Knowledge (Ilm): Benefits And Importance

In order to be a good person, we need to know the knowledge of our religion. Knowledge comes only when we turn to religion and our religion emphasis seeking knowledge. We learn what is said in it? What should we follow? What did we leave behind us? what are the benefits? Why it's Essentially? In one word, know what why, when, how etc.

What Is Knowledge or Ilm?

The term knowledge can be referred to as a theoretical or practical understanding. Knowledge is defined as what is learned, understood or aware of things and situations.

An example of knowledge: learning the alphabet to make and understanding a sentence.

In other words, you can say, Knowledge is a familiarity, learning awareness and understanding of someone or something, such as facts, skills or objects.

An example: You have to do any task. You don't have any source of knowledge, and you can't search on YouTube. You need to search on a website, and you don't know how to read and understand. Now we can say, knowledge is having the ability to use search engine.

Islamic Point Of View Of Knowledge (Ilm)

From an Islamic point of view, Ilm (Arabic word) is an all-embracing term covering theory, action and education, it is not confined to the acquisition of knowledge only, but also embraces moral aspects. Ilm also comes from the term Alam means the world.

It's signifying that the divine act of creation is fundamentally an act of knowing and an expression of knowledge. Ilm requires insight, living a very simple life, commitment to reaching the goals of Islam which is Jannah and for the believers to act upon their beliefs.

In the QURAAN the word 'ILM' has been mentioned 704 times. The word 'Alim' has occurred in 140 places while 'Al Ilm' in 27 places. The aids of ILM like book, pen, ink etc are also mentioned almost the same number. Qalam (pen) occurred in 2 places in fact there is a surah named after Qalam (pen) while 'Al Kitab word used for QURAN is mentioned in 81 verses (ayah). Other words related to ilm occur in 319 ayahs.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said,

"The seeking of knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim."

[Sunan Ibn Majah:224 Sahih]

Through the QURAN and HADITH, Islam has placed a strong emphasis on ILM, considering the seeking of knowledge to be obligatory for all Muslims.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said,

"A servant of GOD will remain standing on the Day of Judgment until he is questioned about his (time on earth) and how he used it; about his knowledge and how he utilized it; about his wealth and from where he acquired it and in what (activities) he spent it; and about his body and how he used it."

[Tirmidhi-2416 sahih]

ALLAH will ask about five things on Judgment Day including our knowledge and how we utilized it. what type of knowledge did we gain and did we follow in life and teach others.

Is Knowledge (Ilm) Tawheed?

The human being created a week. In childhood, not able to do their own work, can't speak, and can't understand. In old age, one depended on others. In both ages, need ALLAH's protection, security, peace, and strength all things brings us toward Tawheed. Tawheed protects us from polytheism, evils, suicide, sadness, ethnic attacks etc. Tawheed comes from knowledge. If you have knowledge of deen you can protect yourself from all these evil things. In Tawheed you get peach, makes your society peaceful, good future regarding the afterlife, protect your next generation and the best thing you get closer to ALLAH.

"There is no god but He: That is the witness of ALLAH, His angels, and those endued with knowledge, standing firm on justice. There is no god but He, the Exalted in Power, the Wise".

[QURAN 3:18]

We must learn and obtain knowledge to truly understand the Oneness and Greatness of ALLAH, which will help us to stand firm on the path of righteousness.

Importance Of Knowledge

1. The First revelation was about Knowledge:

Islam has given great importance to the process of seeking knowledge or ILM. If we look at the first five verses revealed from the QURAN, we can understand the importance of ILM in Islam.

Read in the name of your Lord Who Created –

Created man from a clinging substance;

Read! And your Lord is The Most Generous;

Who taught by the pen;

Taught man that which he knew not."

[QURAN 96:1-5] 

As it is proved from the Qur'an and Hadith that when the first revelation was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Jibriel (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) said to read, but he could not read it, which shows that our religion emphasis seeking knowledge.


