Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- The Beauty of Knowledge and the Beauty of Actions with Knowledge

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Islam is a treasure chest of wisdom totally relevant to our daily life. It is amazingly beautiful that Allah makes seeking knowledge an obligation upon every Muslim.

The Prophet salallahu alayhi wassallam said: “The seeking of knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim.” [At-Tirmidhi] What is meant by knowledge here is knowledge of shari’ah (Islamic knowledge). It is the knowledge of how a servant should behave with respect to his Lord. Al-Thawri said: “It is the knowledge for which no person has any excuse for not knowing.”

He sallallahu alayhi wassallam also said, “Whoever follows a path to seek knowledge, Allah will make the path to Jannah (Paradise) easy for them.” [Muslim & Tirmidhi]

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said: Allah, His angels and all those in Heavens and on Earth, even ants in their hills and fish in the water, call down blessings on those who instruct others in beneficial knowledge. [At-Tirmidhi]

This shows us the great excellence of the seekers of knowledge. For whoever sets right his intention in seeking knowledge and desires only Allah's pleasure, is on a road to salvation and happiness.

It should be mentioned about an ignorant person. It was mentioned in one hadith that: "Wayl is for the one who has no knowledge." (Wayl is the name of a pit in hell as has been mentioned in another Hadith. It also means destruction or terrible doom). In other words, the abode of a jaahil (ignorant person) is hell because very seldom does a jaahil die with Iman.

Knowledge should be sought for the right objectives and for its implementation not for the sake of Riya' (showing-off ), gaining reputation, or for the sake of anything else; rather, a person learns it to be acquainted with his religion, to have insight into what Allah has made incumbent upon them, to strive to bring the people out of darkness and into the light, so they seek knowledge, act upon it and teach others the good objectives that Muslims are ordered to take care of.

Some lessons from Surah Kahf on how to be a productive student and teacher:

Lesson 1: Thank Allah for the knowledge you have

Before we start with a selection of the Ayaat (verses) from the story of Musa and Al-Khidr, look at the crucial lesson the Prophet salallahu alayhi wassallam told us:

Once Prophet Musa alayhissalaam stood up and addressed Bani Israel. He was asked: “Who is the most learned man amongst the people?” He said: “I am the most learned.” Allah admonished Musa as he did not attribute absolute knowledge to Him (Allah).

So Allah inspired to him, “At the junction of the two seas there is a slave of mine who is more learned than you.” Musa said: “O my Lord! How can I meet him?” [Bukhari]

Nobody knows everything. Allah gives certain knowledge to whoever He wills. Musa didn’t link his knowledge to Allah. All the knowledge that we have is from Allah and we need to thank Him.

Half of wisdom is the ability to say 'La adree' (I don’t know). Some say speaking about Allah without any knowledge is worse than shirk. So by saying “I don’t know” you’re actually saving yourself!

Lesson 2: Recognize the importance of determination

Ayah 60:

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.”

When Musa found out there was someone more learned than himself he was determined to find him. As a seeker of knowledge you should have a strong determination. Musa said he wouldn’t stop until he got to the place where he would meet al-Khidr.

Abu Hurayrah was determined to get knowledge and wouldn’t eat until he found it!

Lesson 3: Recognize the importance of seeking companions in knowledge

Ayah 62:

فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَا قَالَ لِفَتَىٰهُ ءَاتِنَا غَدَآءَنَا لَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِن سَفَرِ‌نَا هَـٰذَا نَصَبًا ﴿٦٢

So when they had passed beyond it, [Musa] said to his servant, “Bring us our morning meal. We have certainly suffered in this, our journey, [much] fatigue.”

Realize the importance of companionship when seeking knowledge. Help each other. When you seek the path of knowledge, expect many trials and tribulations. Having good and righteous companions is therefore crucial.

Lesson 4: Know that Shaytan will try to block knowledge

Ayah 63:

قَالَ أَرَ‌ءَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَآ إِلَى ٱلصَّخْرَ‌ةِ فَإِنِّى نَسِيتُ ٱلْحُوتَ وَمَآ أَنسَىٰنِيهُ إِلَّا ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَ‌هُۥ ۚ وَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ‌ عَجَبًا ﴿٦٣

He said, “Did you see when we retired to the rock? Indeed, I forgot [there] the fish. And none made me forget it except Satan— that I should mention it. And it took its course into the sea amazingly.”

This is a reminder that seeking knowledge is not an easy task, and it’s a given that you’ll face difficulties. Shaytan will always come and try to block you from gaining knowledge. If you forget something good it is from Shaytan.

