Chapter: The Virtue of Knowledge, and the saying of Allah the Exalted: "Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allah is, with what you do, Acquainted."
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The Reciter: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Chapter: The Virtue of Knowledge, and the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Mujadila 58:11]. And His saying, Mighty and Majestic: [Taha 20:114].
The Shaykh : The Book of Knowledge, Chapter: The Virtue of Knowledge. The knowledge that carries virtue and encouragement is knowledge of the Shari'ah of Allah, not knowledge of worldly matters. Knowledge of worldly matters, if it is a means to a legitimate religious end, has the ruling of means. If it is harmful, it is forbidden. If it is neither harmful nor beneficial, it is idle talk and a waste of time. Therefore, all texts that praise knowledge and commend its people refer to religious knowledge, and what is a means to it has the ruling of means.
Then he cited as evidence for the virtue of knowledge the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Mujadila 58:11]. Thus, Allah the Exalted made these two attributes: faith and knowledge, a cause for raising a person in degrees. Is this in this world, or in this world and the Hereafter, or in the Hereafter only?
The verse is general. For this reason, we find that the scholars who are firmly grounded in knowledge and who advise the servants of Allah are found among people at the pinnacle, even if they are lower in lineage or lower in wealth. But Allah, Mighty and Majestic, raises them by their knowledge. In this regard, the poet says:
Knowledge raises a house that has no pillars, while ignorance demolishes the house of honor and nobility.
And His saying, the Exalted:[Al-Mujadila 58:11]. He did not say "and those who knew," because knowledge is acquired, while faith is innate. The original state is that a person is born upon the fitrah. Is he born ignorant or knowledgeable?
Ignorant.[An-Nahl 16:78] And His saying: [Taha 20:114]. If the author, may Allah have mercy on him, had brought the beginning of the verse, it would have been better, and that is: [Taha 20:114]. Because this is a command from Allah directed to whom?
To the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him. Allah commanded him to say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge." If the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, who is the most knowledgeable of creation regarding the Shari'ah of Allah, is commanded to say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge," then those below him are all the more so. That is, it is not merely a supplication from the Messenger, but a command from Allah to the Messenger. And without doubt, the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, will carry out this command. He will say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge."
And know that no matter how much knowledge you attain, there is someone above you who is more knowledgeable than you.[Yusuf 12:76] Until knowledge ends with Allah, Mighty and Majestic. Do not think that you are the most knowledgeable of people. Even if you have much knowledge, there is someone among them who is more knowledgeable than you.
Look at Moses when he said that he did not know anyone among the people of the earth who was more knowledgeable than him. What happened?
It was said to him that in such-and-such a place is someone more knowledgeable than you, meaning al-Khidr. And what Allah the Exalted mentioned to us and related to us in Surat al-Kahf occurred.
If someone were to say: How is the generality in your saying, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge," valid, when knowledge can be harmful?
We say: Without doubt, the one who asks Allah for an increase in knowledge does not want to ask Him for an increase in harmful knowledge. Rather, he wants an increase in beneficial knowledge, without doubt. Otherwise, no sane person would say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge," which would become an argument against him. It is possible that this could happen. He wants, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge" that I will benefit from, without doubt.
Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do.
يرفع الله الذين ءآمنوا منكم والذين أوتوا العلم درجات والله بما تعملون خبيرand say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge."
وقل رب زدني علماًThe Shaykh : The Book of Knowledge, Chapter: The Virtue of Knowledge. The knowledge that carries virtue and encouragement is knowledge of the Shari'ah of Allah, not knowledge of worldly matters. Knowledge of worldly matters, if it is a means to a legitimate religious end, has the ruling of means. If it is harmful, it is forbidden. If it is neither harmful nor beneficial, it is idle talk and a waste of time. Therefore, all texts that praise knowledge and commend its people refer to religious knowledge, and what is a means to it has the ruling of means.
Then he cited as evidence for the virtue of knowledge the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees
يرفع الله الذين ءآمنوا منكم والذين أوتوا العلم درجاتThe verse is general. For this reason, we find that the scholars who are firmly grounded in knowledge and who advise the servants of Allah are found among people at the pinnacle, even if they are lower in lineage or lower in wealth. But Allah, Mighty and Majestic, raises them by their knowledge. In this regard, the poet says:
Knowledge raises a house that has no pillars, while ignorance demolishes the house of honor and nobility.
And His saying, the Exalted:
those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge
الذين آمنوا منكم والذين أوتوا العلمIgnorant.
And Allah has extracted you from the wombs of your mothers not knowing a thing
والله أخرجكم من بطون أمهاتكم لا تعلمون شيئاMy Lord, increase me in knowledge."
رب زدني علماand say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge."
وقل رب زدني علماTo the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him. Allah commanded him to say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge." If the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, who is the most knowledgeable of creation regarding the Shari'ah of Allah, is commanded to say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge," then those below him are all the more so. That is, it is not merely a supplication from the Messenger, but a command from Allah to the Messenger. And without doubt, the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, will carry out this command. He will say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge."
And know that no matter how much knowledge you attain, there is someone above you who is more knowledgeable than you.
but over every possessor of knowledge is one [more] knowing.
وفوق كل ذي علم عليمLook at Moses when he said that he did not know anyone among the people of the earth who was more knowledgeable than him. What happened?
It was said to him that in such-and-such a place is someone more knowledgeable than you, meaning al-Khidr. And what Allah the Exalted mentioned to us and related to us in Surat al-Kahf occurred.
If someone were to say: How is the generality in your saying, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge," valid, when knowledge can be harmful?
We say: Without doubt, the one who asks Allah for an increase in knowledge does not want to ask Him for an increase in harmful knowledge. Rather, he wants an increase in beneficial knowledge, without doubt. Otherwise, no sane person would say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge," which would become an argument against him. It is possible that this could happen. He wants, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge" that I will benefit from, without doubt.