"This knowledge is religion, look thoroughly at whomever you take your religion from"

Society Religion & Philosophy
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Imam Muslim, Imam Ibn Sirin said which means: “This knowledge is religion, so look thoroughly at whomever you take your religion from.”

One should stop for a moment and remind himself of far simpler matters: If one was seeking a particular university, one would spend a great deal of time looking into and checking the different levels of universities to determine which was better; if one needed a treatment from a doctor, one would usually look for a recognized specialist; if one wanted a house to be built, one would search for the best qualified in that field. Most definitely the knowledge of the Religion is a far higher priority, and one needs to look thoroughly at whom he will take that knowledge from.

<<>> Learning the Obligatory Knowledge of the Religion puts the Muslim on the road for excellence and self-betterment. Acquire The Islamic Knowledge Before You Discuss Religion!!

Ahmad/Islamic Studies

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PLEASE FOR SAKE OF ALLAH, READ AND IMPLEMENT. AND LET US WATCH OUT WHAT WE SAY AND NOT SPEAK WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE, AND LET US SEEK IT, FOR: Ibn Rislan said:** "If one does not find a teacher where he is residing, then let him go to where he can find a trustworthy knowledgeable teacher."**

Know, may Allah have mercy on you, the high status of knowledge has been established very strongly in Islam through explicit texts in the Qur'anand the hadith as well asin the writings of the scholars of Islam. Allah said in Surat al-Mujadilah, Ayah 11:

which means: [Allah raises the ranks of those among you who believe and those who were granted the knowledge.] Also, Allah said in Surat az-Zumar, Ayah 9:

which means: [Those who know are not equal to those who do not know.] In Surat Fatir, Ayah 28, Allah said:

which means: [Those who have the knowledge fear Allah the most.] The Prophet, who is the best of the creation, in his hadith related by at-Tirmidhiyy, said:
which means: <> The difference in merit between the Prophet and the lowest Muslim is extremely great and likewise is the difference between the true scholar and the true worshipper--i.e., the scholar who satisfied the conditions of being a scholar, and the worshipper who satisfied the conditions and integrals of worshipping.

Imam ^Aliyy Ibn AbiTalib, the fourth caliph, said: "Knowledge is better than money because knowledge protects you whereas you protect money." Knowledge rules over things, whereas money is ruled over. Money diminishes as you spend it, whereas spending the knowledge by teaching it to others increases your reward.

Islamically, the issue of knowledge is held in high regard. This knowledge is not any knowledge per se, but rather, the knowledge of the Religion of Islam. In Surat Muhammad, Ayah 19, Allah said:

which means: [O Muhammad, be firm in knowing no one is God except Allah.] In the hadith related by al­Bayhaqiyy, the Messenger of Allah said which means: <>

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Notice the wording of this hadith includes the term "every" (kul) from which the scholars clearly understood 'the Personal Obligatory Knowledge of the Religion,' and not all kinds of knowledge. Had every kind of knowledge been obligatory on every male and every female, it would have been a hardship beyond one's ability, and Allah does not order anyone with what he cannot bear.

Imam Abul Hasan al-Ash^ariyy said: "The first obligation on the slave is to learn about Allah, His Messenger, and His Religion." The Prophet, in the hadith related by al­Bukhariyy, said:

which means: <> Clear? It is also understood from this hadith whomever Allah did not will goodness for, will not make him knowledgeable in the Religion, i.e., an enlightened person who implements.

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Hence it is clear from what has been stated so far, the knowledge we are referring to is the Religious Knowledge of Islam. Moreover, this knowledge of the Religion entails many facets and many subjects; the knowledge of tawhid and the knowledge of the rules of the Religion are among them.

*The knowledge of tawhid entails knowing about Allah and His Messenger, and it is the best of all the knowledge in Islam. The scholars repeatedly emphasized the clear evidences from the Qur'an, hadith, and scholarly consensus proving the knowledge of tawhid is ranked the highest among all knowledge. This is so because it has to do with knowing about Allah and about His Messenger--knowing what befits Allah and what is impossible to be among His attributes and what befits the messengers and what would be impossible to be among the attributes of the messengers. *

Imam AbuHanifah said: "Tawhid is the 'Great Knowledge (al-fiqhul akbar)."Imam ash-Shafi^iyysaid: "I mastered the knowledge of Tawhid before mastering the knowledge of the rules of the Religion."

