Islam's Care for Knowledge

No society cares about knowledge like the Muslim society that is guided by the teachings of its true religion. Islam regards knowledge as obligatory for every individual in the Muslim society, as the Prophet (Peace and Blessing be upon Him) said: 

“Seeking knowledge is a duty on every Muslim.” [A hasan hadith narrated by Ibn Majah]

                  Islam is the religion of knowledge, and knowledge is one of the greatest values that Islam brought to mankind, on the basis of which mankind is regarded as being superior to other creatures. Allah made Adam (Peace be upon Him) the father of mankind superior to the angels by virtue of knowledge, when he told them that He was going to place on earth a human trustee, namely Adam, and commanded them to prostrate to him:

“And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels: “Verily, I am going to place (mankind) generations after generations on earth.” They said: “Will You place therein those who will make mischief therein and shed blood, – while we glorify You with praises and thanks (Exalted be You above all that they associate with You as partners) and sanctify You.” He (Allah) said: “I know that which you do not know.” And He taught Adam all the names (of everything) , then He showed them to the angels and said, “Tell Me the names of these if you are truthful.” They (angels) said: “Glory be to You, we have no knowledge except what you have taught us. Verily, it is You, the All-Knower, the All-Wise.” He said: “O Adam! Inform them of their names,” and when he had informed them of their names, He said: “Did I not tell you that I know the Ghaib (unseen) in the heavens and the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you have been concealing?”" [Quran 2:30-33]

Hence Islam holds knowledge in the highest esteem. the first verse of the Quran to be revealed was: 

“Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists),” [Quran 96:1]

The Quran describes knowledge as the basis for differentiating between people, As Allah (Exalted is He) says:

“Say: “Are those who know equal to those who know not?” It is only men of understanding who will remember (i.e. get a lesson from Allah’s Signs and Verses).” [Quran 39:9]

The Scholars are given a high status and are described as that only ones who really fear Allah. This honour is limited to them, and other people are excluded:

“It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah.” [Quran 35:28]

Safwan ibn ‘Assal al-Muradi (may Allah be pleased with him) came to Prophet (Peace and Blessing be upon Him) when he was in the mosque, and said to him,

“O Messenger of Allah, I have come to seek knowledge.” He (peace be upon him) said, “Welcome to the seeker of knowledge. The angels surround the seeker of knowledge with their wings and stand one above another until they reach the lowest, because of their love for that which he is seeking.” [Narrated by Ahmed, Tabarani, Ibn Majah and al-Hakim with a saheeh isnad]

Tuesday, April 08, 2014