بِسْم الله الرحمن الرحيم
The status of knowledge is not hidden in our Religion. It is the basis upon which one begins. Neither the Shari’ah nor ones servitude to Allah - which is the purpose behind our existence in life - will be fulfilled without it. Allah says in Surah Muhammad [47:19]:
فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنبِكَ
“So know (O Muhammad) that La ilaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), and ask forgiveness for your sin”
Allah first commands the Prophet ﷺ to know, then to act.
The Prophet ﷺ used to say every morning after the Fajr prayer:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا وَرِزْقًا طَيِّبًا وَعَمَلاً مُتَقَبَّلاً
O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, goodly provision and acceptable deeds
[Sunan Ibn Majah]
He ﷺ asked for beneficial knowledge before goodly provision and acceptable deeds. This is because without beneficial knowledge, one will not able to distinguish the lawful provision from the unlawful and the righteous action from the unrighteous action. Action is the fruit of knowledge. Therefore whenever you acquire knowledge it should not be just to learn, but to learn in order to act.
Knowledge is a light for its companion. The example of the learned person is like the example of a group of people who are in complete darkness and amongst them is a person who is carrying a lamp, showing them the way, protecting them from stumbling, and protecting them from the dangers and harms of the road, until they reach their destination.
There are many texts in the Qur’an and Sunnah which emphasize the virtue of knowledge and its nobility.
In Surah Aal-Imran [3:18], Allah connected His testimomy with the testimony of the learned people:
شَهِدَ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ وَأُولُو الْعِلْمِ قَائِمًا بِالْقِسْطِ ۚ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
“Allah bears witness that La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), and the angels, and those having knowledge (also give this witness); (He is always) maintaining His creation in Justice. La ilah illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.”
And He said in Surah Az-Zumar [39:9]:
قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Say: "Are those who know equal to those who know not?"
And in Surah Al-Mujadalah [58:11]:
يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ ۚ
“Allah will exalt in degree those of you who believe, and those who have been granted knowledge.”
قال رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " فَضْلُ الْعَالِمِ عَلَى الْعَابِدِ كَفَضْلِي عَلَى أَدْنَاكُمْ " . ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلاَئِكَتَهُ وَأَهْلَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ حَتَّى النَّمْلَةَ فِي جُحْرِهَا وَحَتَّى الْحُوتَ لَيُصَلُّونَ عَلَى مُعَلِّمِ النَّاسِ الْخَيْرَ "
Abi Umama narrated that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said: “The superiority of the scholar over the worshiper is like my superiority over the least of you.' Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Indeed Allah, His Angels, the inhabitants of the heavens and the earths - even the ant in his hole, even the fish - say Salat upon the one who teaches the people to do good.'" [At-Tirmithi]
The teacher of good is not just someone who sits in front of the people and teaches. It could be a woman in her house who teaches her children or neighbors. It could be a person who sends a verse or Hadith on Social Media. Even if you teach one person you could be included in this Hadith.
The Prophet ﷺ said in a Hadith:
من سلك طريقًا يلتمس فيه علما سهل الله له به طريقًا إلى الجنة
Allah makes the way to Jannah easy for him who treads the path in search of knowledge.
[Muslim]
And He ﷺ said:
مَا مِنْ خَارِجٍ خَرَجَ مِنْ بَيْتِهِ فِي طَلَبِ الْعِلْمِ إِلَّا وَضَعَتْ لَهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَجْنِحَتَهَا رِضًا بِمَا يَصْنَعُ
No one leaves their house in search of knowledge but that angels will lower their wings in approval of what he is doing. [Sunan Ibn Majah]
And he ﷺ said:
مَنْ يُرِدْ اللَّهُ بِهِ خَيْرًا يُفَقِّهْهُ فِي الدِّينِ
If Allah intends goodness for someone, he gives him understanding of the religion.
