Islamic stance on Education and Knowledge. Islam places a great deal of emphasis on knowledge, so much so that it regards the learned man as having almost reached the pinnacle of human evolvement and development.
With the name of Allah most Beneficient ever Merciful
Narrated AbudDarda’: I heard the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) say: If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allah will cause him to travel on one of the roads of Paradise. The angels will lower their wings in their great pleasure with one who seeks knowledge, the inhabitants of the heavens and the Earth and the fish in the deep waters will ask forgiveness for the learned man. The superiority of the learned man over the devout is like that of the moon, on the night when it is full, over the rest of the stars. The learned are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets leave neither dinar nor dirham, leaving only knowledge, and he who takes it takes an abundant portion. Abu Dawood Bk.25 No 3634.
In Islam, our actions would be judged by our intentions and this also applies to gaining knowledge. Abu Huraria (RA) narrates that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said: whoso acquires a learning other than that wherein the pleasure of Allah is sought, does not learn it but for gaining therewith the frailties of the world. He will not find on the Resurrection Day the fragrance of paradise, meaning its air.” Al Hadis 1:4:2:42.
The Holy Prophet ﷺ, in this hadith, is differentiating between the different intentions behind knowledge. Gaining knowledge, be it secular or be it religious, can be gained so that it could be used to gain the pleasure of Allah Subhanatallah or it can be gained for worldly reasons.
As an example; medical knowledge can be used to ease the suffering of the sick so as to gain Allah Subhanatallah’s pleasure or on the contrary it could be used to gain a status and to make money.
So too it is with religious knowledge. A person with religious knowledge could use it sincerely to make a spiritual difference to his life and those around him or he or she could use it to gain a status (name) or to make money.
There are so many different branches of knowledge. There is religious knowledge, such as how to pray etc., then there is maths, science, medicine, agriculture, history, geography and there are even some evil branches of knowledge such as witch-craft and magic. Then there is also the knowledge of music, poetry, art etc.
Although most branches of knowledge could be used to gain the pleasure of Allah Subhanatallah, It is religious knowledge that we should strive for because this is the mother of all knowledge and it is this knowledge that will guide us to use all our other branches of knowledge correctly.
The Holy Prophet ﷺ concentrated all his efforts in gaining religious knowledge and imparting it to others showing that this is the type of knowledge that we should strive for. This knowledge that the holy Prophet ﷺ imparted to humanity was divinely inspired to him from Allah Subhanatallah.
Just this fact alone, that the knowledge that the Holy Prophet taught was from Allah Subhanatallah should be enough for us to accept that this is the knowledge that we should be seeking. This fact should be enough for us to strive whole heartedly towards this because this knowledge is perfect and it is designed for us and sent to us by our Creator.
According to sharia, “education can be safely divided into ‘Farze Ain’ (a religious duty upon every individual) and ‘Farze Kefaya’ (a religious duty upon at least one person in a community) Al Hadis note to chapter on education.
The religious duty (‘Farz’) upon every Muslim is that he should know his religion and the more he knows about it, the better it is for him.
‘Farze Kefaya’ is pertaining to other beneficial branches of knowledge such as medicine, maths etc. which at least one person in that community should know about and he does not have to have an expert knowledge of it.
Islam is based on knowledge. The very first word reveled to the Holy Prophet ﷺ was “iqra” (read) which signifies gain knowledge. Even our five daily prayers are designed around seeking knowledge.
In sura Fatiha, which is the essence of our prayer, we pray to Allah Subhanatallah to “Guide us on the straight path...”. This is about seeking knowledge so we can walk the right way.
Being rightly guided is about learning and understanding ourselves so that we could ultimately get what we truly need. It’s about learning to be in peace with our Creator, peace within ourselves, peace with those around us and peace when we die.
Islam means peace, and by following it we will achieve peace. Life is full of trials and knowledge of Islam will help us when we are faced with these trials. Life is full of uncertainty, a sort of darkness and it is Islamic knowledge that will light up the way and show us the straight path.
Religion is not against scientific thinking. On the contrary, religious knowledge is the mother of all knowledge and it is for this reason that Islam has produced so many great thinkers in every field.
