THE 115THKHUTBAH ON DELIVERED
AT AREA 10 JUMA’AH MASJID ABUJA, BY IMAM
YAHYA GARBA AL-YOLAWI, ON 14TH APRIL 2017/ 17TH RAJAB 1438 AFTER HIJRA
TOPIC:
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SEEKING BENEFICIAL KNOWLEDGE
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious the
Most Merciful
Respected brothers and sisters in Islam,
today’s sermon centered on the
significance of seeking beneficial knowledge.
The term ‘ilm, is an Arabic word which simply means: Knowledge;
familiarity, awareness or understanding of something or someone, such as facts,
information, data, descriptions, or skills, which is acquired through
experience or education by perceiving, discovering, or learning.
Education is the starting point of everysuccessful human activity. Allah
created man and provided him with the tools for acquiring knowledge, namely
hearing, speaking, sight and wisdom to enable him to learn.
According to the Qur'an, the first teaching class for Adam started soon
after his creation and Adam was taught 'all the Names and that is knowledge.
Islam makes it a religious duty upon Muslims to seek knowledge. Seeking
knowledge with
the intention of benefiting oneself and the people is rewarded
like performing additional prayers or fasting. The Prophet (SAW) said: “Seeking
Knowledge is an obligation on every Muslim.” (Ahmad).
Whoever seeks knowledge and help other people to learn will get
unaccountable rewards from Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) will grant him high ranks
in this world and the Hereafter. "Allah
will exalt those who believe among you, and those who have been granted
knowledge to high ranks." (Qur’an 58:11)
Knowledge is more important than wealth and property. No wonder,
knowledge is among the important things which Allah (SWT) directed Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) to pray that he will be granted more of it. Allah (SWT) says in
the Holy Qur’an: "And say: My Lord, increase me in knowledge." (Qur’an 20:114)
Having knowledge should not be a reason for being arrogant. In fact,
having more knowledge about ourselves and the world make us feel more humble
before the greatness of the creation of Allah (SWT). “It is only those who have
knowledge among His servants that fear Allah." (Qur’an 35:28)
Islam attaches great importance to knowledge and education as we can see
the first word of first verse of the Qur’anwas 'Iqra' that is, read. Allah says
"Read! In the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that exists). He has
created man from a clot (a piece of thick blood). Read! And your Lord is the
Most Generous. Who has taught (the writing) by the pen. He has taught man that
which he knew not" [Quran, 96: 1-5]
Some of the verses and ahadith on seeking beneficial knowledge include:
1.
Allah
commanded His Messenger to seek more of it. Allah says “…And, [O Muhammad], do not hasten with [recitation of] the
Qur'an before its revelation is completed to you, and say, "My Lord,
increase me in knowledge." [Quran, 20:114]
2.
Knowledge and ignorant can never be the same: Allah says:
“Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" Only they
will remember [who are] people of understanding. Q39:9
3.
They
were been specified with the most precious thing in this life and He says: “Only those fear Allah, from among His
servants, who have knowledge. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Forgiving”.
Q35:28
4.
Some
things can only be comprehend by people with knowledge: Allah says “And these examples We present to the
people, but none will understand them except those of knowledge. Q29:43
5.
They
are part of the witness of oneness of Allah. And He says: Allah witnesses that there is no deity except Him, and [so
do] the angels and those of knowledge - [that He is] maintaining [creation] in
justice. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise”.Q3:18
6.
Those
have iman and knowledge would to be given high status. “Allah will raise those who have believed among you
and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allah is Acquainted with
what you do”.Q58:11
7.
Seeking
knowledge is obligatory: Our
beloved propht (SAW) said: “The seeking of knowledge is obligatory for every
Muslim”Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 218)
8.
The
learned people are the inheritors of the prophets:It has been narrated from the messenger of Allah
(SAW) said” If anyone travels on a path in search of knowledge, Allah will
cause him to travel on one of the paths of Paradise. The angels will lower
their wings in their great pleasure with one who seeks knowledge, 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 (money), leaving only knowledge, and he who
takes it takes an abundant portion”. (Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 3634).
Types of knowledge in islam
Islam calls us to learn all kinds of beneficial
knowledge. Branches of knowledge vary in status, the highest and no.1 of which
is knowledge of islam (knowledge of your
religion, what you have been created for), then followed by other fields of
knowledge, such as medicine, engineering, law,business, education etc.One example
of this is theissue of captives of badr and teaching ten children as a ransom.
, secondly: After migrating tomadina the
Prophet saw that some people were on
the date trees busy in doing something. On being asked what they were engaged
in, they replied that they were pollinating.
The Prophet
suggested them not to do so. The following year date yield was
considerably very low. The Prophet
enquired them of the reason. They told him that the date crop depended
on pollination. Since he suggested them to do otherwise, they had refrained
from that. The Prophet then told them
to go on doing as they used to, and that, "You know the worldly matters
better than me." (Al-Bukhari)
The knowledge
of islam (Sharee'ah) with which Allah honored His Messenger ; He taught it to him so that he might teach it to mankind: "Indeed, Allah conferred a
great favour on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger (Muhammad)
from among themselves, reciting unto them His Verses (the Quran), and purifying
them (from sins by their following him), and instructing them (in) the Book
(the Quran) and Al-Hikmah [the wisdom and the Sunnah of the Prophet (i.e. his
legal ways, statements and acts of worship)], while before that they had been
in manifest error" [Quran, 3:164]
Six etiquettes of learning
1. Ability
to comprehend (ie being intelligent to some extend).
2. Interest
3. Patience
and endurance
4. Means
(money and other necessities)
5. Teacher’
guidance
The
fruit of Knowledge is putting in to action
There is no meaning in knowledge which is not confirmed by actions or words
which are not confirmed by deeds, Allah the Almighty says (what means): "O
you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is
with Allah that you say that which you do not do" [Quran, 61: 2-3]
Seeking
beneficial knowledge leads to great reward
Knowledge brings a great reward. The one who leads or points the way to
something good is like the one who does it. When the knowledgeable person dies,
his reward with Allah does not cease when he dies, rather it continues to
increase so long as people benefit from his knowledge. The Prophet said: "When a man dies, all his deeds
come to an end except for three — an ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge or a
righteous child who will pray for him." (Muslim)
Ignorance
is darkness
A person without knowledge is like someone walking along a track in
complete darkness. Most likely his steps will slide aside fall and devil can
easily deceive him. This shows that our greatest danger lies in our ignorance
of Islamic teachings in the first place and in our blindness of what the Quran teaches and what guidance
has been given by the Prophet .
Knowledge is light
When we are blessed with the light of knowledge we will be able to see
plainly the clear path of Islam at every step of our lives. We shall also be
able to identify and avoid the dangerous paths of disbelief and devil steps of
immorality. And, whenever a false guide meets us on the way, a few words with
him will quickly establish that he is not a guide who should be followed.
Knowledge is pursued and practiced with modesty and humility and leads to
dignity, freedom and justice.
Finally; The main purpose of
acquiring knowledge is to bring us closer to our Creator through sound iman,
action and piety. It is not simply for the gratification of the mind or the
senses. It is not knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Knowledge accordingly
must be linked with values and goals to attain salvation to the Marcy and blessings
of Allah SWT .One of the purposes of acquiring knowledge is to gain the good of
this world, not to destroy it through wastage, arrogance and in the reckless
pursuit of higher standards of material comfort at all cost.
We ask Allah the most high to increase us in knowledge and continue to
guide and protect our iman. Ameen
Contact: yahyalyolawi@gmail.com
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