Pride is only for the People of Knowledge
Dr. Mufti Lo'ai Somay'at
The greatest blessing that Allah the Almighty has bestowed upon us is that He sent among us Muhammad, peace be upon him, as a Prophet and Messenger. Allah Says (What means): "Indeed, Allah has bestowed a favor upon the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from themselves, reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom, although they were before in clear error." [Al-Imran/164]. This great Prophet, peace be upon him, was an unlettered man. Allah Says (What means): "Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah..." [Al-A'raf/157].
He The Almighty also Said (What means): "So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, who believes in Allah and His words, and follow him that you may be guided" [Al-A'raf/158].
Moreover, from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) the Prophet (PBUH) said: "We are an unlettered nation; we do not write or calculate." [Al-Bukhari].
Thus, the first thing that was revealed to him, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was the Saying of Allah (What means): "Read in the name of your Lord who created." [Al-Alaq/1]. Therefore, the first and the most important means of learning is reading, followed by writing. Allah Says (What means): "Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe." [Al-Qalam/1].
From Yazid bin Abi Habib, Al-Walid bin Ubadah bin Al-Samit said: My father, may Allah have mercy on him, advised me: "O my son, I advise you to believe in destiny, its good and its evil, for if you do not believe, Allah will throw you into the Fire." He said: "I heard the Prophet, peace be upon him, say: "The first thing Allah created was the pen. Then He said to it: Write. He said: What should I write? He Said: Write destiny. So he wrote what will be and what is until the Day of Judgment." [Ahmad].
Knowledge and scholars hold a high status in Islam, as Allah has raised their rank and placed them at the forefront of all matters. Among the evidences of the virtue of knowledge and scholars:
• Allah has commanded obedience to them, He Said (What means): "O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [in outcome] and best in result." [An-Nisa/59].
• Allah has made it obligatory to refer to them and ask them about what is unclear, the verse states (What means): "And We did not send before you except men to whom We revealed. So ask the people of the message if you do not know." [An-Nahl/43].
• Allah has elevated their status by making them witnesses to the greatest testimony, which is His Oneness, He, The Most Exalted Said (What means): "Allah witnesses that there is no deity except Him, and [so do] the angels and those of knowledge - [that He is] maintaining [creation] in justice. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise." [Al-Imran,/18].
• Allah has denied equality between them and others, the verse states (What means): "Say, 'Are those who know equal to those who do not know? Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding." [Az-Zumar/9].
• He clarified that they are the people of understanding from Allah The Almighty, as He Said (What means): "And these examples We present to the people, but none will understand them except those of knowledge." [Al-Ankabut/43].
• He mentioned that they are the ones who truly fear Him, (What means): "It is only those who have knowledge among His servants who fear Allah." [Fatir/28].
This is some of what has been mentioned in the Book of Allah, and regarding the Sunna, it has shown that scholars:
• They are the people of goodness in this world. From Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Whomever Allah wishes good for, He grants him understanding in religion." [Sunan Ibn Majah].
• They are the safeguard for this Ummah. From Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As (may Allah be pleased with them) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) say: "Indeed, Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it from the people, but He takes it away by the death of the scholars, until when there are no scholars left, the people will take as leaders ignorant ones. They will be asked and they will give verdicts without knowledge, so they will go astray and lead others astray." [Al-Bukhari].
• They are the stars that guide people. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Indeed, the example of scholars on earth is like the stars in the sky; when people see them, they follow them, and when they become obscure, they become confused." [Al-Madkhal by Al-Bayhaqi]. Allah created the stars for several purposes mentioned in His Book:
A- For guidance, Allah (What means): "And among the signs are the stars, by which they are guided." [An-Nahl/16].
B- For decoration of the sky, Allah Says (What means): "And We have decorated the nearest heaven with stars." [Al-Mulk/5].
C- For shooting at devils, Allah Says (What means): "And We have decorated the nearest heaven with stars and made from them projectiles for devils; and We have prepared for them the punishment of the Blaze." [Al-Mulk/5].
• They are the heirs of the Prophets. Qais Bin Kuthir reported that a man from Medina came to Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) in Damascus and said: "What brought you here, O brother? He said: A hadith reached me that you narrate from the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. He said: Did you not come for a need? He said: No. He said: Did you not come for trade? He said: No. He said: Did you come only for seeking this hadith? He said: Yes. He said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, say: "Whoever travels a path seeking knowledge, Allah will make his path to Paradise easy. And the angels lower their wings in pleasure for the seeker of knowledge, and the scholar is forgiven by whoever is in the heavens and on earth, even the fish in the water, and the virtue of the scholar over the worshiper is like the virtue of the moon over all the stars. Indeed, scholars are the heirs of the Prophets; the Prophets did not leave behind dinars or dirhams, but rather they left behind knowledge, and whoever took it has taken a great share." [Sunan Al-Tirmidhi].
