١٦. عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ:
«مَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَطْلُبُ فِيهِ عِلْمًا سَلَكَ اللّٰهُ بِهِ طَرِيقًا مِنْ طُرُقِ الْجَنَّةِ وَإِنَّ الْمَلَائِكَةَ لَتَضَعُ أَجْنِحَتَهَا رِضًا لِطَالِبِ الْعِلْمِ وَإِنَّ الْعَالِمَ لَيَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُ مَنْ فِي السَّمٰوَاتِ وَمَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَالْحِيتَانُ فِي جَوْفِ الْمَاءِ وَإِنَّ فَضْلَ الْعَالِمِ عَلَى الْعَابِدِ كَفَضْلِ الْقَمَرِ لَيْلَةَ الْبَدْرِ عَلَى سَائِرِ الْكَوَاكِبِ وَإِنَّ الْعُلَمَاءَ وَرَثَةُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَإِنَّ الْأَنْبِيَاءَ لَمْ يُوَرِّثُوا دِينَارًا وَلَا دِرْهَمًا وَرَّثُوا الْعِلْمَ فَمَنْ أَخَذَهُ أَخَذَ بِحَظٍّ وَافِرٍ».
16. Abu Darda’ (r.a) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) saying:
“If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allah will lead him to one of the roads of Paradise. The angels will lower their wings on the one who seeks knowledge because they are pleased with him. The inhabitants of the heavens and the Earth and the fish in the deep waters will ask forgiveness for the learned man. The superiority of the learned man over the devout is like that of the moon, on the night when it is full, over the rest of the stars. The learned are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets leave neither dinar nor dirham, leaving only knowledge, and he who takes it takes an abundant portion.” (Abu Dawud, Kitab Al-Ilm, 1/3641; Tirmidhi, Ilm, 19/2682. Also see. Bukhari, Ilm, 10; Ibn Majah, Muqaddimah, 17)
١٧. عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:
«فَضْلُ الْعَالِمِ عَلَى الْعَابِدِ كَفَضْليِ عَلَى أَدْنَاكُمْ» ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إنَّ اللّٰهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ وَأَهْلَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرَضِينَ حَتَّى النَّمْلَةَ فِي جُحْرِهَا وَحَتَّى الْحُوتَ لَيُصَلُّونَ عَلَى مُعَلِّمِ النَّاسِ الْخَيْرَ».
17. Abu Umamah (r.a.) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:
“The superiority of the learned man over the devout is like my superiority over the most inferior among you (in good deeds).”
Then the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) added:
“For sure Allah, His angels, and all those in heavens and earths, even the ants in their holes and the fish in the water say blessings on those who instruct people well.” (Tirmidhi, Ilm, 19/2685)
١٨. عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: كَانَ أَخَوَانِ عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَكَانَ أَحَدُهُمَا يَأْتِي النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَالْآخَرُ يَحْتَرِفُ فَشَكَا الْمُحْتَرِفُ أَخَاهُ إِلَي النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ:
«لَعَلَّكَ تُرْزَقُ بِهِ».
18. Anas B. Malik (r.a.) narrates:
“There were two brothers in the time of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). One of them came to the Prophet in order to acquire knowledge while the other one was working. One day, the brother who worked came to the Prophet to complain about his brother.
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:
“–Maybe because of him you are able to find a job and earn your living.” (Tirmidhi, Zuhd, 33/2345)
١٩. عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ:
«لَنْ يَشْبَعَ الْمُؤْمِنُ مِنْ خَيْرٍ يَسْمَعُهُ حَتَّى يَكُونَ مُنْتَهَاهُ الْجَنَّةَ».
19. Abu Said Al-Khudri (r.a) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:
“Until the final place that he reaches becomes Paradise, a believer should not get satisfied with hearing the good (knowledge) of any kind.” (Tirmidhi, Ilm, 19/2686)
Explanations:
Ilm (knowledge) actually is an attrıbute of Allah the Almighty and is figuratively used for human beings. Servants of Allah gain virtue and value as much as they are bestowed with shares from Allah’s attribute of knowledge.
