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Lesson: 1 Knowledge and Wisdom: Islamic Viewpoint
We begin our
first lesson with Knowledge and Wisdom, which is the first and original pillar
of human distinctions and specialities.
In the very
first revelation to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) we read, Read in the name
of your Lord Who created. He created man from a clot. Read and your Lord is
Most Honourable, Who taught to write with the pen, taught man what he knew not.
Also at the
beginning of Surah Rahman we read, The Beneficent God, taught the Quran.
He created man, taught him the mode of expression.
In these two verses, first
attention has been drawn to the grant of Ilm (Knowledge) and then to Khilqat
(creation) of man.
Also in many verses of this
kind, wise people have been addressed with inspiration like, And He it is
who has made the stars for you that you might follow the right way thereby in
the darkness of the land and the sea; truly We have made plain the communications
for a people who know.
In another verse He says,
And He it is who has brought you into being from a single soul, then there
is for you a resting-place, and a depository; indeed we have made plain the
communications for a people who understand.
Also He says about Adam
the Father of mankind, And He taught Adam all the names, then presented them
to the angels; then He said: Tell me the names of those if you are right.
It is not out of place here
to remember that as a rule of Arabic grammar if before a noun there comes Al,
it denotes a common category. On this ground it can be said that God taught
all the sciences/knowledge to Adam. Then He orders the angels to bow before
Adam and whosoever does not bow respectfully is being regarded as one of the
unbelievers.
In Islam, upgradation of
stages is reserved for Mo-mineen and the learned. Therefore He says, Allah
will exalt those of you who believe, and those who are given knowledge, in high
degrees; and Allah is aware of what you do.
In another verse, it is
said about the one who is wise, He grants wisdom to whom He pleases, and
whoever is granted wisdom, he indeed is given a great good and none but men
of understanding mind.
The word Hikmat (wisdom)
has been defined in many ways, like knowing and being acquainted with the secrets
of the world, Awareness of the Truths about of Quran, Reaching to the truth
through word and deed and Knowing Allah. Each one of these meanings has, in
it, a deep meaning and wisdom for man and it is through piety and strenuous
efforts that man has raised himself to the heights of intellect. Moreover, fear
of Allah is reserved for the wise, Those of His servants only who are possessed
of knowledge fear Allah.
Yet in another Ayat the
aim behind creation of the skies and the earth and everything between them is
mentioned, Allah is He Who created seven heavens, and of the earth the like
of them; the decree continues to descend among them, that you may know
Obviously the meaning of
this Ilm (knowledge) is the ability of knowing God and this knowledge has no
end. Allah asks His Messenger, (who knows more than all other creation) to pray,
O my Lord! Increase me in knowledge.
Here we mention some sayings of the Masoomeen (a.s.) regarding the importance
of knowledge and wisdom.
A - Amirul Mo-mineen
Ali (a.s.) was once asked about Khair (Good). He said, Good is not that you
have more wealth and children. Good is that your knowledge increases.
Kumail says, Amirul Mo-mineen
(a.s.) held my hand and took me out of the town. When we reached wilderness
he took a deep breath and said, O Kumail! These hearts are the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge. The best of heart are those that provide room for more
knowledge and wisdom. Remember forever what I tell you.
There are three kinds of
people: First - One who knows the Lord; Second: A student of the path of salvation
and truth; and third - a group like flies who follow every voice; and who are
dragged in any direction the wind blows.
O Kumail! Knowledge is better
than money and property. Knowledge is your security and you have to guard wealth.
Money and possessions decrease by using but knowledge increases with its dispersion.
O Kumail! Knowledge is the
only faith of man and man must always follow it. Every man must, during his
lifetime, adopt a way of obedience and must leave after his death a good remembrance.
Knowledge is the ruler while money is the ruled.
O Kumail, the possessors
of wealth and treasures have vanished but the wise and the learned are living.
The learned are alive till the world exists. Their bodies have disappeared but
their high examples exist in the hearts of people.
Then pointing to his chest
said: Here is the abundance of knowledge and wisdom. I wish I could find bearers
for it.
B - Amirul Mo-mineen
(a.s.) narrates from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.), that he said, In Qiyamat the
blood of the martyrs will be weighed against the ink and writings of the learned
and finally the ink of the learned will be held heavier than the blood of the
martyrs.
C - It is narrated
from Imam Sadiq (a.s.), On the Day of Judgement Almighty Allah will call the
learned and the worshipper. Then He would tell the Aabid to proceed to Paradise
but the Aalim would be asked to wait and intercede for those whom he had taught.
D - Imam Baqir (a.s.)
says: The value of one learned man who has benefited the society is more than
the worship of seventy thousand worshippers.
E - Imam Sadiq (a.s.)
said: One Rakat of prayer of Aalim is more valuable then seventy thousand Rakats
of an Aabid.
G - It has been recorded
from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) that, The superiority of a learned man over
a worshipper is like that of the full moon over other stars.
H - It is reported
that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) once addressed Ali (a.s.), The sleep of a learned
man is better than a thousand Rakats Namaz of a worshippers. O Ali! No poverty
is harder than ignorance and no worship can equal contemplation.
I - The Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) said: For the devil, the existence of one Faqeeh (jurisprudent) is
more intolerable than the existence of a thousand worshippers.
J - Imam Zainul Abideen
(a.s.) says, Had people known what benefit learning gives, they would have run
after it even if it required the blood of hearts and diving deep into oceans.
It is to convey that they would try to learn unto the time of their death.
K - The Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) is reported to have said, The loss of running after an affair without
learning about it is more than its benefit.
L - Imam Sadiq (a.s.)
is reported to have said, Working without knowledge is like travelling off the
road. The more a blind man walks the more he gets away from his path.
Verses and traditions regarding
knowledge are so many that it is impossible for us to include all of them here.
Yet it should not also be forgotten that no other school of thought has given
so much importance to knowledge except Islam. So much so that Islam has made
it almost obligatory for a Muslim. We read in traditions: Learning knowledge
is compulsory under every circumstance.
Question: Is obtaining
knowledge obligatory? In case it is obligatory is it Kifaai or Ainee? That is,
is it compulsory for some or for each and everyone in the society?
Answer: The great
jurisprudents of Islam are of the opinion that obtaining Ilm is waajib-e-Ainee
so far as it refers to the matters of belief like the principles of religion
and those practical affairs without which duties cannot be fulfilled; and that
beyond it, it is Waajib-e-Kifaai. But a group of jurisprudents think it is absolutely
compulsory even in that case for those who can afford to obtain knowledge.
Encouragement
for the learned
Islam has encouraged learning.
Great religious leaders have always actively inspired scholars giving them preference
over all others. Hence, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.), during the war of Muslims
against Romans, gave the standard to a youth named Usama bin Zaid and ordered
that entire army to follow him.
Also when a group from Bani
Hashim was sitting near Imam Sadiq (a.s.) in a grand gathering, Hishaam bin
Hakam who was then a youth arrived. The Imam got up to greet him, pulled him
toward him, kissed his lips and seated him beside him. This happening displeased
all the elders sitting there. Imam said, "Don't you know that this young man
had, during a discussion, put Amr bin Ubaid (who was a great Sunni scholar)
to shame to such an extent that Amr said: So long as this youth is present in
the class I will not talk?"