Logic, wisdom, evolution, the big bang theory, the water cycle, embryology and other forms of knowledge are all in the Holy Quran. To a person with religious knowledge, the knowledge that our modern world holds so dear is just a tiny fragment of the knowledge they possess.
Moula e Rum (RA), time and time again, in his Mathnawi shows that he knew about elaborate scientific things far more advanced than that which was current in his time but he did not bother to pursue it or elaborate on it because he was concentrating on religious matters which are more important.
Knowledge in Islam is extensive, it is a lifelong striving. There is no end to it, there are different levels to it, levels which only open up when we pass the lower levels.
A person can only learn about multiplication after he has learnt about numbers and addition. Similarly as an example; we can only get to the next level when we earnestly and sincerely ask Allah Subhanatallah to guide us when we pray.
If our prayer is just a ritual or if we do it so that we could gain health or money then we would never move up to the next level. In everything in Islam there is something to be gained in the way of enlightenment, provided we do it correctly.
As an example, slaughtering an animal and sharing its meat is not the important aspect of Quarbani. There is more to it.
“It is neither their flesh nor their blood (of these sacrifices) which matters to Allah but it is guarding against evil and devotion to duty on your part that matters to Him….” AL Quran 22:37.
Hajj is not just about the physical journey to Makkah and Medina. Similarly there are lessons in everything in Islam and if we do them sincerely then we would get enlightenment and we would finally begin to see life for what it really is.
From a practical, logical, common sense point of view; what benefits us the most, when it comes to the sum total of our lives, should be the most important and we should therefore concentrate on this the most.
Food, housing, health etc. are important for our physical wellbeing but these things do not matter when it comes to the sum total of our lives.
Earning is just a means to an end. We work so that we could I get food etc. to live. We should not put all of our efforts into just fulfilling these objectives.
We should do what is bare necessary in terms of this and we should rather concentrate on understanding who we are and what is the purpose of our lives and when we understand this, then only will we be able to fulfill the purpose of our lives. This is the important part of learning.
Our Pir O Murshid, Dr. Hakim, Hazrath Khwaja Sayed Shareef Ahmed Ali Shah (RA) used to always say: “Kar paychanath app kie aur jaan kie, thab ho toje paychanath Subhaan kie.” (Strive to understand yourself and life then you would be able to understand your Creator.)
What this implies is that, in knowing and understanding ourselves lies all the answers. He also, quite often said: “Sub kooch hamie mae hae.” (Everything is within us.)
It is in knowing ourselves that opens up doors for us to traverse the spiritual stages of human development.
All of Allah Subhanatallah’s attributes “Sifath” can be seen on a small scale in His creation. We see and feel a touch of His enormous power in lightning storms, hurricanes and earthquakes, we see a touch of His beauty in flowers and birds, we feel a touch of His mercy when we see mothers suckle their young, we experiencing a fraction of His limitless knowledge when we study His creation.
Having knowledge, to create and to be creative is one of the attributes of Allah Subhanatallah and this attribute of creativity, wisdom and knowledge He has bestowed to humans.
“(Call to mind) when your Lord said to the angels, `I am about to create a human being from clay, and when I have fashioned him in perfection and I have inspired into him of My revelation then fall down submitting to him.”” Al Quran 38:71.
It is this attribute of Allah Subhanatallah that makes humanity special.
When we control our passions then doors of wisdom and knowledge open up to us in the form of Divine inspiration. The greatest type of inspiration is “wahie” which the Prophets received. The pious people or the Aulia Allah also receive a similar type of inspiration and this is called ‘ilhaam’ and sometimes even we ordinary people can experience this on a smaller scale.
Inspiration comes in the form of true dreams (ordinary people) or it can be a product of training our souls by meditation which is a higher level reached by the Aulia Allah, or it can be in the form of an angel bringing messages which only the prophets received.
Narrated ‘Aisha (RA): the mother of the faithful believers) The commencement of the Divine Inspiration to Allah’s Apostle was in the form of good dreams which came true like bright day light, and then the love of seclusion was bestowed upon him. He used to go in seclusion in the cave of Hira where he used to worship (Allah alone)….Bukhari Vol. 1, Bk. 1, No. 3.