2. Knowledge is the reward of the righteous in this world

Right knowledge is that which makes you a good person. Without knowledge, a human is worse than an animal.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said,

"If Allah wants to do good to a person, He makes him comprehend the religion."

[Sahih Bukhari-71]

When ALLAH gets agrees with your deeds he shows you the right path and gives you comprehend the religion.

3. Seeking Knowledge is Compulsory

Every Muslim must know that gaining knowledge is beneficial in life as well as afterlife. We must educate our family, and our children and help others who are not able to seek knowledge because of financial problems.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said,

“Seeking Knowledge is compulsory for every Muslim. Indeed, all creatures,

even the fishes in the sea, seek forgiveness for the seeker of knowledge.”

[Albani al Jami :3914 Sahih]

How great is Islam, if you are seeking knowledge all creatures seek forgiveness even fishes in the water also do the same. Think how many fishes are in the water? 

4. Importance of Knowledge over Worship

Ibadah (Worship) is the most important thing in fact Salah is the second pillar of Islam. 

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said,

"The increase in knowledge is dearer to me than the increase in Ibadah. And

the most excellent thing in your religion is Taqwa."

[Albani al jami :4214 Sahih]

Here it's clear that seeking knowledge or Ilm is better than nawafil Salah. The prophet ﷺ  likes gaining knowledge more than praying nawafil Salah.

5. Knowledge to protect your faith

"…they could devote themselves to studies in religion, and admonish the people when they return to them, that thus they (may learn) to guard themselves (against evil)."

[QURAN 9:122]

We can protect ourselves by truly learning and understanding our religion, only then we can hope for protection from ALLAH from the evil and ignorance of this world by knowledge.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said,

"Whoever treands on a path seeking knowledge, due to it ALLAH will make the path to paradise esay for him."

[Sahih Muslin: 6518]

Benefits Of Seeking Knowledge

What happened when you are seeking knowledge or ILM? These are a few points with reference to QURAN and hadith that will clear:

1. The Path to paradise is made easy for those who tread the path of acquiring knowledge

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said,

“Whoever treads on a path seeking knowledge, due to it ALLAH will make

the path to Paradise easy for him."

[Sahih Muslim-6518]

 

2. The Angels honour the person who treads on the path of acquiring knowledge

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said,

"The angels spread their wings for the one who leaves home seeking

knowledge, (the angels) being pleased with what he is doing."

[Sunan Ibn Majah:226 Sahih]

3. The excellence of those who sit in the gatherings of knowledge

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said,

"Whenever people gather in a house from the houses of ALLAH (mosques)

and recite the Book of ALLAH and learn and teach the Qur'an (among

themselves) except that Tranquility will descend upon them, Mercy will

cover them, the angels will surround them and ALLAH will mention them in

the presence of those near Him."

[Sahih Muslim:6518]

 

4. The Importance of Memorizing the Hadith

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said,

"May ALLAH keep that person hale and hearty who hears a saying of mine

and memorizes it until he narrates it to others. Many a bearer of knowledge

narrates it to such people who understand it better than he did. And many

bearers of knowledge do not understand it."

[Tirmidhi:2656]

5. Knowledge is a blessing

"… And when ye are told to rise up, rise up. ALLAH will raise up, to (suitable) ranks (and degrees), those of you who believe and who have been granted (mystic) Knowledge. And ALLAH is well-acquainted with all you do."

[QURAN 58:11]

To be blessed with knowledge from ALLAH should be one of our highest attainments, we all will be blessed with the Love and Mercy of ALLAH If we continuously try to learn and be better Muslims.

The Excellence Of People Of Knowledge

1. The one who knows and the one who does not know are not alike

Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" 

[QURAN 39:9]

2. The people of knowledge have a high position

"ALLAH will raise high those who have believed from among you and those

who were given knowledge, by degrees."

