The Description of Ilm (Knowledge)

Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله

There are many from the students of knowledge whose intention in seeking knowledge is nothing except for the attainment of leadership or wealth, and for every person is that which he intended. As for the people of knowledge and religion, they are the (true) people of knowledge.  This is what’s intended with them due to its benefit for them and their need for it in this life as well as in the hereafter. Just as Mu’aadh ibn Jabal (رضي اللّه عنـه) stated regarding the description of knowledge:

Indeed the seeking of it for the sake of Allaah is Ibaadah (worship). Reviewing it is a means of glorifying (Allaah).  The research of it is striving (for the sake of Allaah.)  Teaching it to the one who does not know it is sadaqah (charity). By way of it Allaah it is known and they worship Him.  Also (by way of it) Allaah is magnified and singled out (for all that which is specifically for Him). Based upon this we find the people who benefit from it and their souls are purified by way of it. They intend with it the following of the truth and not the following of desires. The traverse on it: the path of justice and fairness. They love it and find delight with it. They love an abundance of it and the abundance of its people. 

“Knowledge searches for action; if it does not find it, it will depart.”

 

Question: What is your advice regarding acting upon knowledge?

Answer by Sheikh Al-‘Uthaimeen رحمه الله : It is mandatory that a person acts upon his knowledge, because the fruit of knowledge is action. If a person does not act upon his knowledge, he will consequently be from amongst the first people to be punished in the fire on the Day of Judgement.

It was mentioned (in lines of poetry):

“The scholar who did not act upon his knowledge will be punished before the worshippers of idols.”

Thus, if a person does not act upon his knowledge, this will lead to failure in knowledge, loss of blessing, and forgetfulness of knowledge.

This is based on the statement of Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى:

فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَاقَهُمْ لَعنَّاهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَا قُلُوبَهُمْ قَاسِيَةً يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِ وَنَسُواْ حَظًّا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُواْ بِهِ

'Due to their breach of their covenant, We cursed them and made their hearts grow hard. They change the words from their places and have abandoned a good part of the Message that was sent to them.'

(Al-Maa’idah 5:13)

Knowledge & its carriers...!

'Knowledge is better than wealth, for knowledge guards you while you have to guard wealth. Knowledge increases the actions, but wealth gradually decreases as it is spent. And the love for the scholar is Deen - it being professed through this act of love.  Knowledge secures obedience for the scholar during his life and praise after his death. But the benefit of wealth stops once it finishes.
The people who hoard wealth are (in reality) dead while they live their lives. However the scholar remains as long as time remains - for their bodies may no longer be present, but their examples are found in the hearts.'

(From the book "Words of Advice from the Salaf" - pg.13 the advice of 'Alee ibn Abee Taalib to Kumayl ibn Ziyaad)

Try to Meet Allaah with this...

It is reported that a man once wrote to Ibn ʿUmar (may Allāh be pleased with them):

"Please write down all knowledge for me. Ibn ʿUmar replied: 'Knowledge is vast, but if you can meet Allāh having kept your back light of the burden of people’s blood, your stomach void of people’s wealth and having kept your tongue from [disparaging] their honour, then do so."'

 

Al-Dhahabī, Siyar ʾAʿlām Al-Nubalāʾ 3:222

Whoever takes the path hoping for knowledge ,,,

 

The Messenger of Allaah صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم said,  

"Whoever takes the path hoping for knowledge, Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى makes easy for him the path to Paradise. Verily, the angels lower their wings for the seeker of knowledge out of pleasure of what he is doing. Verily all that is in the heavens and earth seeks forgiveness for the knowledgeable, even the fish in the water. The excellence of the knowledgeable over the servant is like the excellence of the moon on the night of the full moon over all the planets. Verily, the learned are the heirs of the Prophets, the Prophets do not leave dinar or dirham, but they are inherited in knowledge, and he who takes it takes a great bounty."

Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah, and Ibn Habbaan.¹

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1 Hadeeth Saheeh, Saheeh Abee Dawood, Sheikh Albani # 3096

 

Taking knowledge step by step

 

Sheikh Yahya Al Hajoori  (حفظه الله) said: 

Taking knowledge step by step is from the means of seeking knowledge, and it is upon the teacher to take his brothers and students step by step by giving everyone their rights; by giving the beginners their rights and those who are more advanced their rights.

"Not everyone adorned with knowledge ..."

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said:

“Not everyone adorned with knowledge and wisdom and is portrayed with it is from its people; rather the people of knowledge and wisdom are those who give life to their hearts by killing the desires. As for the one who kills his heart and thus gives life to desires, then knowledge and wisdom are (merely) on his tongue (i.e. not acting upon such knowledge and wisdom).”

 [Al-Fawaa-id: page:154]