Knowledge is the total awareness obtained through reading, studying, learning, listening and experience, and it is the bedrock of Islam.
Knowledge distinguishes lawful from unlawful, good from bad, right from wrong. It brings one closer to his rights and responsibilities.
Allah declares in Hadith Qudsi:” know me before you start worshipping me. He who does not have knowledge of me, how then will be worship me”.
Allaah SWT stressed the importance of knowledge in verse:” Allaah exalts those who have faith in Allaah, and those endowed with knowledge higher in rank” (Q 58:11).
Knowledge raises the house without poles, while ignorance debases the house of fame and glory. Allah SWT said, ” Are they equal those who know and those who are ignorant.” (Q39:9).
In the sayings of the seal of the prophets: “seeking for knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim( either male or female). The obligation is not collective but individual. Everybody is responsible for acquiring knowledge that will suffice him to worship his lord perfectly and seek a means of lawful sustenance from it or through it.
Among its importance stressed in the Hadith:
“A learner man is harder on devil more than one thousand ignorant worshippers”.
“Wisdom is the lost property of the believer, wherever he finds it, he is most deserve of it”. You should strive to be a scholar, learner or listener who loves seeking knowledge. Do not be the fifth and ruin yourself (ignorant)”.
It is very pathetic today to see that Muslims are no more pursuing scholarships in what they are doing. They are running after luxuries and what will earn the daily bread. Many of them know nothing about al- Islaam.
Consequently, most Muslim students develop a negative attitude toward education, affecting career preparation and decision making. The Prophet (saw) urged Muslims to seek knowledge, but unfortunately, the Muslim community is experiencing many school dropouts due to their poor attitude toward learning.
The Prophet Muhammad (saw) gave us another naseehah (advice) on seeking knowledge, he said, “Acquire knowledge, it enables its professor to distinguish right from wrong, it lights the way to heaven.
It is our friend in the desert, our company in solitude and companion when friendless. It guides us to happiness, it sustains us in misery, it is an ornament amongst friends and an armour against enemies”.
It is a piece of great advice for us all from the noble Prophet Muhammad saw.
It is interesting to say that we Muslims are the possessor and originators of all branches of knowledge. Still, it was copied and fabricated by the European philosopher and scientists, e.g. knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry, medicine, physiology and all other branches, to mention but a few. Some of these eminent scholars who originate these branches of knowledge are:
Ar-Razi(Ibn Sina), also known as Abu Musa> the father of surgery, is the first person to operate.
Al- khawarizmi> father of algebra and algorithms. He is known as Geber in the European world.
Jabir BN hayyan – father of chemistry ( al-chemy).
All these men mentioned above are all Islaam scholars. Students failed to realize that what they do today determines what they will be in the future.
They are not serious with their studies and are only relying on their parents instead of them to struggle today for a better tomorrow.
Many students lack definite focus, and they do not know why they are in school; they do not know categorically maybe they will end up in the bar, clinic, bank, school or market.
Many could not endure the pain of preparing for and writing examinations, and some could not even decide on what to do at any point in time. They are being influenced by unfavourable circumstances. These are some of the reasons which lead him a student to develop a poor attitude to learning.
I am not emphasizing only western education but also Islamic and Qur’anic education, which is very important both in this life and the hereafter. A child not given Islamic and Quranic education must be abused. Based on the Islamic perspective, the greatest child abuse is not giving a child Islamic and Quranic education.
It is also essential that a Muslim who has both Islamic and Quranic education with western education will be more respected than one with only western education.
For instance, there was a medical doctor who could speak the Arabic language fluently, i.e. he had Islamic and Qur’anic education, so during the time of hajj, they were looking for someone who would follow the pilgrims to hajj to treat them when they were sick, so he was recommended. He was chosen to go with them because he could speak Arabic, so with this, he also performed his hajj.
Can we now see the benefits of Islamic and Qur’anic education, it has many benefits., not only in this life but also in the hereafter. A parent who permits his child or gives his child Islamic and Qur’anic education will be dressed in a cloak more important than this world and what is in it, also with a crown shining as bright as the sun.
When the parent will be given this, what of the child who possessed the knowledge, he will be placed on the same level as the noble Prophet, other prophets and his companions, but with the condition that he live according to its principles.
It is also said that the number of levels of paradise is equal to the number of levels of the Holy Qur’an, so People will be placed in the level equal to their last verse i.e, the number of verses they memorize. Whoever memorizes, comprehend and act upon the Qur’an Majeed will be placed at the highest level (Allaahu Akbar).
So, for this reason, we should try and strive for knowledge of both western, Islamic and Qur’anic education. The Prophet also said,” knowledge is the power and whoever knows has the power. We should seek knowledge, and we should not be a part of the ignorants in any matter, so we should be able to talk anywhere we find ourselves, whether Islamic or not, when asked to. May Allaah SWT help us all.
May Allah SWT continues to guide us on the right path, may He increase us in knowledge and wisdom, and may He give us the strength to seek both the western, Islamic and Qur’anic education.
May Allah blesses and forgives our parents of their sins; may He bless and forgive us all. May He forgive the dead Muslim soul of their shortcomings and grant them into Jannah( paradise) and us too, Aameen.
May this little treatise be helpful to both the writer and the readers, Aameen. All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of all that exists, then peace and blessings be unto the best of mankind, Muhammad BN ‘Abdillaah, his household, companion and those who followed him till the day of accountability. (Aameen).
May this little treatise be helpful to both the writer and the readers, Aameen. All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of all that exists, then peace and blessings be unto the best of mankind, Muhammad BN ‘Abdillaah, his household, companion and those who followed him till the day of accountability. (Aameen).
