Quran Reflection -- Knowledge and Adab

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

In Surah Ta-Ha, Allah tells us

وَهَلْ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ مُوسَىٰٓ ﴿٩﴾ إِذْ رَءَا نَارًا فَقَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ ٱمْكُثُوٓا۟ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسْتُ نَارًا لَّعَلِّىٓ ءَاتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِقَبَسٍ أَوْ أَجِدُ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ هُدًى ﴿١٠﴾ فَلَمَّآ أَتَىٰهَا نُودِىَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ ﴿١١﴾ إِنِّىٓ أَنَا۠ رَبُّكَ فَٱخْلَعْ نَعْلَيْكَ ۖ إِنَّكَ بِٱلْوَادِ ٱلْمُقَدَّسِ طُوًى ﴿١٢

And has the story of Moses reached you? - (9) When he saw a fire and said to his family, "Stay here; indeed, I have perceived a fire; perhaps I can bring you a torch or find at the fire some guidance." (10) And when he came to it, he was called, "O Moses, (11) Indeed, I am your Lord, so remove your sandals. Indeed, you are in the sacred valley of Tuwa. (12) [Quran, Ta-Ha 20:9-12]

The first commandment given to Musa alayhissalaam was "Take your shoes (sandals) off!". It is because he was in a sacred place. He was taught adab.

The first commandment given to our Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam was "Read!" [Quran, Al-Alaq 96:1]

There are two parts of education--1) Academics and knowledge 2) Adab (manners). Our Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam was given knowledge. Musa was given adab. The component of education we highlight today is academics and knowledge. One may have a PhD or Islamic degree, but has no manners.

May Allah grant us noble character, remove our blameworthy traits and replace them with praiseworthy traits. Aameen.

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