Seeking knowledge of the religion helps to achieve Taqwa (fear) from Allah and increases Iman. Allah said: “It is only those who have knowledge amongst His slaves that fear Allah.” [Al-Fatir (35): 28]
Generally speaking the fear is present in all believers. But the true and complete fear is present only among the people of knowledge, due to their knowledge of Allah, His Names and His attributes; they are the most eager among the men for the truth depending on the extent of their knowledge of Allah. At the head being the Prophets. Hence, when some people who took the knowledge to which, the Messenger of Allah (saws) was guiding to be insufficient and said: “We are not like you, O Messenger of Allah (saws)! Allah has forgiven your past and future sins.” The Prophet (saws) said, “By Allah! Indeed I am the one who fears Allah the most amongst you, and the most pious of you.” [Al-Bukhari]
Seeking Knowledge - Sign of a Believer
Knowledge is what distinguishes a believer from a hypocrite because he (a hypocrite) is abundantly acquainted of trivial things and various other useless facts, which do not benefit him, but when comes the understanding of Deen, he knows, not a thing. As also mentioned in the Book of Allah: "But the hypocrites do not understand." [Al-Munaafiqoon (63): 7]
The sign of a believer is that he is acquainted with his Religion and is constantly increasing his knowledge about subjects that benefit him and he is desirous of all that is good, as well as the gatherings wherein it is detached.
Seeking the knowledge of Deen is a path to
Paradise, learning it more is a Jihaad. Reviewing and learning more is like
Tasbeeh. As the companion of our Prophet Muhammad (saws), Muadh ibn Jabal (ra)
said: "Seek knowledge,
because seeking it for the sake of Allah is a worship. And knowing it makes you
more God-fearing; and searching for it is jihad, teaching it to those who do
not know is charity, reviewing and learning it more is like tasbeeh. Through
knowledge Allah will be known and worshipped. With the knowledge Allah will
elevate people and make them leaders and imams, who will in turn guide other
people." [Fatawa Ibn Taymiyya vol.10, p.39]
In the same vein, Imam Shafi’
(rahimahullah) said: "Whoever seeks the fruits of this life should gain
Islamic knowledge, and whoever seeks the hereafter should gain (Islamic)
knowledge." [An-Nawawi, Majmoo’ vol.1, p.12]
Excellence of one,
who seeks knowledge
There are many Ahadith showing the virtues
and merits of those who go in search of knowledge. From them being:
"Whoever treads on a path in search of Islamic knowledge, Allah will ease
the way to Paradise for him. The angels will lower their wings, pleased with
this seeker of knowledge, and everyone in the heavens and on earth will ask
forgiveness for the knowledgeable person, even the fish in the deepest of
waters will ask for his forgiveness” [Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Tirmidhi]
Every path that he takes in search of
knowledge is a way to Paradise; this is true for every path literal or
otherwise. His journey from one country to another; from one circle of
knowledge to another, from one mosque to another with the sole intention of
seeking knowledge. These are the ways of acquiring knowledge, likewise
memorizing and studying books of knowledge, perusal (reading or studying carefully),
and writing even his sleep are also from the ways of seeking knowledge and the
paths to Paradise.
If the seeker of knowledge dies
while, striving to acquire knowledge, then there will be a difference of one
degree between him and the Prophets in Paradise.
Prophet (saws) said: “He whom death
overtakes while he is engaged in acquiring knowledge with a view to reviving
Islam with the help of it, there will be one degree between him and the
Prophets in Paradise.” [Al-Tirmidhi hadith no. 249]
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