There is no other system that gives importance to knowledge as much as Islam does. In the Holy Qur’an, the term “ilm” (knowledge) and related terms are repeated hundreds of times. It is asked from humans to know one’s Lord, to learn Qur’an and Sunnah, and to acquire the knowledge which will bring happiness in this world and the Hereafter. Praising those with knowledge, it is stated in the Qur’an that:
“Allah will rise up, to (suitable) ranks (and degrees), those of you who believe and who have been granted (mystic) Knowledge. And Allah is well- acquainted with all ye do.” (Al-Mujadilah; 58:11)
“Those truly fear Allah, among His Servants, who have knowledge: for Allah is Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving.” (Al-Fatir; 35:28)
“And such are the Parables We set forth for mankind, but only those understand them who have knowledge.” (Al-Ankabut; 29:43)
Allah has commanded the Prophet Muhammad to pray to advance his knowledge only, and He did not command him to pray to “advance or increase” anything else.
In another noble verse it is expressed that:
وَقُلْ رَبِّ زِدْن۪ي عِلْمًا
“…say, “O my Lord! Advance me in knowledge.”“ (Al-Taha; 20:114)
In his sayings, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) gives good tidings for those who sincerely seek knowledge. There are many other sayings about knowledge and those who seek knowledge. Some of them are as follows:
“Those who travel seeking knowledge are on the path of Allah until they return to their homes.” (Tirmidhi, Ilm, 2/2647)
“If someone dies while acquiring knowledge to revive Islam and make it practiced, there will be only one degree of difference between him and the prophets in the paradise.” (Darimi, Muqaddimah, 32)
“Do not wish to be like anyone except in two cases:
A person, whom Allah has given wealth and he who spends it righteously;
The one whom Allah has given wisdom (the Holy Qur’an) and he who acts in accordance with it and teaches it to others.” (Bukhari, Ilm, 15; Zakat 5; Ahkam, 3; Muslim, Musafirin, 268)
“If Allah wants to do good to a person, He makes him comprehend religion.” (Tirmidhi, Ilm, 1/2645)
The Messengers of Allah did not bequeath material goods but rather they left knowledge. They used their own wealth for the benefit of their followers. Muslim scholars worked to get this heritage, and even traveled for months in order to hear one saying of the Prophet from its first source. They turned the following saying of the Messenger of Allah into their principle:
“The word of wisdom is the lost property of the believer, so wherever he finds it he has a better right to it.”[1] Our scholars who regarded acquiring knowledge and teaching it to others as the most valuable way of charity[2] advanced their knowledge and transmitted it to us by bearing many difficulties.
Those with knowledge are not only useful to themselves but also to others. As humans need food to survive, they need knowledge to practice their religion and find salvation in the hereafter. That is because, the quality of worships and servitude depend on one’s knowledge. The spiritually dead hearts can revive with the words of scholars. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) advised believers to join the meetings of scholars and said:
“Luqman Hakim said to his son: “Be in the meetings of scholars (and Gnostics)! Listen to the word of the wise! For, just as Allah the Almighty brings the dead earth to life by rain, He brings the dead heart to life by the divine light of wisdom.” (Haythami, I, 125)
When scholars guide people to goodness and good deeds, they also receive divine rewards from the good deeds of those people. Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:
“Whoever teaches knowledge receives divine rewards when this knowledge is put into practice, and nothing diminishes from the divine rewards of the one who actually performed the deed.” (Ibn Majah, Muqaddimah, 20)
Like humans, other creatures also benefit from the knowledge of scholars. As a matter of fact, due to good manners that people learn from scholars, humans act with compassion, mercy, and love towards all creatures. Thanks to this, all creatures find peace, and blessings rain down on the earth. So, all creatures pray for scholars and ask from Allah to forgive them. Even angels show respect, treat them modestly, protect and help those who seek knowledge.
Allah makes the works of those servants who seek knowledge in order to serve Islam and humans easier and bestow their daily bread from unexpected venues. Allah also gives rewards both in this world and in the hereafter to those who help believers seeking knowledge. Maybe people who work for their living get blessed abundantly because of their help to those who seek knowledge for the sake of Allah.
In our fourth hadith, knowledge is defined as a good deed guiding humans to Paradise.
