By habibkhan Prophet of Allah (S.A.W.) has said:
“O Lord, increase my knowledge!”
The purpose or meaning of education is to know something that is hidden. On various occasions in Quran, the humans are asked to research, to observe and to make investigations about the hidden truths of this universe. The ALLAH asked humans to observe and to look around in order increase our faith. Islam gives us all the rules of life and covers all the knowledge which exists around us on the face of earth. In these days when we talk about politics we keep Islam aside, But we found our prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) making laws in the city of Madinah. Europe is also amazed by the economic policies of the second caliph Hazrath Umer Farooq. Indeed the prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) is the role model for us. Islam gives great respect to education. In Gazwa-e-Badr the educated captured enemies were asked to teach the Muslims. The religion of Islam is concerned with education. The first word of Quran was iqra – read, learn, and understand.
When Hazrath Adam (A.S) was created ALLAH ordered angels to bow down. Except Iblis every one bows down. The Iblis refused because he said that Adam was made of clay and he was made from fire. But Hazrath Adam was ranked high because of knowledge given by ALLAH S.W.T.
In the Holy Qur’an, Allah S.W.T. says in Sura 2, verses 31-34:
“And he taught Adam all the names, then presented them to the angels; then He said: Tell me the names of those if you are right. They said: Glory be to thee! We have no knowledge but that which Thou hast taught us; surely Thou art the knowing, the wise. He said: O Adam! Inform them of their names. Then when he had informed them of their names, He said: Did I not say to you that I surely know what is ghaib in the heavens and the earth and (that) I know what you manifest and what you hide? And when We said to the angels: Make obeisance to Adam they did obeisance but Iblis (did it not). He refused and he was proud and he was one of the unbelievers.”
Once prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) saw two groups in the mosque and said both groups are good but one group is superior to other group. One group was preaching ALLAH and another group was busy is acquiring knowledge so Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) sat down with the group acquiring the knowledge of deen.
In Islam the knowledge is identified as worship. The search of knowledge is worship, if we travel for acquiring knowledge this is also worship in Islam. The purpose of acquiring knowledge is to bring us near ALLAH.
The prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) said seeking knowledge is mandatory for every Muslim, and
He clarified the status of person who has knowledge over others is like the superiority of the moon on the sky. He mentioned that the scholars are the heirs of the Prophets and said Prophets did not leave behind gold and silver instead their inheritance was only knowledge, so whoever acquires knowledge has gained a precious treasure. Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) also said that learning knowledge is a way to Paradise. Islam asked us to seek every kinds of valuable knowledge.
Stories of scholars of Islam:
Abdullāh ibn Mubarak was very beloved companion of Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh). He learned knowledge from 4,000 during his life time. He said that I spent 20 years of my life in learning knowledge and spent 30 years of life in learning manners.
Abu Dārda Radiyallāhu Anhu was known as Hakim-ul-Ummāh and had very sound knowledge in religion.
Kathīr Ibn Qais said that once he was sitting with Abu Dārda in Damascus, a stranger came there and said, “Dear, Abu Dārda, I have come here from Madinah to learn one Hadith from you, as I know that you have heard it from the beloved Prophet (Pbuh). Abu Dārda asked the stranger that do you have any business in Damascus? He said: no I have no other business here in Damascus.
Abu again repeated his question: “Are you sure about this? The stranger answered that I have come here with the pure purpose of learning one hadith from you.” Abu Dārda then told the stranger that I have heard the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) saying:
“Allah eases the way to Paradise for one who traverses some distance to seek knowledge. The angels spread their wings under his feet, and all things in heavens and earth (even the fish in the water) pray for his forgiveness. The superiority of a person possessing knowledge over a person doing worship is as the superiority of the moon over the stars”.
The scholors are the inheritors of the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh). The heritage of Prophets is neither diamond nor gold or silver, their heritage is knowledge. A person who gains knowledge gains a great treasure.
The scholars are the leaders, they are the lamps and lights in the darkness, and they have higher status than others. They direct the people to the path of peace and happiness; they guide people to that which pleases Allah. So we should also seek knowledge in order to enlighten our souls.
Knowledge is power
May ALLAH (SWT) guide us to behave and act just as He likes us to do.
