Importance of Learning in Islam
Importance of Learning in Islam: People are enemy of what they do not know. Amirul Momineen Ali (a.s.) says in Nahjul Balagha: “One who claims (verbally) and says that I am hopeful of the Mercy of Allah, is a liar. By Allah if his claim is genuine then why is his sincerity not reflected in his actions?”
Amirul Mo-mineen Ali (a.s.) was once asked about Khair
(Good). He said” Good is not that you have more wealth and
children. Good is that your knowledge increases.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: For the devil, the existence of one Faqeeh (jurisprudent) is more intolerable than the existence of a
thousand worshippers.
The great jurisprudents of Islam are of the opinion that
obtaining Ilm is waajib-e-Ainee so far as it refers to the matters of
belief like the principles of religion and those practical affairs
without which duties cannot be fulfilled; and that beyond it, it is
Waajib-e-Kifaai. But a group of jurisprudents think it is absolutely
compulsory even in that case for those who can afford to obtain
knowledge.
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said: When you notice that a learned man
Aalim has indulged in the material worlds consider him a criminal
against religion and do not trust or rely on him because every lover
goes round the thing he loves.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: God Almighty revealed to
Dawood (a.s.): Do not make a worldly scholar a mediator between
Me and you; that he may prevent you from loving Me because they
are robbers lurking on My path. The least that I do about them is
that I take back the sweetness of prayers from their hearts.
It is reported from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.): So long as they are
not inclined toward the material world, the religious scholars and
jurisprudents are trustees of the Prophet. Being asked what
inclination towards world meant, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) replied,
Obedience to a ruler. So beware of them in the matter of your
religion when they begin to obey a ruler
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: The angels on the earth and in
the sky curse the one who issues Fatwa or opinion without
knowledge Behaarul Anwaar 2: 114 – 119
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said: Verily it is the meaning of faith that you must
hold truth above untruth even if it harms you and that your words
should not exceed your knowledge Behaarul Anwaar 2 114 – 119
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) also said: One who rushes to reply all the queries
is a mad man. Ibid.
Imam Zainul Abideen (a.s.) says, Had people known what benefit
learning gives, they would have run after it even if it required the
blood of hearts and diving deep into oceans.