[Agreed Upon]
This is a conditional sentence with an indefinite noun (خيرا). This is indicative of the great amount of good one will obtain from understanding the Religion of Allah. The entry of the Muslim into the path of knowledge is thus a sign that Allah wills good for him. Allah chose him from amongst all the people to come and learn.
Ibn Al-Qayyim رحمه الله said that it does not just entail that Allah makes him understand knowledge; but to understand knowledge and act upon it, because there is no good in mere knowledge.
The Importance of having Correct Belief
Allah says in Surah Al-Aadiyat [100:9-11]:
أَفَلَا يَعْلَمُ إِذَا بُعْثِرَ مَا فِي الْقُبُورِ
Knows he not that when the contents of the graves are brought out and poured forth (all mankind is resurrected).
وَحُصِّلَ مَا فِي الصُّدُورِ
And that which is in the breasts (of men) shall be made known.
إِنَّ رَبَّهُم بِهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ لَّخَبِيرٌ
Verily, that Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) their Lord will be Well-Acquainted with them (as to their deeds), (and will reward them for their deeds).
The word حصالة means collecting box. A person throughout his life collects in his collection box, which is his heart, and on the Day of Judgement it will be brought forth. A person collects two things:
1) His belief (Aqeedah)
2) The actions of his heart
We are thus responsible for what we collect in our hearts.
Allah described those whose scales will be heavy on the Day of Judgement and those who will be light. That is all dependent on what is in their hearts.
Allah said in Surah Al-Baqarah [2:165]:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَندَادًا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللَّهِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلَّهِ ۗ
And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe, love Allah more (than anything else).
Allah mentioned that the polytheists commit Shirk with love. They love the partners they associate with Allah more or equal to the love of Allah. As for the believers, they love Allah the most. The place of love is in the heart.
The believers are distinguished with this great love of Allah in their hearts. What did they do in this life that made them love Allah greatly? Their faith was correct in their hearts. Whenever they saw the impacts of Allah’s attributes around them it made their Aqeedah correct and thus increased in their love of Allah. This love consequently saved them on the Day of Judgement.
عن أنس رضي الله عنه أن أعرابيًا قال لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : متى الساعة؟ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ما أعددت لها؟" قال: حب الله ورسوله قال: "أنت مع من أحببت" ((متفق عليه)) وهذا لفظ مسلم
Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A bedouin came to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said to him, "When will be the Hour (i.e., the Day of Resurrection)?" He (the Prophet (ﷺ)) said, "What preparation have you made for it?" He said, "Only the love of Allah and His Messenger." Then Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "You will be with those whom you love."
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Anas who narrated the Hadith was so happy when he heard that.
The Last Part of Surah Al-Hashr
The most important matter mentioned in the Qur’an is about Allah. Therefore whenever we recite the Qur’an our intention should be to learn about Allah. There are many verses in the Qur’an which purely talk about Allah.
E.g. Once the Prophet ﷺ asked Ubayy ibn Ka’b, “O Abul-Mundhir, do you know which verse from the Book of Allah that you have learned is the greatest?” He ﷺ said, “Allahu La Ilaha Illa Huwa (None has the right to be worshipped but He) Al-Hayyul Qayyum (The Ever-Living, The One who sustains and protects all that exists) [2:255]” The Prophet ﷺ struck him in the chest and said, “I congratulate you on your knowledge, O Abul-Mundhir” [Muslim #810]
There are 27 names and attributes of Allah in Ayat Al-Kursi.
- This Hadith shows us that Ubayy was a learned person from among the companion. He knew the greatest verse in the Book of Allah.
- If Ayat Al-Kursi is the greatest verse in the Qur’an, it shows us some verses have more superiority than others although all of it is the speech of Allah. The content of the verse or Surah makes it greater in Allah’s sight.
E.g. Similary, the Surah which equates one-third of the Qur’an is Surah Al-Ikhlas because it tells us about Allah.
