WHAT DID THE PROPET SAY ABOUT KNOWLEDGE?

By: Nurul Akma bt Mohamed @ Sheikh Mohd Amin

Allah’s Messenger SAW has left two things for our guidance from Allah. One of those is the Noble Quran and the other is the Sunnah. As far as the nation acts accordingly upon these two, they will never go astray.

Therefore, the Muslim nation should seek the solution of all their problems in the light of the Quran and the Sunnah, as the success in our life as well as in the Hereafter lies on them.

The collection of the Sunnah covers about all aspects of life and provides proper guidance from Allah. Here are seven selected ahadith from the book of knowledge in the “Summarized Sahih Al-Bukhari”.

1. Narrated Mu’awiya r.a in a Khutba: I heard Allah’s Messenger SAW saying,

من يرد الله به خيرا يفقّهه في الدين.

 “If Allah wants to do good to a person, He makes him comprehend the religion (the understanding of the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad SAW).”

2. Narrated Abdullah bin Mas’ud r.a : The Prophet SAW said:

لا حسد إلا في اثنتين: رجل آتاه الله مالا فسلّط على هلكته في الحق، ورجل آتاه الله الحكمة فهو يقضي بها ويعلّمها.

“Do not be envious of anyone except in two cases. The first is a person, whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it righteously (according to what Allah has ordained in a just and right way); the second is the one whom Allah has given him wisdom (the knowledge of the Quran and the Sunnah) and he acts according to it and teaches it to others.”

3. Narrated Abu Musa r.a : The Prophet SAW said:

مثل ما بعثني الله به من الهدى والعلم كمثل الغيث الكثير أصاب أرضا، فكان منها نقية قبلت الماء، فأنبتت الكلأ والعشب الكثير، وكانت منها أجادب، أمسكت الماء، فنفع الله بها الناس، فشربوا وسقوا وزرعوا، وأصاب منها طائفة أخرى، إنما هي قيعان لا تمسك ماء ولا تنبت كلأ، فذلك مثل من فقه في دين الله، ونفعه ما بعثني الله به فعلم وعلّم ومثل من لم يرفع بذلك رأسا ، ولم يقبل هدى الله الذي أرسلت به.

“The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which was fertile soil that absorbed rain-water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance. And another portion of it was hard and held the rain water and    Allah benefited the people with it and they utilized it for drinking, (making their animals drink from it) and to irrigate the land for cultivation. And a portion of it was barren which could neither hold the water nor bring forth vegetation (then that land gave no benefits). The first is the example of the person who  comprehends  Allah’s   Religion  and   gets benefit from knowledge) which Allah has revealed through me (the Prophet) and learns and then teaches it to others. The (last example is that of a) person who does not care for it and does not take Allah’s Guidance revealed through me (he is like the barren land).”

4. Narrated Anas r.a : Allah’s Messenger SAW said:

إن من أشراط الساعة: أن يرفع العلم ويثبت الجهل، ويشرب الخمر، ويظهر الزنا.

“From among the signs of the Hour are (the following):

1. Religious knowledge will be taken away (by the death of religious learned men).

2. (Religious) ignorance will prevail.

3. Drinking of alcoholic drinks (will be very common).

4.    There will be prevalence of open illegal sexual intercourse.”

5. Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Al-‘Ash r.a : I heard Allah’s Messenger SAW saying:

إن الله لا يقبض العلم انتزاعا ينتزعه من العباد، ولكن يقبض العلم بقبض العلماء، حتى إذا لم يبق عالما، اتخذ الناس رؤوسا جهالا، فسئلوا، فأفتوا بغير علم، فضلوا وأضلوا.

 “Allah does not take away knowledge by taking it away from (the hearts of) the people, but takes it away by the death of the religious learned men till when none of the (religious learned men) remains, people will take as their leaders ignorant persons who when consulted will give their verdict without knowledge. So they will go astray and will lead the people astray.”   

6. Narrated ‘Ali r.a : The Prophet SAW said,

لا تكذبوا علي، فإنه من كذب علي فليتبوأ مقعده من النار.

“Do not tell a lie against me for whoever tells a lie against me (intentionally) then he will surely enter the Hell-fire.”

7. Narrated Abu Huraira   r.a :

إن الناس يقولون أكثر أبو هريرة، ولولا آيتان في كتاب الله ما حدثت حديثا، ثم يتلو: )إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنزَلْنَا مِنْ الْبَيِّنَاتِ ( - الى قوله- )الرَّحِيمُ (.إن إخواننا من المهاجرين كان يشغلهم الصفق بالأسواق، وإن إخواننا من الأنصار كان يشغلهم العمل في أموالهم، وإن أبا هريرة كان يلزم رسول الله لشبع بطنه، ويحضر ما لا يحضرون، ويحفظ ما لا يحفظون.

“People say that I have narrated many ahadith. Had it not been for two verses in the Qur’an, I would not have narrated a single hadith, and the verses are: “Verily those who conceal the clear proofs, evidences and the guidance which We have sent down after We have made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allah and cursed by cursers. Except those who repent and do righteous deeds and openly declare (the truth which they concealed)….. (upto) …..Most Merciful.” And no doubt our Muhajir (emigrant) brothers used to be busy in the market with their business (bargains) and our Ansari brothers used to be busy with their property (agriculture). But I (Abu Huraira) used to stick to Allah’s Messenger SAW contented with what will fill my stomach and I used to     attend that which they used not to attend and I used to memorize that which they used not to memorize.” ®

Reference:

Al-Imam Zainuddin Ahmad bin Abdul Lateef Az-Zubaidi, Summarized Sahih Al-Bukhari, Translated by Dr Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Dar as-Salam Publications, Riyadh.