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 alayhissalaam, 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 Almighty says,
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَىٰهُ لَآ أَبْرَحُ حَتَّىٰٓ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِىَ حُقُبًا ﴿٦٠[Qur'an Kahf 18:60]
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."
Upon meeting Khidr, Prophet Musa asked of him,
قَالَ لَهُۥ مُوسَىٰ هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًا ﴿٦٦[Qur'an Kahf 18:66]
Musa said to him, "May I follow you on in order that you may teach me of the knowledge you have been given"
Knowledge is a very special gift from Allah. Allah gives knowledge to whoever He wills. When He loves a person, He draws him close to Him and teaches Him. The All-Knowing loves the learned, not a learned of academia, but a learned of realities.
Allah Almighty says,
...يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ...[Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:255]
...He (Allah) knows what happens to them in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. They don't encompass His Knowledge except that which He wills...
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.
The one who knows is not equal to those who don't know.
Allah Almighty 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[Qur'an Az-Zumar 39:9]
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.
In surah AleImran, Allah began attestation first by Himself, then by His angels and then by the learned.
Allah Almighty says,
شَهِدَ ٱللَّـهُ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمِ قَآئِمًۢا بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ﴿١٨[Qur'an AleImran 3:18]
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.
It is understood from this that the rank of the learned and their honor is tremendous with Allah.
Knowledge is the basis of all good; it generates actions that are based on the commandments of Allah and the instructions of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. Every Muslim must instill in his mind a desire to seek knowledge.
وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا ﴿١١٤ ...[Qur'an Ta-Ha 20:114]
...And say: My Lord increase me in knowledge.
إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّـهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ ﴿١٣ ...[Qur'an Al-Hujurat 49:13]
...Surely the noblest among you in the sight of God is the most godfearing of you. God is All-knowing, All-aware. (13)
Without knowledge you will not fear Allah and you will not understand.
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ وَالدَّوَابِّ وَالْأَنْعَامِ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ كَذَٰلِكَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّـهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ ﴿٢٨[Qur'an Fatir 35:28]
And among people and moving creatures and grazing livestock are various colors similarly. Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Forgiving. (28)
May Allah grant us the desire to seek knowledge, increase us in beneficial knowledge and make us among His elect. Ameen.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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