Knowledge is the best goodness since it teaches us the deeds that will bring us closer to Allah the Almighty. Therefore, an intelligent believer would not quit seeking knowledge and putting it into practice until he gets into Paradise. He realizes that this is the path which will take someone to Paradise. He knows that knowledge is a huge blessing needed at all times.
Indeed, Abdullah b. Mes’ud (r.a.) advised:
“Before it goes extinct, cling to knowledge. Its extinction means the disappearance of scholars. Cling to knowledge, because you never know when you might need it…” (Darimi, Muqaddimah, 19)
Ignorance is the beginning of all evil and fouls. Even disbelief and polytheism are caused by ignorance. In this respect, Allah said:
“…so be not you amongst those who are swayed by ignorance (and impatience)!” (Al-An‘am; 6:35)
“… turn away from the ignorant.” (Al-Araf; 7:199)
However, it is very important to note that the knowledge mentioned in the Qur’an and sayings of the Prophet are primarily the knowledge of Allah, His verses, the religion, and the hereafter and it is the Gnostic knowledge. In other words, it is to understand the truth. This knowledge takes humans from the effect to the cause. Other material sciences such as physics and chemistry also bring us closer to Allah when they are learned and taught in a healthy way. Other sciences that fill our brains but do not help us realize the realities of the universe and that do not cover anything beyond the concrete and tangible beings of this world are not considered knowledge. In other words, knowing is not injecting some information into our brains, but rather trying to solve the secrets and mysteries of the universe.
Allah describes those who know as:
“Is one who worships devoutly during the hour of the night prostrating himself or standing (in adoration), who takes heed of the Hereafter, and who places his hope in the Mercy of his Lord – (like one who does not)? Say: “Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know? It is those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition.” (Al-Zumar; 39:9)
According to this verse, “those who know” are the ones who worship at night, who prostrate and stand up, who think about the hereafter, and who hope for the mercy of Allah. Those who do not live as described in this verse are the ones “who do not know” even if they have the knowledge.
[1] Tirmidhi, Ilm, 19/2687; Ibn Majah, Zuhd, 15.
[2] Ibn Majah, Muqaddimah, 20.
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1. The Virtue of Knowledge
١٦. عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ:
«مَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَطْلُبُ فِيهِ عِلْمًا سَلَكَ اللّٰهُ بِهِ طَرِيقًا مِنْ طُرُقِ الْجَنَّةِ وَإِنَّ الْمَلَائِكَةَ لَتَضَعُ أَجْنِحَتَهَا رِضًا لِطَالِبِ الْعِلْمِ وَإِنَّ الْعَالِمَ لَيَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُ مَنْ فِي السَّمٰوَاتِ وَمَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَالْحِيتَانُ فِي جَوْفِ الْمَاءِ وَإِنَّ فَضْلَ الْعَالِمِ عَلَى الْعَابِدِ كَفَضْلِ الْقَمَرِ لَيْلَةَ الْبَدْرِ عَلَى سَائِرِ الْكَوَاكِبِ وَإِنَّ الْعُلَمَاءَ وَرَثَةُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَإِنَّ الْأَنْبِيَاءَ لَمْ يُوَرِّثُوا دِينَارًا وَلَا دِرْهَمًا وَرَّثُوا الْعِلْمَ فَمَنْ أَخَذَهُ أَخَذَ بِحَظٍّ وَافِرٍ».
16. Abu Darda’ (r.a) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) saying:
“If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allah will lead him to one of the roads of Paradise. The angels will lower their wings on the one who seeks knowledge because they are pleased with him. The inhabitants of the heavens and the Earth and the fish in the deep waters will ask forgiveness for the learned man. The superiority of the learned man over the devout is like that of the moon, on the night when it is full, over the rest of the stars. The learned are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets leave neither dinar nor dirham, leaving only knowledge, and he who takes it takes an abundant portion.” (Abu Dawud, Kitab Al-Ilm, 1/3641; Tirmidhi, Ilm, 19/2682. Also see. Bukhari, Ilm, 10; Ibn Majah, Muqaddimah, 17)
١٧. عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:
«فَضْلُ الْعَالِمِ عَلَى الْعَابِدِ كَفَضْليِ عَلَى أَدْنَاكُمْ» ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إنَّ اللّٰهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ وَأَهْلَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرَضِينَ حَتَّى النَّمْلَةَ فِي جُحْرِهَا وَحَتَّى الْحُوتَ لَيُصَلُّونَ عَلَى مُعَلِّمِ النَّاسِ الْخَيْرَ».
