By
Dr. Norlain Dindang Mababaya 
8.
Islâm gives importance to the acquisition of knowledge
Islâm stands as the most rational and precise religion that Allâh I has given to the whole mankind. It
gives importance to the acquisition of knowledge.
In fact, the first revelation that Allâh I has revealed to His Messenger r
for the guidance of mankind
pertains to reading. Allâh the Most High commands:
“Read! In the name of your Rabb (Only God and
Sustainer) Cherisher, Who created — created man, out of a leech-like clot:
Read! And your Rabb is Most Bountiful. He Who taught (the use of) the Pen,
taught man that which he knew not.”
(96:1-4)
When we follow the divine commandment to read, we learn in the Qur’ân
that aside from reading Allâh
commands us: to know
(e.g., 2:194, 196, 203, 223, 235 and 14:52) to learn
(e.g., 6: 151, 9:122, 12:2, 22:46 and 54, 40:58 and 68:37), to understand
(e.g., 2:44, 6:32, 7:169, 10:16, 11:51, 12:109, 21:10, 40:67, 43:3, 47:24
and 57:17), to ponder (4: 82
and 23:68) or contemplate (38:29),
and even to ask questions (i.e., 10:94 and 43:45).
Prophet Muhammad r,
Allâh’s Messenger r
to the whole mankind (34:28), also enjoins us to acquire knowledge.
He r
even stresses that it is our obligation to search for knowledge:
Anas Ibn Malik t
reported that Allâh’s
Messenger r said, “Seeking of
knowledge is incumbent upon every Muslim....”
(Ibn Majah 1/224 and Tirmidhi
218)
Abu Hurairah t
narrated
that Allâh ‘s
Messenger
r
said “Learn the obligatory acts
and the Qur’ân and teach them to the people, for I am a mortal.”
(Tirmidhi 244)
Abdullâh ibn Mas’ud t
narrated
that Allâh’s
Messenger r
said to me, “Acquire the knowledge and impart it to the people.
Acquire the knowledge of Fara'id (laws of inheritance) and teach it to
the people. Learn the Qur’ân and
teach it to the people; for I am a person who has to depart this world.
And the knowledge will be taken away and turmoil will appear to such an
extent that two people will not agree in regard to a case of inheritance
distribution and find none who would decide between them.”
(Tirmidhi 279, Darimi and
Daraqutni)
In line with the divine injunction to acquire knowledge of Islâm, Allâh’s
Messenger r
inspires us to do our best to seek knowledge.
We should, therefore, spend time, efforts, money and other resources to
seek knowledge of Islâm. We
should take guidance and inspiration from the following prophetic teachings:
Anas ibn Malik t
narrated that Allâh’s
Messenger r
said,
“One who goes out to search for knowledge is (devoted) to the cause of
Allâh till he returns.” (Tirmidhi
220)
‘Abdullâh
ibn Abbas t
narrated
that Allâh’s Messenger
r
said,
“Acquiring knowledge in company for an hour in the night is better than
spending the whole night in prayer.”
(Tirmidhi 256)
Abu Hurairah t
narrated
that Allâh’s
Messenger r
said, “Learn and recite the
Qur’ân, for to one who learns, recites and uses it in prayer at night, it is
like a bag filled with musk whose fragrance is diffused everywhere.
And he who learns it and goes to sleep having it within him, is like a
bag with musk tied up in it.” (Tirmidhi
2143 Nasa'i and Ibn Majah)
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