By Dr. Norlain Dindang Mababaya
By
Dr. Norlain Dindang Mababaya
Mankind must seek knowledge of Islâm because Allâh the Almighty has obliged us to obey His Messenger r. The Prophet r inspires those who acquire knowledge of Islâm and those who are knowledgeable. He says in the following Ahâdîth:
Abu Hurairah t narrated that... the Prophet r said, “Those who were the best in the pre-lslamic period of ignorance will be the best in Islâm provided they comprehend the religious knowledge.” (Bukhâri 4/572 and Muslim)
Abu Musa t narrated that the Prophet r said, “The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allâh has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which was fertile soil that absorbed rain water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance. (And) another portion of it was hard and held the rain water and Allâh benefited the people with it and they utilized it for drinking, making their animals drink from it and for irrigation of the land for cultivation. (And) a portion of it was barren which could neither hold the water nor bring forth vegetation (then that land gave no benefits). The first is the example of the person who comprehends Allâh’s religion and gets benefit (from the knowledge) which Allâh has revealed through me (the Prophets and learns and then teaches others. The last example is that of a person who does not care for it and does not take Allâh’s guidance revealed through me (He is like that barren land.).” (Bukhâri 1/79)
Abu Hurairah t narrated that... the Prophet r said, “... He who treads the path in search of knowledge, Allâh will make that path easy, leading to Paradise for him and those persons who assemble in one of the houses of Allâh (mosques), recite the Book of Allâh and learn and teach the Qur’ân (among themselves). There will descend upon them tranquility, mercy will cover them, the angels will surround them and Allâh will mention them in the presence of those near Him. He who is slow-paced in doing good deeds, his (long) descent does not make him go ahead.” (Muslim 6518)
Abu Umama t narrated that the Prophet r said, “A learned person is as much above a worshipper as I am above the least of you. He added: Allâh, His angels and all those in Heavens and on Earth, even the ants in their hills and the fish in the water, call down blessings on those who instruct people in beneficial knowledge.” (Tirmidhi 1392)
Abu Hurairah t narrated that Allâh’s Messenger r said, “Verily what a believer continues to receive (in the form of reward) for his action and his virtues after his death is the knowledge which he acquired and then disseminate; the pious son that he left behind him, or a copy of the Qur’ân which he left as a legacy, or the mosques that he had built, or the inn that he had built for the wayfarers, or the canal that he caused to flow, or a sadaqah which he gave out of his property in the state when he was healthy and alive. (These are the acts of goodness the reward of which) reaches him even after his death.” (Tirmidhi 254 and Ibn Majah)
Abdullâh ibn Mas’ud t narrated that Allâh’s Messenger r said, “There are two avaricious people who are never contented: the man of learning and the man of the world, but the two are not equal. The man of knowledge increases in submission to Allâh, and as for the man of the world, he becomes headstrong and defiant.” Abdullâh then recited: ‘Nay man is surely rebellious when he sees himself free from want.’ (46:6). Concerning the other he recited the verse: ‘Surely those of His servants who are possessed of knowledge, fear Allâh.’ (35:28).” (Tirmidhi 261 and Darimi)
Abu Darda t narrated that Kathir ibn Qays said I was sitting with Abu Darda' in the mosque of Damascus. A man came to him and said, “Abu Darda, I have come to you from the town of the Allâh’s Messenger r for a tradition that I have heard you relate from the Allâh’s Messenger r. I have come for no other purpose.” He said, “I heard Allâh’s Messenger r say: ‘If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allâh 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..’” (Abu Dawud 3634)
Anas ibn Malik t narrated that Allâh’s Messenger r said, “Do you know who is most generous?” They said, “Allâh and His Messenger know best.” Whereupon he said, “Allâh is the Most Generous, then I am most generous to mankind, and the most generous people after me would be those who will acquire knowledge and then disseminate it…” (Tirmidhi 259)
Hasan Al-Basri t narrated that Allâh’s Messenger r said, “He whom death overtakes while he is engaged in acquiring knowledge with a view to reviving Islâm with the help of it, there will be one degree between him and the Prophets in Paradise.” (Tirmidhi 249 and Darimi)
Abu Hurairah t narrated that he heard Allâh’s Messenger r as saying: “He who comes to this mosque of mine and he comes only to learn or teach a khayr (good, i.e. the Qur’ân and the Sunnah), his status is like that of one who strives in the cause of Allâh. He who comes for any other motive, his status is like that of a person who covets the property of another.” (Tirmidhi 742, Ibn Majah and Bayhaqi)
The narrated authentic Ahâdîth from the Prophet r are very inspiring. It is for us to follow them in order to attain the blessings and rewards that are associated to the acquisition of Islamic knowledge. For our success, we must strive hard to learn Islam according to the Qur’an and the Sunnah. In this way, we can practice it correctly and share what we know of Islam to others ľ all for the pleasure of Allâh.
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