Islam gives importance to the acquisition of knowledge:
Islam stands as the most rational and precise religion that Allah the Almighty has given to the whole mankind. It gives importance to the acquisition of knowledge. In fact, the first revelation that Allah the Almighty has revealed to His Messenger (s.a.w.s.) for the guidance of mankind pertains to reading. Allah the Most High commands:
“Read, In the name of your Rabb (Only God and Sustainer) Cherisher, Who created — created man, out of a leech-like clot: Read, And your Rabb is Most Bountiful. He Who taught (the use of) the Pen, taught man that which he knew not.”
(Qur’an 96:1-4)
When we follow the divine commandment to Read, we learn in the Qur’an that aside from reading Allah the Almighty commands us: to know (e.g., 2:194, 196, 203, 223, 235, 14:52) to Learn (e.g., 6: 151, 9:122, 12:2, 22:46 also 54, 40:58 and 68:37), to Understand (e.g., 2:44, 6:32, 7:169, 10:16, 11:51, 12:109, 21:10, 40:67, 43:3, 47:24, 57:17), to Ponder (4: 82 and 23:68) or Contemplate (38:29), and even to Ask questions (i.e., 10:94 and 43:45).
The Prophet Muhammad, Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam), also enjoins us to acquire knowledge. He even stresses that it is our obligation to search for knowledge. We read the following authentic Ahadîth:
Anas Ibn Malik (r.a.) reported that Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said, “Seeking of knowledge is incumbent upon every Muslim ….”
[Ibn Majah 1/224 and Tirmidhi 218]
Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said:
“Learn the obligatory acts and the Qur’an and teach them to the people, for I am a mortal.”
[Tirmidhi 244]
Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (r.a.) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said to me, “Acquire the knowledge and impart it to the people. Acquire the knowledge of Fara’id (laws of inheritance) and teach it to the people. Learn the Qur’an and teach it to the people; for I am a person who has to depart this world. And the knowledge will be taken away and turmoil will appear to such an extent that two people will not agree in regard to a case of inheritance distribution and find none who would decide between them.”
[Tirmidhi 279, Darimi and Daraqutni]
In line with the divine injunctions to acquire knowledge of Islam, Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) inspires us to do our best to seek knowledge. We should, therefore, spend time, efforts, money and other resources to seek knowledge of Islam. We should take guidance and inspiration from the following prophetic teachings:
Anas ibn Malik (r.a.) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said: “One who goes out to search for knowledge is (devoted) to the cause of Allah till he returns.”
[Tirmidhi 220]
‘Abdullah ibn Abbas (r.a.) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said:
“Acquiring knowledge in company for an hour in the night is better than spending the whole night in prayer.”
[Tirmidhi 256]
Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said, “Learn and recite the Qur’an, for to one who learns, recites and uses it in prayer at night, it is like a bag filled with musk whose fragrance is diffused everywhere. And he who learns it and goes to sleep having it within him, is like a bag with musk tied up in it.”
[Tirmidhi 2143 Nasa’i and Ibn Majah]