfiʿī – Allāh have mercy on him – said: Do not live in a land in which there is neither a scholar to inform you about your religion, nor a doctor to tell you about your body.
Al-Bayhaqī, Manāqib Al-Shāfiʿī 2:115 (sayingsofthesalaf.net)
Much more can be written about the virtues of Seeking Knowledge and the Virtues of The Scholars of Islamic Knowledge. I hope this suffices us for now, and encourages all of us to seek knowledge sincerely, and appreciate the youth who have chosen this noble path, and honour the Ulama who teach us The Deen.
May Allah reward all of you for reading patiently. Please read all of the posts again so that it settles firmly in our hearts.
والصلاة و السلام على نبينا محمد و على آله و آصحابه اجمعين و من تبعهم باحسان إلى يوم الدين.
Saheehus-Seerah 