[QURAN: 58:11]

3. Seeking knowledge is an active part of our faith

"And those who strive in Our (cause), – We will certainly guide them to our Paths: For verily ALLAH is with those who do right."

[Quran, 29:69]

We must try to become a better Muslim which this will hopefully guide us towards being closer to ALLAH and keep remembering that seeking knowledge is an active act of worship of ALLAH. 

4. Being busy with knowledge saves a person from being cursed

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said,

"Be careful! Indeed, this world is cursed and so are all the things in it

except the Remembrance of ALLAH and that which is connected to it, and

the scholars and the students (of knowledge)."

[Tirmidhi: 2322]

5. None, except the scholars, understand some things

"And these examples We present to the people, but none will understand

them except Those of knowledge."

[QURAN:29:43]

Excuses To Stop Seeking Knowledge

If we consider the first revelation, then we found out that the first revelation that came down was related to knowledge, so how much does knowledge mean to us when we run towards English school. We want our children to speak in English, but we don't try to teach them QURAN. Is this true knowledge? People are giving excuses to avoid Islamic knowledge. We can know by some points and ayah:

1. Too much Knowledge is not good

Some people say that too much knowledge is not good because they do not want to practice religion. If more knowledge is bad then why did ALLAH tell us to seek an Increase in Knowledge? 

And say,"My Lord, increase me in knowledge."

[QURAN 20:114]

In Islam the more a person seeks knowledge the more beneficial it is for him since it is the religion of truth. 

2. We are better off ignorant

"And [recall] when Moses said to his people, "Indeed, ALLAH commands you to slaughter a cow." 

They said, "Are you making fun of us?" 

He said, "I seek refuge in ALLAH from being among the ignorant."

[QURAN2:67]

3. ALLAH has condemned ignorance

Do we say this about the world also? Is the world more precious to us?

If we stay away from the knowledge we do not get all the benefits of knowledge. If we do not become students of Knowledge then we do not get all the benefits mentioned for students of knowledge in these notes. 

"So be never of the ignorant."

[QURAN 6:35]

4. If we are ignorant we can get saved

If we get the knowledge we have to answer, if we are ignorant we can say, "We did not know about this" and get saved.

"They will further say: "Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we

would not (now) be among the People of the Blazing Fire!" 

[QURAN 67:10]

They will be in the fire of Hell and wish that they had not stayed away from listening and using their intelligence i.e. from knowledge. You cannot deceive ALLAH with this. ALLAH knows that such a person is choosing to be ignorant. 

For example A person is not sleeping, but rather only pretending to sleep. Or a person who hears the Adhan and puts his fingers in his ears, because if he hears the Adhan he will have to go to pray.

5. We should seek only worldly knowledge

In our society nowadays people put a lot of emphasis on worldly knowledge. They send their children to school and keep them away from the nature of religion while the knowledge of religion must be given first. 

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said,

"Ask ALLAH for Beneficial Knowledge and seek refuge with ALLAH from

Knowledge that does not benefit."

[Sunan ibn maja-3843]

All beneficial knowledge is our knowledge, and we should seek it. Indeed, the most beneficial knowledge is the knowledge which helps a person to understand the purpose of his life, and know his Creator. The person who knows everything of the world yet does not know what his Creator expects from him, such a person is truly ignorant in the sight of Islam.

Conclusion

"Verily, knowledge only comes by learning."

[Sahih Bukhari before hadith 68]

Do you think that in the hereafter, when our child will be questioned, we will also be found behind it? As parents, it's our responsibility to give them righteous knowledge. 

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said,

"Whoever travels a path in search of knowledge, ALLAH will make easy for him a path to Paradise. People do not gather in the houses of ALLAH, reciting the book of ALLAH and studying it together, but that tranquility will descend upon them, mercy will cover them, angels will surround them, and ALLAH will mention them to those near him."

[Sahih Muslim 2699]

Guidelines To Seeking Knowledge Or Ilm In Islam