This knowledge of tawhid is of two categories. The first category is that which is obligatory on every accountable person, (The accountable person is the one who is pubescent, sane, and has heard the Testification of Faith in a language he understands.) The accountable person is obligated to know this knowledge; hence, this category is classified among the Personal Obligatory Knowledge. Examples of this knowledge include the belief in Allah and the belief in His angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Day of Judgment, Destiny, and the like. The second category of this knowledge of tawhid is that which is obligatory that some Muslims master--but not all Muslims. This obligation is classified as a communal obligation, since if some of the Muslims have that knowledge it is no longer an obligation on the rest of the community. Examples of this category is for one to learn the proofs of the tenants of belief from the Qur'an, hadith, and intellect such that one would have the ability to refute the claims of the enemies of Islam--like the communists and the innovators of misguidance. Also among the communal obligations some Muslims must acquire are the sciences Muslims need--such as medicine, engineering, agriculture, and the like. Hence, if enough Muslims learn these sciences such that they satisfy the need of the community, it is no longer obligatory on the others.

The first category of the knowledge of tawhid, the personal obligation, has two subdivisions. The first subdivision entails knowing correctly about Allah and His Messenger and believing in it beyond doubt. If one does not know and believe this, he would not be a Muslim, and he would not escape the everlasting tortures of Hellfire. However, having satisfied this and having uttered the Testification of Faith at least once in his lifetime, but not capturing other essentials of belief and not fulfilling other obligations such as fasting and praying and the like, he would be a sinful Muslim--provided he does not deny the obligation of fasting, praying, and the like. The second subdivision entails learning the thirteen attributes of the Self of Allah which are obligatory on every accountable person to know and learning the attributes of the prophets and what follows, such as believing in the angels of Allah, the Books of Allah, the Messengers of Allah, the Day of Judgment, Destiny--what is good and evil--Paradise, and the like. If having satisfied this, one will earn for his acceptable deeds.

As to the rules of the Religion, part of this knowledge is a personal obligation. The Muslim who is accountable is obligated to learn the matters of purification (taharah), the rules of prayers, the rules of fasting, and the rules of other obligations that apply to him, like Zakat, Pilgrimage, dealings, sins of the body, and the like.

*Learning the Obligatory Knowledge of the Religion makes one able to discriminate between what is lawful (halal) and what is unlawful (haram), what is valid and what is invalid, what is acceptable and what is rejected, in addition to what is classified under the Religion as good or bad. The scholars of Islam have spoken explicitly about these criteria. In the chapter entitled "Knowledge Before Saying or Committing Action," Imam al­Bukhariyy stated: "If one acquires the Obligatory Knowledge of the Religion, one acquires the ability to differentiate between what is lawful and what is unlawful, what is acceptable and what is not acceptable, and what is good and what is evil."

Allah said in the Qur'an in Surat at-Tahrim,Ayah 6:

which means: [O believers, protect yourselves and your families from Hellfire which is fueled by people and stone.] Imam ^Ata' Ibn Abi Rabahwho was among the followers of the Companions, interpreted that verse of the Qur'an.

He said: "One protects himself and his family from the tortures of Hellfire by learning how to pray, fast, sell, buy, marry, and divorce."*

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[quote]
Originally posted by Ahmad G:
**As related by at­Tirmidhiyy, the Prophet said which means: <> From that hadith, some scholars understood one leaves ones place to seek the knowledge, that is, one goes to the people of knowledge to pursue it and not simply to read a book on one's own.

Another criterion for acquiring the knowledge is to be neither shy nor arrogant in acquiring that knowledge. Imam Mujahid, who was a follower of the Companions (Tabi^in), said: "The one who is shy or arrogant does not acquire the knowledge." Hence, the one who wants to acquire the knowledge and arrive at the truth of a matter should not be shy in acquiring the knowledge nor arrogant. One should acquire the knowledge in order to gain the benefit regardless of one's age or social status.

**
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<<>> Learning the Obligatory Knowledge of the Religion puts the Muslim on the road for excellence and self-betterment. Acquire The Islamic Knowledge Before You Discuss Religion!!

Ahmad/Islamic Studies

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-for the benefit.