17. Abu Umamah (r.a.) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:
“The superiority of the learned man over the devout is like my superiority over the most inferior among you (in good deeds).”
Then the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) added:
“For sure Allah, His angels, and all those in heavens and earths, even the ants in their holes and the fish in the water say blessings on those who instruct people well.” (Tirmidhi, Ilm, 19/2685)
١٨. عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: كَانَ أَخَوَانِ عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَكَانَ أَحَدُهُمَا يَأْتِي النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَالْآخَرُ يَحْتَرِفُ فَشَكَا الْمُحْتَرِفُ أَخَاهُ إِلَي النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ:
«لَعَلَّكَ تُرْزَقُ بِهِ».
18. Anas B. Malik (r.a.) narrates:
“There were two brothers in the time of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). One of them came to the Prophet in order to acquire knowledge while the other one was working. One day, the brother who worked came to the Prophet to complain about his brother.
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:
“–Maybe because of him you are able to find a job and earn your living.” (Tirmidhi, Zuhd, 33/2345)
١٩. عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ:
«لَنْ يَشْبَعَ الْمُؤْمِنُ مِنْ خَيْرٍ يَسْمَعُهُ حَتَّى يَكُونَ مُنْتَهَاهُ الْجَنَّةَ».
19. Abu Said Al-Khudri (r.a) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:
“Until the final place that he reaches becomes Paradise, a believer should not get satisfied with hearing the good (knowledge) of any kind.” (Tirmidhi, Ilm, 19/2686)
Explanations:
Ilm (knowledge) actually is an attrıbute of Allah the Almighty and is figuratively used for human beings. Servants of Allah gain virtue and value as much as they are bestowed with shares from Allah’s attribute of knowledge.
There is no other system that gives importance to knowledge as much as Islam does. In the Holy Qur’an, the term “ilm” (knowledge) and related terms are repeated hundreds of times. It is asked from humans to know one’s Lord, to learn Qur’an and Sunnah, and to acquire the knowledge which will bring happiness in this world and the Hereafter. Praising those with knowledge, it is stated in the Qur’an that:
“Allah will rise up, to (suitable) ranks (and degrees), those of you who believe and who have been granted (mystic) Knowledge. And Allah is well- acquainted with all ye do.” (Al-Mujadilah; 58:11)
“Those truly fear Allah, among His Servants, who have knowledge: for Allah is Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving.” (Al-Fatir; 35:28)
“And such are the Parables We set forth for mankind, but only those understand them who have knowledge.” (Al-Ankabut; 29:43)
Allah has commanded the Prophet Muhammad to pray to advance his knowledge only, and He did not command him to pray to “advance or increase” anything else.
In another noble verse it is expressed that:
وَقُلْ رَبِّ زِدْن۪ي عِلْمًا
“…say, “O my Lord! Advance me in knowledge.”“ (Al-Taha; 20:114)
In his sayings, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) gives good tidings for those who sincerely seek knowledge. There are many other sayings about knowledge and those who seek knowledge. Some of them are as follows:
“Those who travel seeking knowledge are on the path of Allah until they return to their homes.” (Tirmidhi, Ilm, 2/2647)
“If someone dies while acquiring knowledge to revive Islam and make it practiced, there will be only one degree of difference between him and the prophets in the paradise.” (Darimi, Muqaddimah, 32)
“Do not wish to be like anyone except in two cases:
A person, whom Allah has given wealth and he who spends it righteously;
The one whom Allah has given wisdom (the Holy Qur’an) and he who acts in accordance with it and teaches it to others.” (Bukhari, Ilm, 15; Zakat 5; Ahkam, 3; Muslim, Musafirin, 268)
“If Allah wants to do good to a person, He makes him comprehend religion.” (Tirmidhi, Ilm, 1/2645)
The Messengers of Allah did not bequeath material goods but rather they left knowledge. They used their own wealth for the benefit of their followers. Muslim scholars worked to get this heritage, and even traveled for months in order to hear one saying of the Prophet from its first source. They turned the following saying of the Messenger of Allah into their principle:
“The word of wisdom is the lost property of the believer, so wherever he finds it he has a better right to it.”[1] Our scholars who regarded acquiring knowledge and teaching it to others as the most valuable way of charity[2] advanced their knowledge and transmitted it to us by bearing many difficulties.