The Qur’an consists of three basic matters :
1) Allah; His Names, Attributes, and Actions
2) The Law
3) The Unseen News
Another example is Surah Al-Hashr [59:18-24].
The verses start with Allah addressing the believers to have Taqwa of Allah:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلْتَنظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
O you who believe! Fear Allah and keep your duty to Him. And let every person look to what he has sent forth for the morrow, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what you do.
#1 - يا أيها الذين ءآمنوا اتقوا الله {O you who believe! Fear Allah}
At-Tabari said: Allah addresses those who have believed in Him and singled Him out in worship to have Taqwa of Him which pertains to obeying Him and fearing Him, in secret and in public, and in all situations, and to respect what He has commanded of commandments, laws, and limits.
#2 - ولتنظر نفس ما قدمت لغد {Let every person look at what he has sent forth in the morrow}
Hold yourselves accountable before you are recompensed and contemplate what you have kept for yourselves of good deeds for the Day of your return and presentation before your Lord.
Everyone should take account of himself for whatever he does of good or evil before he will be requited on the Day of Judgement. Prepare for the questions that Allah will ask you on the Day of Judgement. If you do good ask why you did that good deed and if you did evil ask why you did that evil deed.
#3 - و اتقوا الله {Fear Allah}
Allah commands to have Taqwa again.
“إن الله خبير بما تعملون” {Verily Allah is All-Aware of what you do}
What can help us fear and obey Allah? To know that He is All-Acquainted with us and what we do. He knows the secrets of the hearts; what made you do that deed and what made you commit that sin.
After that Allah forbade us from being like those who forgot Him:
وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ نَسُوا اللَّهَ فَأَنسَاهُمْ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ
And be not like those who forgot Allah (i.e. became disobedient to Allah) and He caused them to forget their ownselves, (let them to forget to do righteous deeds). Those are the Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah).
“و لا تكونوا كالذين نسوا الله” {And be not like those who forgot Allah}
What does it mean that they forgot Allah? They forgot to remember Allah, and remembrance of Allah isn’t limited to uttering words of Dhikr, but it entails as Ibn Al-Qayyim mentioned:
a) To praise Allah and glorify Him by uttering words of Dhikr
b) To remember the impacts of Allah’s attributes and His actions
E.g. Allah elevates, gives, provides, prevents, accepts, etc.
c) To remember the laws of Allah; His commands and prohibitions.
d) To remember Allah when you carry out the command of Allah.
e) To remember the favours of Allah and His bounties
How will Allah deal with those who forgot Him?
“فأنساهم أنفسهم” {So He caused them to forget themselves}
Allah makes them forget to do good deeds that benefit themselves. Allah makes them forget to repent. And even worse than that, on the Day of Judgement Allah will abandon them in Hellfire. The recompense is of the same nature as the deed.
Allah tells us not to be like these people:
“أولآئك هم الفاسقون” {Those are the rebellious and disobedient to Allah}
Then Allah says in Verse 20:
لَا يَسْتَوِي أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ وَأَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ ۚ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ
Not equal are the dwellers of the Fire and the dwellers of the Paradise. It is the dwellers of Paradise that will be successful.
The People of Paradise have Taqwa of Allah, they prepare for the Hereafter, and they were not heedless of His remembrance.
The People of Hell did not Allah give His due magnification and fear Him, and thus took committing sins lightly and did not prepare for the Hereafter.
They are not equal.
On the Day of Judgement we have two categories of people: The People of Paradise and the People of Allah.
Allah then sets a parable in Verse 21:
لَوْ أَنزَلْنَا هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ عَلَىٰ جَبَلٍ لَّرَأَيْتَهُ خَاشِعًا مُّتَصَدِّعًا مِّنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَتِلْكَ الْأَمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Had We sent down this Quran on a mountain, you would surely have seen it humbling itself and rending asunder by the fear of Allah. Such are the parables which We put forward to mankind that they may reflect.
