The True Meaning Of Knowledge !

Ibn al-Jawzi said:

“I saw most of the scholars preoccupied with the outer appearance of knowledge, rather than the understanding of its reality. For example:

a) The reciter of the Qur’an is busy with the different modes of recitation, eager to learn the strange and rare ones. They do this thinking that the purpose of the Qur’an is to simply recite it, forgetting about the Greatness of the One whose Speech it is, and the warnings and threats contained in it. Sometimes, they might even think that mere memorization of the Qur’an will protect them from these warnings, so, you see such people being lax in regards to certain sins! If they truly understood, they would know that the proof against him is greater than it is against the one who has not recited as much as him!

b) The scholar of Hadith gathers the narrations and memorizes the chains without reflecting on the intended message of the narration, and he assumes that he has therefore preserved the Sunnah for the people, so he becomes lax in making mistakes, assuming that his supposed service of the Shari’ah will protect him.

c) The scholar of Fiqh thinks that with what he knows of the arguments that strengthen his position, or the issues that he knows of a particular school of thought, that he has acquired that which will raise his status and erase his sins. So, he might be bold in falling into sin, thinking that he will be protected from punishment. He might even put aside memorization of the Qur’an and knowledge of Hadith, while these forbid him from these sins with admonishment and softness. In addition to this, he acquires love and desire for leadership and being seen in argument, which increases his heart in hardness.

…and most people are like this, thinking that knowledge is like a production factory! These people do not understand the meaning of knowledge. Knowledge is not simply the outer appearance and speech. Rather, what is desired by it is to understand the intended meanings contained therein. This is what implants submissiveness and fear!”

[‘Sayd al-Khatir’; p. 384]