• Abu Huraira narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Whenever a group of people gathers in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, tranquility descends upon them, mercy covers them, and the angels surround them, and Allah mentions them to those who are with Him." [Sunan Abi Dawood].
Therefore, Islam has made the pursuit of knowledge obligatory for every Muslim, for his happiness and salvation in this world and the Hereafter cannot be achieved without it. From Anas Bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim." [Sunan Ibn Majah].
As for our righteous predecessors, many texts have been narrated from them that indicate the virtue of knowledge and scholars and encourage the pursuit of knowledge, including:
• It is reported from Abu Darda, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: "Be a scholar, or a learner, or a listener, or a lover; and do not be the fifth, for you will perish." He said: I asked Al-Hasan: Who is the fifth? He said: "The innovator" [Al-Ibānah Al-Kubra by Ibn Battah/v.1, pp.341].
From Mu'adh Ibn Jabal, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: "Seek knowledge; for seeking it is being mindful of Allah, its pursuit is an act of worship, discussing it is a form of glorification, searching for it is a form of Jihad, teaching it to those who do not know is charity, and sharing it with one's family is a means of drawing closer [to Allah]. It is the guide to what is lawful and what is unlawful, the banner of the people of Paradise, comfort in loneliness, a companion in alienation, conversation in solitude, and guidance in times of prosperity and adversity. It is the weapon against enemies and the faith among the dignified. Allah raises some people through it and makes them leaders in goodness; people follow their footsteps, emulate their actions, and refer to their opinions. The angels yearn for their company and with their wings, they wipe over them. Every living and non-living creature seeks forgiveness for them, even the fish in the sea and the beasts of the birds and animals, for knowledge is the life of hearts from ignorance and the lamp of sight from darkness. Through knowledge, one reaches the ranks of the virtuous and the highest degrees in this world and the Hereafter. Reflecting on it is equal to fasting, and studying it is equivalent to standing in prayer. Through it, family ties are maintained, the lawful is recognized, and the unlawful is distinguished. It is the leader of the actions, and the actions follow it. The fortunate are inspired by it, while the unfortunate are deprived of it." [Al-Hilyah Al-Awliya, V.1/P.239].
Abu Huraira narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Everything has a foundation, and the foundation of this religion is understanding; and nothing has been worshiped by Allah better than understanding in religion, and a single understanding scholar is harsher on the devil than a thousand worshipers." [Jami' Bayān Al-'Ilm Wa Fadlih/V.1/P.127].
From 'Imran ibn Muslim, it is reported that 'Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Learn knowledge and teach it to people, learn dignity and calmness, and humble yourselves to those from whom you learn knowledge, and humble yourselves to those who learn knowledge from you. Do not be tyrants among scholars, for your knowledge will not stand against your ignorance." [Sha'b Al-Imān/V. 3/P.281].
In this era, many nations—from the East and the West—boast of their scientific advancements that have dazzled the world and brought them to the pinnacle of civilization. This is only due to their engagement in knowledge, both theoretically and practically. Meanwhile, it is regrettable that, despite the availability of means of knowledge and the ease of obtaining it, our Ummah still suffers under the burden of cultural invasion and ignorance that have destroyed our homes, dignity, and even our religion. How true are the words of the poet:
"Knowledge builds houses with no pillars,
While ignorance demolishes the house of honor and generosity."
Our Ummah must return to its past glory and history in seeking beneficial knowledge that benefits it and all of humanity, for we were the leaders of nations when we learned and taught others. Scholars in this Ummah are the leaders of the people; people are dead, and the people of knowledge are alive. The words of Imam Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, are most truthful when he said:
"People are equal in terms of their creation;
Their father is Adam, and their mother is Hawwa (Eve).
So if they have nobility in their origin,
They boast of it, but it is only clay and water.
What pride is there except for the people of knowledge?
Indeed, they are the guides for those who seek guidance.
And the worth of each person is determined by what they excel in;
The ignorant are the enemies of the people of knowledge.
And if you come with generosity among those of noble lineage,
Then our lineage is generosity and greatness.
So strive for knowledge, that you may live by it forever;
For people are dead, and the people of knowledge are alive."
[Al-Baqa'i, Nazm Al-Durr/V.6/P.127]. Our final invocation is." And Praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds."
