In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Attaining Knowledge
[20:98] Your only god is GOD; the One beside whom there is no other god. His knowledge encompasses all things.
-It is our duty, as believers, to consistently seek knowledge in all aspects of life. Without knowledge, we cannot overcome our fears and we jeopardize our intellect and spirituality. Being ignorant would be like being in a dark maze where we must guess our way out. It is thus important to strive in attaining knowledge; the only cure for one's ignorance and the basic foundation to reach for God.
- As humans, we have been blessed with the capacity to teach and learn. We now have the knowledge and the ability to manufacture computers which take on many tasks that were once almost humanly impossible. We now transport ourselves using automobiles and air-crafts; far better and efficient means of transportation than animals and ships. We can teach animals such as dogs and falcons how to hunt for our food and abide by our commands (5:4). We even have the capability to teach chimpanzees how to communicate with us in sign language! All this have been attainable through the blessings of our brains, the eyesight, and the hearing and our perseverance in gaining knowledge, and advancing day after day.
-Prophet Moses sets a beautiful example in how he was striving to gain knowledge from one of God's servants who was blessed with special knowledge and wisdom. As we can see from 18:60-82, prophet Moses gained the skill of patience and the refraining of shortsighted judgment.
- The strife to increase our knowledge is what makes us, submitters, attain our certainty about God's existence and recognize His signs and Mercy. When we grow in knowledge we become more intelligent and we develop our wisdom and good logic ; additional blessings to advance on the straight path of God:
[30:22] Among His proofs are the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and your colors. In these, there are signs for the knowledgeable.
[29:49] In fact, these revelations are clear in the chests of those who possess knowledge. Only the wicked will disregard our revelations.
[3:190] In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, there are signs for those who possess intelligence.
[3:191] They remember GOD* while standing, sitting, and on their sides, and they reflect upon the creation of the heavens and the earth: "Our Lord, You did not create all this in vain. Be You glorified. Save us from the retribution of Hell.
[13:19] Is one who recognizes that your Lord's revelations to you are the truth equal to one who is blind? Only those who possess intelligence will take heed.
-God teaches us in the following verse the difference between being knowledgeable and ignorant for whatever reasons. We serve God and practice His teachings properly when we are knowledgeable:
[16:76] And GOD cites the example of two men: one is dumb, lacks the ability to do anything, is totally dependent on his master - whichever way he directs him, he cannot produce anything good. Is he equal to one who rules with justice, and is guided in the right path?
-Attaining knowledge is encouraged by God that He commands us to always have a team dedicating its time and energy to learn the scripture, then, preach it to those who are mobilizing to pursue other important goals :
[9:122] When the believers mobilize, not all of them shall do so. A few from each group shall mobilize by devoting their time to studying the religion. Thus, they can pass the knowledge on to their people when they return, that they may remain religiously informed.
- We should never abuse the blessing of being knowledgeable. We must not take the credit for ourselves but rather always acknowledge the source of this knowledge and stay appreciative of God almighty. This would be the healthy way to righteously use our knowledge for the benefit of others.. The people of Babel were able to learn how to use sorcery. However, they abused the knowledge bestowed upon them in order to hurt others.
[2:102] They pursued what the devils taught concerning Solomon's kingdom. Solomon, however, was not a disbeliever, but the devils were disbelievers. They taught the people sorcery, and that which was sent down through the two angels of Babel, Haroot and Maroot. These two did not divulge such knowledge without pointing out: "This is a test. You shall not abuse such knowledge." But the people used it in such evil schemes as the breaking up of marriages. They can never harm anyone against the will of GOD. They thus learn what hurts them, not what benefits them, and they know full well that whoever practices witchcraft will have no share in the Hereafter. Miserable indeed is what they sell their souls for, if they only knew.
[39:49] If the human is touched by adversity, he implores us, but as soon as we bestow a blessing upon him, he says, "I attained this because of my cleverness!" Indeed, this is only a test, but most of them do not know.
-Irrespective of how knowledgeable a person might be, there will always be someone who is even more knowledgeable. Therefore, we should be humble when we share our understandings and appreciate the guidance of others. We must benefit from those who are more blessed than us. Being arrogant will blind us from seeking knowledge or pursuing the truth:
[12:76] ....We exalt whomever we choose to higher ranks. Above every knowledgeable one, there is one who is even more knowledgeable.
- With knowledge, we will have the ability to distinguish right from wrong ( 55:4), and we will be able to recognize the nasty whispers of the devil (7:201).
-Pretending to be knowledgeable is among the worst traits in the sight of God that we could have and a devilish behavior. We are responsible for what we utter and we must always utter the correct utterances or else we would mislead our audience:
[31:6] Among the people, there are those who uphold baseless Hadith, and thus divert others from the path of GOD without knowledge, and take it in vain. These have incurred a shameful retribution.
A Common Occurrence [22:8] Among the people there is the one who argues about GOD without knowledge, and without guidance, and without an enlightening scripture.
[6:144] .... They thus mislead the people without knowledge. GOD does not guide such evil people."
[53:28] They had no knowledge about this; they only conjectured. Conjecture is no substitute for the truth.
[6:119] ... Indeed, many people mislead others with their personal opinions, without knowledge. Your Lord is fully aware of the transgressors.
These pretenders are simply like parrots:
[2:171] The example of such disbelievers is that of parrots who repeat what they hear of sounds and calls, without understanding. Deaf, dumb, and blind; they cannot understand.
-Interestingly, God points out that our brain capacity to obtain knowledge is a time-limited process. We cannot gain any more understanding of things after a certain age. Therefore we must do our best to grow in knowledge and make the right decisions before the gradual deterioration of our mental capacity takes place.
[16:70] GOD created you, then He terminates your lives. He lets some of you live to the oldest age, only to find out that there is a limit to the knowledge they can acquire. GOD is Omniscient, Omnipotent.
-One of the many attributes of the Quran is that it is a book of knowledge and thus it is a beacon to guide out of darkness. God wants us to consistently study the Quran in order to grow in faith and gain spiritual knowledge. We must devote certain time and energy everyday in order to gain knowledge from the Quran. Quran is a HEAVY message with endless lessons and wisdom.
[7:52] We have given them a scripture that is fully detailed, with knowledge, guidance, and mercy for the people who believe.
[16:102] Say, "The Holy Spirit has brought it down from your Lord, truthfully, to assure those who believe, and to provide a beacon and good news for the submitters."
[33:45-46] O prophet, we have sent you as a witness, a bearer of good news, as well as a warner. Inviting to GOD, in accordance with His will, and a guiding beacon.
[73:4] Or a little more. And read the Quran from cover to cover.
[73:5] We will give you a heavy message.
[54:17] We made the Quran easy to learn. Does any of you wish to learn?
[55:1] The Most Gracious.
[55:2] Teacher of the Quran.
[4:82] Why do they not study the Quran carefully? If it were from other than GOD, they would have found in it numerous contradictions.
[23:68] Why do they not reflect upon this scripture? Do they not realize that they have received something never attained by their ancestors?
[47:24] Why do they not study the Quran carefully? Do they have locks on their minds?
- Only the knowledgeable will be able to utter the correct proclamation of faith and only the knowledgeable will be able to recognize the divine truth:
[3:18] GOD bears witness that there is no god except He, and so do the angels and those who possess knowledge. Truthfully and equitably, He is the absolute god; there is no god but He, the Almighty, Most Wise.
[34:6] It is evident to those who are blessed with knowledge that this revelation from your Lord to you is the truth, and that it guides to the path of the Almighty, the Most Praiseworthy.
[20:114] ...and say, "My Lord, increase my knowledge."
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.