Are Those Who Know Equal To Those Who Do Not Know?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah relates in the Qur'an about the journey of Prophet Musa, alayhissalaam, with his young companion. If there ever existed a person who had no need to travel to seek knowledge, it was Prophet Musa, for Allah had spoken to him and given him the Torah. Nonetheless, when Allah informed him of a man who had been favored with knowledge, Prophet Musa inquired about meeting him, and then set out with his companion to find this man, Khidr, alayhissalaam.

Allah says,

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَىٰهُ لَآ أَبْرَحُ حَتَّىٰٓ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِىَ حُقُبًا ﴿٦٠

And [mention] when Musa said to his servant, "I will not cease [traveling] until I reach the junction of the two seas or continue for a long period." Qur'an Kahf 18:60

Upon meeting Khidr, Prophet Musa asked of him,

قَالَ لَهُۥ مُوسَىٰ هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًا ﴿٦٦

Musas said to him, "May I follow you on in order that you may teach me of the knowledge you have been given" Qur'an Kahf 18:66

The early generations of Muslims were avid learners and they too had great desire for knowledge and they would travel to distant lands to seek even a single Prophetic hadith.

A man came to Abu Darda' while he was in Damascus. Abu Darda' asked him "What has brought you here, my brother?" He replied, "A hadith which you relate from the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. Abu Darda' asked, "Have you come for some worldly need?" He replied, "No." "Have you come for business?" He said, "No." "You have come only to seek this hadith?" He said, "Yes."

Abu Darda' then said,

I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say: 'Whoever travels a path seeking sacred knowledge, Allah will place him on a path leading to Paradise. The angels lower their wings for the student of sacred knowledge, pleased with what he is doing. The creatures in the heavens and earth seek forgiveness for the student of sacred knowledge, even the fish in the water. The superiority of the religious scholar over the devout worshipper is like the superiority of the full moon over the other heavenly bodies. The religious scholars are the heirs of the Prophets. The Prophets leave no money as a bequest, rather they leave knowledge. Whoever seizes it has taken a bountiful share.

(Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawood, at-Tirmidhi, ibn Majah)

How many of us didn't mind at all the trouble of trying to gain admission into the best schools of arts and sciences even the ones far away from our hometowns, and spent years of studying, spent lots of money and countless sleepless nights to acquire the highest academic degree? But many of us don't put the same effort and money, in fact not even a small fraction of this effort and money to acquire sacred knowledge. Unfortunately, even when it comes to attending short religious classes, lessons or gatherings locally, we hear so many excuses for not attending, not to mention those who avoid them. We can't do this. We can't put learning this religion in the back burner. We can't postpone it until we have accomplished all things in life. You can't wait until you have a degree, or have a job, or have a spouse, or have a kid, or after your kid goes to college, or until you see all grey on your head. We have to find time to learn this religion now, and learn it properly, because if you don't learn it, you won't be able to worship your Creator the way He wants you to.

Allah says,

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَٱلدَّوَآبِّ وَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ كَذَٰلِكَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى ٱللَّـهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ٱلْعُلَمَـٰٓؤُا۟ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ ﴿٢٨

... Even so only those of His servants fear God who have knowledge; surely Allah is All-mighty, All-forgiving. (Qur'an Fatir 35:28)

The one who knows is not equal to those who don't know.

Allah says,

أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَـٰنِتٌ ءَانَآءَ ٱلَّيْلِ سَاجِدًا وَقَآئِمًا يَحْذَرُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُوا۟ رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِۦ ۗ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ﴿٩

Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding. (Qur'an Az-Zumar 39:9)

In surah AleImran, Allah began attestation first by Himself, then by His angels and then by the learned. It is understood from this that the rank of the learned and their honor is tremendous with Allah.

شَهِدَ ٱللَّـهُ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمِ قَآئِمًۢا بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ﴿١٨

Allah witnesses that there is no deity except Him, and [so do] the angels and those of knowledge - [that He is] maintaining [creation] in justice. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise. (Qur'an AleImran 3:18)

May Allah increase us in beneficial knowledge. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam