The Pursuit of Knowledge

﷽

Qur’anic and Arabic Education

"The acquisition of knowledge is a duty on every Muslim."

طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ فَرِيضَةٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ

This is a saying of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ the Messenger of the One ﷻ who knows what is best for us. He said that it is incumbent to guide the people on the right path of success and prosperity in this Life and the Hereafter.

Knowledge of Almighty Allah ﷻ through His signs is the key to a firm belief in Him ﷻ. He ﷻ always urged men to use their minds to obtain knowledge for their own benefit. If one studies the Holy Qur’an, he finds all the verses of Allah’s signs addressed to those people who are wise, who respond positively when they are admonished, who reflect, and men and women of understanding who are endued with understanding. This approach emphasizes the importance of using our minds - the distinguishing feature of mankind. Islam encourages scientific research in all subjects of study in order to attain the truth. There is no contradiction between science in its divine forms and the divine reality of Allah ﷻ. There is no conflict between the religion (Al-Islam) and the established facts of science. All genuine science is proof of the Oneness of The Creator ﷻ. The Prophet ﷺ says that there is no comparison between a person of knowledge with the one who is ignorant.

He ﷺ said:

“The difference between the greatness of a man of knowledge and an ignorant devotee is like the difference of the light of the moon, on a night when it is full, over the rest of the stars.”

وَإِنَّ فَضْلَ الْعَالِمِ عَلَى الْعَابِدِ كَفَضْلِ الْقَمَرِ لَيْلَةَ الْبَدْرِ عَلَى سَائِرِ الْكَوَاكِبِ

Not only this, but he ﷺ said, “Surely the men of knowledge are the heirs of the prophets. the Prophets did not leave dinars nor dirhams, but he left knowledge, and the one who takes it, takes an abundant portion.”

وَإِنَّ الْعُلَمَاءَ وَرَثَةُ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَإِنَّ الأَنْبِيَاءَ لَمْ يُوَرِّثُوا دِينَارًا وَلاَ دِرْهَمًا وَرَّثُوا الْعِلْمَ فَمَنْ أَخَذَهُ أَخَذَ بِحَظٍّ وَافِرٍ ‏

Also he ﷺ said, “If Allah wants to do good for a person, He ﷻ causes him to comprehend the religion” (i.e. Qur’an and Sunnah)

من يُرِدِ الله به خيرا يُفَقِّهْهُ في الدين

From this, it was understood that religion encompasses all aspects of life. In another saying, he ﷺ emphasized the understanding of the Holy Qur’an; the constitution of the life and the main resource of all forms of knowledge.

He ﷺ said: “The best among you are those who learn the Qur’an and teaches it to others.” If Muslims are ordained by Allah ﷻ to seek knowledge – all knowledge – and if the Holy Qur’an is the main source of all knowledge, it follows that it is very important to learn the language of the Holy Qur’an – The Arabic Language.

The Arabic language is a sacred language as well as a daily-spoken, administrative, commercial and scientific language. It stands seventh among international languages

in terms of the number of people who speak it. The foremost are Chinese, English, Russian, German, Spanish and Japanese. But the Arabic language is the largest of all in relation to its vocabulary and its accuracy in expression. I am not speaking about the advantages of the Arabic language. In fact, I am just trying to mention some of its virtues and its importance for all Muslims.

1. It is the language of the Holy Qur’an.

2. The Prophet ﷺ said “I love the Arabs because I am Arab, the Qur’an was revealed in Arabic, and the language in Jannah (Paradise) is Arabic.”

3. A Muslim scholar said: “Who loves Allah must also love His Apostle, and whoever loves the Apostle must love the Arabs, and who loves the Arabs must love their language.”

4. A Muslim is required to learn Arabic in order to perform his worship (salah and supplications). Therefore, Muslim scholars including Ibn Taymiyah, for instance,

considered the learning of Arabic an obligation on every Muslim.

5. Arabic is not a new language; it is one of the oldest languages and will survive until the end of times because it is the language of the Holy Qur’an which Allah has promised to protect. Allah ﷻ has revealed in his Book (Al-Hijr: 9):

"We have, without doubt, sent down the message and We will assuredly guard it."

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا ٱلذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ

Two years ago Arabic became one of the official languages of the United Nations which affirms its importance and a bright future. I mention these thoughts concerning the Holy Qur’an and the Arabic language on this occasion - the opening of the Islamic Education Leadership Course in order to emphasize the importance of learning Arabic for those who believe in Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.

I ask my brothers who are attending this course to pay careful attention and make greater effort to gain the knowledge that is disseminated here and to take advantage of this opportunity so as to be able to teach others. By your knowledge you might surpass others. Allah ﷻ reveals:

"Say (O Muhammad ﷺ) are those who know equal to those who know not? But only men of understanding will pay heed."

(Az-Zumar: 9)

قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ

I urge the organizations and jama’ats in Guyana to arrange such courses in order to fulfill their duties and to obtain the pleasure of Allah.

Note: This talk was delivered in Georgetown, Guyana, 4th Muharram 1398, corresponding to the 15th of December 1977 by Ustadh Ahmad Ehwas. Ustadh Ahmad would usually print multiple copies of his talks and give them to the brothers whom he believed would benefit from them. Faisal Baksh held onto the hard copy that was given to him. He scanned it and Nazim Baksh edited it to help readers appreciate and perhaps benefit from the ideas and concepts that Ustadh Ahmad introduced to the Muslim community in Guyana.