Knowledge Is Better Than Wealth (A must read article)

[*Proud_Muslimah*]

Assalamu Alaikum,

Allaah, the All-Knowing, has sent down knowledge to His creation, such that it has set up an inequality as Allaah says: “Are those who know equal to those who know not?” (39:9)

He, the Most Wise, says: “Allaah will exalt in degree those of you believe and those who have been granted knowledge.” (58:11)

Therefore, upon us is to obtain knowledge of Islam. Its importance has not been recognized properly in the Muslim Ummah. An overwhelming portion of the Ummah's problems are due to the lack of Islamic knowledge amongst the Muslims.

But, one can see the importance of knowledge by understanding the hadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam): “There will not cease to be a group from my Ummah manifestly upon the truth. The ones that abandon them will not harm them, until the Order of Allaah comes and they are like that (upon the truth).” (Saheeh Muslim, No. 1920) Imaam Al-Bukhaaree said that this group is “the people of knowledge.” (Fath-ul-Baaree, 13/293)

Therefore, in order to stay upon the truth knowledge of the Deen is needed. Islamic knowledge should be sought for the pleasure of Allaah only. For how many seek Islamic knowledge to learn Islam? And how many seek Islamic to be called an Imaam or a Shaykh or for some worldly benefit?

The sincerity in seeking Islamic knowledge is stressed by the Messenger of Allaah (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam): “Do not acquire knowledge in order to compete with the Scholars, nor to argue with the ignorant, nor to gain mastery over the gathering. Since whoever does that then: The Fire! The Fire!” (Abu Daawood, No. 3656) And he (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever seeks knowledge from that by which Allaah's Face is sought but does not learn it except for some worldly goal, then he will not smell the fragrance of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection.” [Abu Daawood, No. 3656)

So check your intention! Is your learning Islam for the purpose of being called "knowledgeable” or so that you may argue with the people of knowledge?

The learning of Islam of many can be divided into three levels. When one begins to learn Islam and obtains some knowledge he thinks he knows almost everything and this is a result of his pride.

Often, one can see that he is the first to answer an Islamic question, comfortable in giving Islamic verdicts, and lazy in doing proper research.

However, the way of the Sahaabah was as al-Baraa said: “I saw three hundred of the people of Badar, there was not a single one of them except that he loved that someone else should take his place in answering.” (Az-Zuhud of Ibn al-Mubarak, 58)

The second level is when he continues to learn and is then humbled by knowledge.

The third level is when he still continues to learn and then feels as if he does not know anything.

Ponder over this: A slave of Allaah who seeks knowledge only for the pleasure of Allaah and another who labours day and night to accumulate wealth. Both are seeking after something. The seeker of knowledge will taste the sweetness of knowledge in this world. The seeker of wealth may also taste the sweetness of wealth in this world. Both seekers are stopped by one and the same thing – death!

The seeker of knowledge takes his knowledge in the grave with him where he is benefited by it, but the seeker of wealth leaves his wealth behind. Islamic knowledge is better than wealth.

And Allaah Knows Best.

May Allah (SWT) guide us all to the right path (Ameen)

Salam