We have to be careful because shaitaan in the form of our passions and desires also influences us by creating doubts “waswasa” in our minds.
Allah’s Apostle ﷺ said, “Satan comes to one of you and says, ‘Who created so-and-so?, ’till he says, ‘Who has created your Lord?’ So, when he inspires such a question, one should seek refuge with Allah and give up such thoughts.” Bukhari vol. 4: bk. 54: beginning of creation.
It is for this reason that tasawaff teaches its followers to kill their ‘nafs’, or carnal desires. The Pir O Murshid would recommend certain exercises (mujehada) which would enable one to gradually overcome his\her desires. In Sufi literature it is common to come across the saying ‘die before you die’ (kill our carnal desires so as to want nothing) and when one does this then he reaches the stage of a ‘martyr witness.’ Such people do not do things for name and fame and their vision is clear and pure. To kill our desires and to become God conscious is no easy task.
Not to be reach’d, if to be reach’d at all (line 75) But by a Road the stoutest might appal; Of Travel not of Days or Months, but Years-Life-long perhaps: of Dangers, Doubts, and Fears As yet unheard of: Sweat of Blood and Brain Interminable often all in vain-80 And, if successful, no Return again: A Road whose very Preparation scared The Traveller who yet must be prepared. Who then this Travel to Result would bring Needs both a Lion’s Heart beneath the Wing, And even more, a Spirit purified Of Worldly Passion, Malice, Lust, and Pride: Yea, ev’n of Worldly Wisdom, which grows dim And dark, the nearer it approaches Him, Who to the Spirit’s Eye alone reveal’d, 90 By sacrifice of Wisdom’s self unseal’d; Without which none who reach the Place could bear To look upon the Glory dwelling there.’ Bird Parliament by Farridudeen Attar
Modern day science has only begun to explore human spirituality and this shows that they are way behind. Therefore, as parents, we should not push our children to achieve when it comes to secular knowledge and money matters. Rather, we should give them space and allow them to explore life. We should encourage them towards learning and experiencing Islam because this is important when it comes to being successful in this world and the hereafter.
We should get involved in Tasawaff and encourage them to also follow. What is the point of earning well when we cannot live in harmony with our parents and spouses? Even when it comes to secular knowledge, it should not be about grades, but it should be about understanding and appreciating ourselves and our surroundings so that we could make the best of it and fulfill the purpose of our lives.
We should not force Islam upon our children but we should rather gently encourage them to think and ponder and we should pray that Allah Subhanatallah opens up their minds and hearts. We should teach them to be discerning and to search for and live by the Truth.
Islam makes perfect sense and we should encourage them towards understanding Islam instead of forcing them to be ritualistic.
When it comes to religious knowledge there is no end. Becoming a ‘hafiz’ or a ‘molvie’ is just the beginning of learning and we should never think that we know it all because this would limit us and hamper us from knowing more.
Hazrath Moosa (AS), even while he was a Prophet, still followed Hazrath Kizar (AS) to learn, So we should never ever think of ourselves as knowing it all.
“And if all the trees on the earth were to be pens and the vast ocean (be full of ink) and besides that many (more) such oceans to replenish it (and were to supply ink to write the words of God) even then the words of Allah would not be finished. Verily, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” Al Quran 31:27
As much as knowledge can take us to the highest level of human achievement it can also take us to the lowest of the low because we could be proud over it.
This was shaitaan’s downfall. He was knowledgeable but his pride was his downfall. In this regard, we always should remind ourselves that everything is from Allah Subhanatallah. If we have knowledge then it is all from Him and it is through His Bounty and Grace that we may be enlightened. All praises are due to Him. End.
Peace and salutations be upon Allah’s Messengers who are responsible for guiding humanity throughout time. Ameen.
Published by Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi in 2016.
The Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi was founded by Dr/Hakim Hazrath Khwaja Sayed Shareef Ahmed Ali Shah RA (lovingly known as Hazrath Poona Wale Shah Saab RA).
Author: Mohamed Hassan Gaffoor WhatsApp; +27 84 910 1486