Knowledge and seeking of knowledge guide us to that which is true in life to the straight path. Without the necessary knowledge, our journey through life will not be very successful. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The seeking of knowledge is compulsory on every Muslim.” [ Ibn Majah].
This responsibility begins the moment that we are born and does not end until the day we die. The Prophet ﷺ also said:
“If a person takes a path in search of knowledge, Allah will thereby make the path to paradise easy for him.” [Sahih Muslim]
This ability to learn and understand is what sets us apart from rest of Allah’s creation and is directly related to the concept of free will. Making choices would certainly be a haphazard affair without the capacity to gain knowledge. The importance of this is emphasized frequently emphasized in the Qur’an and the Hadith. Allah mentions,
“…Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge.” [35:28]
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Upon a person whom Allah desires good, He bestows the knowledge of faith.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
These Qur’anic verses and hadiths clearly demonstrates the significance of gaining knowledge as well as teaching it to others. It is one of the most noble aspects a human can strive for, and the most honourable to attain.
The acquisition of knowledge is an obligation for both men and women. One of the primary duties of parents is to take care of there children, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually. Education is a key factor in all of this with the goal of raising healthy, knowledgeable, and strong Muslims.
The acquisition of knowledge is obviously not the only necessary element in our journey through life. All of the knowledge in the world would nothing if it was not connected to eeman, taqwa, sincerity, and belief in the oneness of Allah. There are many people who have knowledge, but who are still on the wrong path. If we have all of these other components, the understanding that we gain in our search for knowledge will help us to know which road to take to Allah and how to avoid dangerous and harmful situations.
“Knowledge comes before action and there is no action without knowledge”