Those with knowledge are not only useful to themselves but also to others. As humans need food to survive, they need knowledge to practice their religion and find salvation in the hereafter. That is because, the quality of worships and servitude depend on one’s knowledge. The spiritually dead hearts can revive with the words of scholars. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) advised believers to join the meetings of scholars and said:
“Luqman Hakim said to his son: “Be in the meetings of scholars (and Gnostics)! Listen to the word of the wise! For, just as Allah the Almighty brings the dead earth to life by rain, He brings the dead heart to life by the divine light of wisdom.” (Haythami, I, 125)
When scholars guide people to goodness and good deeds, they also receive divine rewards from the good deeds of those people. Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:
“Whoever teaches knowledge receives divine rewards when this knowledge is put into practice, and nothing diminishes from the divine rewards of the one who actually performed the deed.” (Ibn Majah, Muqaddimah, 20)
Like humans, other creatures also benefit from the knowledge of scholars. As a matter of fact, due to good manners that people learn from scholars, humans act with compassion, mercy, and love towards all creatures. Thanks to this, all creatures find peace, and blessings rain down on the earth. So, all creatures pray for scholars and ask from Allah to forgive them. Even angels show respect, treat them modestly, protect and help those who seek knowledge.
Allah makes the works of those servants who seek knowledge in order to serve Islam and humans easier and bestow their daily bread from unexpected venues. Allah also gives rewards both in this world and in the hereafter to those who help believers seeking knowledge. Maybe people who work for their living get blessed abundantly because of their help to those who seek knowledge for the sake of Allah.
In our fourth hadith, knowledge is defined as a good deed guiding humans to Paradise.
Knowledge is the best goodness since it teaches us the deeds that will bring us closer to Allah the Almighty. Therefore, an intelligent believer would not quit seeking knowledge and putting it into practice until he gets into Paradise. He realizes that this is the path which will take someone to Paradise. He knows that knowledge is a huge blessing needed at all times.
Indeed, Abdullah b. Mes’ud (r.a.) advised:
“Before it goes extinct, cling to knowledge. Its extinction means the disappearance of scholars. Cling to knowledge, because you never know when you might need it…” (Darimi, Muqaddimah, 19)
Ignorance is the beginning of all evil and fouls. Even disbelief and polytheism are caused by ignorance. In this respect, Allah said:
“…so be not you amongst those who are swayed by ignorance (and impatience)!” (Al-An‘am; 6:35)
“… turn away from the ignorant.” (Al-Araf; 7:199)
However, it is very important to note that the knowledge mentioned in the Qur’an and sayings of the Prophet are primarily the knowledge of Allah, His verses, the religion, and the hereafter and it is the Gnostic knowledge. In other words, it is to understand the truth. This knowledge takes humans from the effect to the cause. Other material sciences such as physics and chemistry also bring us closer to Allah when they are learned and taught in a healthy way. Other sciences that fill our brains but do not help us realize the realities of the universe and that do not cover anything beyond the concrete and tangible beings of this world are not considered knowledge. In other words, knowing is not injecting some information into our brains, but rather trying to solve the secrets and mysteries of the universe.
Allah describes those who know as:
“Is one who worships devoutly during the hour of the night prostrating himself or standing (in adoration), who takes heed of the Hereafter, and who places his hope in the Mercy of his Lord – (like one who does not)? Say: “Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know? It is those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition.” (Al-Zumar; 39:9)
According to this verse, “those who know” are the ones who worship at night, who prostrate and stand up, who think about the hereafter, and who hope for the mercy of Allah. Those who do not live as described in this verse are the ones “who do not know” even if they have the knowledge.
[1] Tirmidhi, Ilm, 19/2687; Ibn Majah, Zuhd, 15.
[2] Ibn Majah, Muqaddimah, 20.
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