“لو أنزلنا القرآن على جبل” {Had we sent down this Qur’an on a mountain}
What would happen?
“لرأيته خاشعا متصدعا من خشية الله” {You would have surely seen it humbling itself and renting asunder by the fear of Allah}
This is the effect of the Qur’an when it comes down onto the mountain.
“و تلك الأمثال نضربها للناس” {Such are the descriptions we put forward to mankind}
What you just heard before is a مثل.
The word مثل has three meanings:
a) وصف (Description)
E.g. Surah Muhammad [49:15]:
مَّثَلُ الْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي وُعِدَ الْمُتَّقُونَ ۖ فِيهَا أَنْهَارٌ مِّن مَّاءٍ غَيْرِ آسِنٍ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّن لَّبَنٍ لَّمْ يَتَغَيَّرْ طَعْمُهُ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّنْ خَمْرٍ لَّذَّةٍ لِّلشَّارِبِينَ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّنْ عَسَلٍ مُّصَفًّى ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ
“The description of Paradise which the Muttaqun (pious) have been promised is that in it are rivers of water the taste and smell of which are not changed; rivers of milk of which the taste never changes; rivers of wine delicious to those who drink; and rivers of clarified honey (clear and pure) therein for them is every kind of fruit; and forgiveness from their Lord.”
b) نموذج (Model)
E.g. Surah At-Tahreem [66:10-11]:
ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا امْرَأَتَ نُوحٍ وَامْرَأَتَ لُوطٍ ۖ كَانَتَا تَحْتَ عَبْدَيْنِ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا صَالِحَيْنِ فَخَانَتَاهُمَا فَلَمْ يُغْنِيَا عَنْهُمَا مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا وَقِيلَ ادْخُلَا النَّارَ مَعَ الدَّاخِلِينَ
“Allah sets forth an example for those who disbelieve, the wife of Nuh (Noah) and the wife of Lout (Lot). They were under two of our righteous slaves, but they both betrayed their (husbands by rejecting their doctrine) so they [Nuh (Noah) and Lout (Lot) ] benefited them (their respective wives) not, against Allah, and it was said: "Enter the Fire along with those who enter!"
وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا امْرَأَتَ فِرْعَوْنَ إِذْ قَالَتْ رَبِّ ابْنِ لِي عِندَكَ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَنَجِّنِي مِن فِرْعَوْنَ وَعَمَلِهِ وَنَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ
“And Allah has set forth an example for those who believe, the wife of Fir'aun (Pharaoh), when she said: "My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Fir'aun (Pharaoh) and his work, and save me from the people who are Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers and disbelievers in Allah).”
c) مثل (Parable)
E.g. Surah Al-Baqarah [2:261]:
مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنبُلَةٍ مِّائَةُ حَبَّةٍ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allah, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom He pleases. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower.”
In Surah Al-Hashr it takes the first meaning. Allah is describing the mountain, that if the Quran was sent down upon it it would humble itself and crumble out of fear of Allah. If that is the effect of the mountain then what about you? Why doesn’t the Qur’an have an effect on you although you understand the Qur’an.
What is the link between this verse and the three previous verses?
Verse 18 consists of commands and Verse 19 consists of prohibitions. When this Quran is sent down upon a mountain, look at the effect of that on the mountain. When you come across the commands and prohibitions of Allah rush to obey Allah even if your hearts are like the solid mountains, it will have an effect on your hearts just like the Quran had an effect on the mountains. The hardness of your heart should not prevent you from acting upon the command of Allah.
As-Sa’di said: “Allah duly explained various things to His slaves and ordered them and prohibited for them in His glorious book. This should compel [Allah’s faithful worshippers] to rush to perform what He has commanded and encouraged them to do even if they feel they are as hard and hard hearted as solid mountains. Had this Quran been revealed by Allah to a mountain, one will see the mountain humble and crushed out of fear of Allah, because of its advice and admonitions.”
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