Teachings of Prophet lay emphasis on seeking knowledge
Muslims throughout India celebrated the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, popularly known as Eid-e-Milad un-Nabi, on Saturday.
On this day, large meetings were organised where the Sirah (the life of the Prophet) was revisited. It was an occasion for the Islamic scholars (Ulema) to remind the Ummah (community) about the teachings of the Prophet for their benefit in this world and hereafter.
In view of the fact that presently Muslims of India lag behind in education, the main cause of their sufferings, it is high time that scholars should exhort Muslims to acquire knowledge as directed (injunctions) by Prophet. There are a large number of Prophetic traditions that encourage Muslims to acquire all types of knowledge from any corner of the world. The Hadith literature (Sayings of the Prophet) is also full of references to the value of knowledge. Some such sayings of the Prophet are as follows:
“Seeking knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim (men or women).”
“Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave.”
“Seek knowledge though it may be as far as China.”
“The ink of the scholar is more holy than the blood of the martyr.”
“If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allah will cause him to travel on one of the roads 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.”
“O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee for Knowledge which does not profit.”
“O Allah, I ask Thee for Beneficial Knowledge, acceptable
TIN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT PRESENTLY MUSLIMS OF INDIA LAG BEHIND IN EDUCATION, IT IS HIGH TIME THAT SCHOLARS EXHORT MUSLIMS TO ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE
action, and good provision.”
“Wisdom is the lost property of a Muslim; hence collect it from whoever you find it with.”
“An hour’s contemplation and study of Allah’s creation is better than a year of prayers.’’
“Knowledge from which no benefit is derived is like a treasure out of which nothing is spent in the cause of God.”
“Acquire knowledge and impart it to the people.” “The best thing that a man can leave behind is knowledge which is acted upon after his death.”
“Give freedom to the prisoner (of war) if he teaches four Muslims to read and write.” (during early period of Islam)
These prophetic sayings (Traditions) echoed throughout the history of Islam and encouraged Muslims to seek knowledge.
Muslims prospered for almost 10 centuries because they followed these injunctions. The rise of Muslims to the zenith of civilization was due to their thirst of worldly knowledge. Their decline started when they considered religious knowledge as the only obligation for them and then abandoned the path of modernisation.
Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi, well known Islamic scholar of the 20th century, in his book on the conflict between Islam and the West, rightly observed: “Humanity greatly suffered because of severing the ties of knowledge (science) with religion and this separation has caused great harm to Islamic society.”