Remember the devils spend more time trying to mislead those who are walking the righteous path and so we need to be careful of these pitfalls of Shaytan in which he tries to use our good deeds (teaching, studying) to lead us to commit sins.

Lesson 5: Students must have good manners

Ayah 66:

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

Musa said to him, “May I follow you on [the condition] that you teach me from what you have been taught of sound judgement?”

The seeker of knowledge always asks politely. Musa asked his question in a gentle way, and this is how you should address your teacher or a scholar.

Before asking your question, you should make dua’ for him or her, for example, May Allah grant you and your family Jannatul Firdaus, my question is . . .

Lesson 6: Teachers must also have good manners

Ayah 67 & 68:

قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبْرً‌ۭا ﴿٦٧﴾ وَكَيْفَ تَصْبِرُ‌ عَلَىٰ مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِۦ خُبْرً‌ۭا ﴿٦٨

He (Musa) said, "Indeed, with me you will never be able to have patience. (67) And how can you have patience for what you do not encompass in knowledge?" (68)

The teacher knows his student; Al-Khidr knew his student well. The teacher should also advise his student; sometimes the teacher knows what is best for the student better than the student does.

Another etiquette of the teacher with the students is being able to speak to the student according to the student’s level. Al-Khidr is saying that he has knowledge of Allah’s wisdom that Musa can’t see, but he doesn’t humiliate Musa.

Lesson 7: Be patient and obedient

Ayah 69 & 70:

قَالَ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ صَابِرً‌ۭا وَلَآ أَعْصِى لَكَ أَمْرً‌ۭا ﴿٦٩﴾ قَالَ فَإِنِ ٱتَّبَعْتَنِى فَلَا تَسْـَٔلْنِى عَن شَىْءٍ حَتَّىٰٓ أُحْدِثَ لَكَ مِنْهُ ذِكْرً‌ۭا ﴿٧٠

[Musa] said, "You will find me, if Allah wills, patient, and I will not disobey you in [any] order." (69) He said, "Then if you follow me, do not ask me about anything until I make to you about it mention." (70)

Musa didn’t give up, and he had the intention to be patient.

Hastiness is one of the main problems of students. How many times do we start studying something but don’t have the patience to continue? If you tell yourself from the start “I’m going to be patient,” your mindset will be just right!

One of the conditions for you as a seeker of knowledge is patience, and the other is obedience to the way your teacher set out for you. The teacher is like a parent for his or her student; whenever you teach anyone, you should do so with love and mercy.

Lesson 8: Move from knowledge to action and productivity

Ayah 82:

وَأَمَّا ٱلْجِدَارُ‌ فَكَانَ لِغُلَـٰمَيْنِ يَتِيمَيْنِ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ وَكَانَ تَحْتَهُۥ كَنزٌ لَّهُمَا وَكَانَ أَبُوهُمَا صَـٰلِحًا فَأَرَ‌ادَ رَ‌بُّكَ أَن يَبْلُغَآ أَشُدَّهُمَا وَيَسْتَخْرِ‌جَا كَنزَهُمَا رَ‌حْمَةً مِّن رَّ‌بِّكَ ۚ وَمَا فَعَلْتُهُۥ عَنْ أَمْرِ‌ى ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ تَأْوِيلُ مَا لَمْ تَسْطِع عَّلَيْهِ صَبْرً‌ۭا ﴿٨٢

And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure for them, and their father had been righteous. So your Lord intended that they reach maturity and extract their treasure, as a mercy from your Lord. And I did it not of my own accord. That is the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience." (82)

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said: Knowledge from which no benefit is derived is like a treasure out of which nothing is spent in the cause of Allah. [At-Tirmidhi]

If knowledge brings you closer to Allah and gives you taqwa (Godfearingness) then this is a blessing from Allah. Knowledge can also be a trial; you can use it in the wrong way or not practice what you have learned at all.

How can knowledge make you more productive? Knowledge about certain deeds and their immense reward can bring you closer to Allah. An example is the two rakaat sunnah you pray before Fajr and the tahajjud prayers. Some people don’t have the knowledge and therefore leave it. So learn, practice what you learn, and teach your knowledge to others.

May Allah purify our intentions for seeking knowledge, help us be steadfast and productive seekers of knowledge, and increase us in beneficial knowledge.

رَ‌بَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَ‌حْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِ‌نَا رَ‌شَدًا

Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance.

Ameen.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

Wassalaam.