طَلَبُ اْلعِلْمْ فَرِثْضَةٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ
"Seeking knowledge is compulsory onto every Muslim".
وَمَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَلْتَمِسُ فِيهِ عِلْمًا سَهَّلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِهِ طَرِيقًا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ
"Whoever takes the path to seek knowledge, then God will make it easier for him the path to heaven." (HR. Muslim, no. 2699)
Islam promotes the love of knowledge. It thrives in setting out the believers to seek knowledge wherever and whenever.
Allah SWT has encouraged us to always develop and utilise our mental capacity to the max. This encouragement could be evidently seen in many Quranic verses where Allah would end his verse with the phrases:
"أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ…..", "أَفَلَا تَتَفَكَّرُونَ….." or "إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ….."
which translates to "so that you know","so that you think about it".
In fact, the first revelation states, "اقْرَأْ" which is literally a command to "Read". However, the true beauty of seeking in knowledge in Islam is that it doesn't end at just solely 'knowing'. As a matter of fact, Muslims are obligated to apply the knowledge they have learned, to ponder on it, remember God with it and help others with it. Moreover, the wholesomeness of Islam is prominent in its complete guide of Adab or etiquettes that should be observed pre, post and during seeking knowledge - which we will be discussing today.
Adab in Seeking Knowledge
" A person without manners, is without knowledge"
Why?
Knowledge = Contentment
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَلْتَمِسُ فِيهِ عِلْمًا سَهَّلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِهِ طَرِيقًا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever travels a path in search of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise.”
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2699
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Muslim
How:
Ask when you don’t know. If you are unsure, ask the right person - whom you trust their knowledge and are well-versed in that particular field of knowledge.
Make sure the ‘Ilm is aligned with the revelation.
Take the opportunity to learn. Pave your own way and effort for knowledge.
Never be jealous of other’s capabilities and knowledge. This is because their abilities are what Allah has bestowed to them. To be jealous is to be ingratitude.
Share your knowledge. Don’t amass your knowledge.
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