The blessings of knowledge

Lesson: 1

Yasir Qadhi

Why do we need to study and contemplate the deen? Sh. Yasir explains the importance of knowledge and how it can enhance our worship. Never be satisfied with how much knowledge you possess, but say, “My Lord, increase me in knowledge.

Summary

• Allah and His Messenger have praised religious knowledge and encouraged us to earnestly seek it, learn it, and contemplate it. Allah mentions in Surah Mujadilah [58:11]:

يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ

Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do.

• When Allah Created Adam, He raised Adam’s status before the angels by virtue of knowledge that He gave him. Surah Baqarah [2:31] tells us:

وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا

And He taught Adam all the names (of everything)

This knowledge was language, speech, and communication which was not given to other creatures.

• Allah Tells us in Surah Ankabut [29:43]:

وَتِلْكَ الْأَمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ وَمَا يَعْقِلُهَا إِلَّا الْعَالِمُونَ

And these examples We present to the people, but none will understand them except those of knowledge.

Allah is saying that the people who will understand the Qur’an and benefit from it are those who attain knowledge.

• Allah Tells us in Surah Fatir [35:28]:

إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ

It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah

It is only the people of knowledge who truly attain piety and an elevated recognition of Allah. When you seek knowledge, you acquire joy in worshipping Him, you come closer to Him, you learn how best to worship Him, you study the purpose of life. Without knowledge, you are deprived of all these blessings.

• The only thing our Prophet has been commanded by Allah to ask more of is knowledge. Allah Says in Surah Taha [20:114]:

وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا

And say, “My Lord, increase me in knowledge.”

• Seeking knowledge and having an understanding of it is a sign of Allah’s love for you. Hadith in Sahih Bukhari & Muslim (Book 13, Hadith 1376):

من يرد الله به خيرًا يفقه في الدين‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏

Whoever Allah wants good for, He grants such a person understanding and knowledge of the religion.

• Knowledge is one of three things that will benefit a person long after they have died. Hadith in Adab al-Mufrad (Book 1, Hadith 38) with an authentic chain:

 The Messenger of Allah (SalAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, "When a person dies, all action is cut off for him with the exception of three things: sadaqa which continues, knowledge which benefits, or a righteous child who makes supplication for him."

• A profound hadith in the Jami’ of Imam al-Tirmidhi (Book 13, Hadith 1388) that illustrates the importance of seeking knowledge:

"Whoever undertakes a journey for the sake of knowledge, then Allah will make his journey to Paradise easy for him. And indeed the angels lower their wings upon the seeker of knowledge in approval of him. Indeed forgiveness is sought for the seeker of knowledge by whomever is in the heavens and whomever is in the earth, even the fish in the waters or the ant in the ant hole (asks for forgiveness for the one seeking knowledge). And the superiority of the person of knowledge (scholar) over the worshiper is like the superiority of the moon over the rest of the celestial bodies (stars). Indeed the scholars are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets do not leave behind Dinar or Dirham (ie material possessions). The only legacy of the scholars is knowledge, so whoever takes from it, then he has indeed taken the most able share (such a person has taken a fortune).