Always Seeking Knowledge

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Islam is the religion of knowledge. Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon women, men, the young and the old, and the poor and the rich.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.” (Al-Tirmidhi)

Seeking knowledge is that thing if you do it, all good will open for you. The best way to seek knowledge is directly learning from a knowledgeable and righteous Muslim. If you can't do it in a formal sense, do your best to increase your knowledge.

We are taught to ask Allah to increase us in knowledge.

فَتَعَـٰلَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۗ وَلَا تَعْجَلْ بِٱلْقُرْءَانِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يُقْضَىٰٓ إِلَيْكَ وَحْيُهُۥ ۖ وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِى عِلْمًا ﴿١١٤ ...

So high [above all] is Allah, the Sovereign, the Truth. And, [O Muhammad], do not hasten with [recitation of] the Qur'an before its revelation is completed to you, and say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge."

[Quran, Ta-Ha 20:114]

Allah has raised the ranks and status of those who have knowledge, and has praised them in many places in the Quran. Allah says,

يَرْفَعِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ دَرَجَـٰتٍ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ ﴿١١ ....

... Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do.

[Quran, Al-Mujadilah 58:11]

Allah praises those having knowledge, as He says,

قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ﴿٩

Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding. (9) [Quran, Az-Zumar 39:9]

Emphasizing the status of those having knowledge,

شَهِدَ ٱللَّهُ 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. [Quran, AleImran 3:18]

Those who have knowledge are the quickest of people to understand the truth and believe in it:

وَلِيَعْلَمَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهِۦ فَتُخْبِتَ لَهُۥ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهَادِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ صِرَ‌ٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿٥٤

And so those who were given knowledge may know that it is the truth from your Lord and [therefore] believe in it, and their hearts humbly submit to it. And indeed is Allah the Guide of those who have believed to a straight path. [Quran, Al-Hajj 22:54]

Seeking knowledge is an act of worship that requires you to keep your intention sincerely for Allah alone and none else, seeking His Pleasure and reward. Do not seek knowledge to show off or compete with others, or to enliven one’s gatherings.

Learning knowledge is something which must be done, but it need not be done so all at once, as the great scholar az-Zuhri said, “Whoever seeks knowledge in one go, it will leave him at one go. Rather, knowledge is only sought through the passing of nights and days.”

We should make a firm intention, and have patience throughout our seeking. Some aspects may be easy, but some might be harder to achieve. Bear in mind that when you try to learn while it is hard for you, inshaa Allah you will receive a double reward from Allah due to the effort they spent in seeking it, and Allah’s bounty is indeed limitless. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said,

“Whoever reads the Quran and stutters while reading, due to its difficulty, will receive a double reward.” [Muslim]

Knowledge comes before action; there can be no action without knowledge, as Allah says,

فَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنۢبِكَ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمْ وَمَثْوَىٰكُمْ ﴿١٩

So know, [O Muhammad], that Laa ilaaha ill-Allah (there is no deity except Allah) and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women. And Allah knows of your movement and your resting place. [Quran, Muhammad 47:19]

Allah warns every Muslim against speaking without knowledge, as He says,

وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْبَصَرَ وَٱلْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْـُٔولًا ﴿٣٦

And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart - about all those [one] will be questioned. [Quran Al-Isra' 17:36]

Also know that knowledge is of no importance if you do not reap its fruits, which is to practice the religion of Islam as Allah loves. So we should try to practice what we learn as living Islam is what takes a person to Paradise.

O Allah! Bring us benefit by what You taught us, and teach us that which brings us benefit, and increase us in knowledge. (Ibn Maajah)

O Allah I seek refuge in you from knowledge which does not benefit, a heart which does not humble itself in fear, an insatiable desire, and supplications which are unanswered. (Muslim)

O Allah, I ask you to grant us beneficial knowledge, good, pure and permissible sustenance, and deeds which are accepted by You. (Ibn Maajah)

May Allah increase us in knowledge.

Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam