The Sunday Mail
THE Prophet Muhammed (Peace Be Upon Him) said, “Two zealous persons are never satisfied, one who is zealous in seeking knowledge, and the other who is zealous in seeking the world.”
This Prophetic declaration puts the matter forward very aptly – the true seeker of knowledge has a deep thirst which can never be fully quenched. Knowledge is more like an ocean and each time one lowers their “cup” to fill it with some of the “water”, there is much more which remains. Hence one realises that there is no limit to the knowledge that one can gain and thus he or she will never be satisfied.
The seeker of the material world (engaged in material pursuits) also has a “thirst” which can never be fully quenched! The more one acquires, the more they want – because there is much more which remains out there!
This leads to greed which in turn drives a person very far away from the recognition of The Almighty.
We must remember that while we do need material things for our day to day subsistence on earth, we need not lose focus and pursue it with ways and means which are totally unacceptable in the sight of the Almighty.
We are meant to acquire the appropriate knowledge for its correct acquisition and its correct use!
We have a choice in this world. We can either get addicted to the material things therein, which we will leave after 60-80 years of life, along with everything else which is in it, or we can get addicted to seeking knowledge, which will reap heavy rewards from our Creator on the Day of Judgement.
The path of the material things leads us away from The Almighty, and the path of knowledge leads us towards Him.
Likewise, the path of the material things destroys our Hereafter, and the path of knowledge secures our Hereafter. The choice is entirely ours.
When can we be envious of others?
We are never meant to be envious and jealous of others in any way, as jealousy is a very bad characteristic which is harmful to one’s moral and spiritual progress.
Envy and jealousy breed animosity and can lead to oppression, injustice and strife.
However, the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) taught humanity that we can and we should be envious in two instances – he said, “No one should be envious of anyone except (in the case of) two people – a man whom Allah Almighty has blessed with knowledge and he teaches it; and a man whom Allah Almighty has bestowed wealth and he spends it in the cause of The Almighty (for worthy causes).”
This Prophetic declaration alludes to the etiquettes of seeking knowledge. We should not get envious of others for anything other than these two things, one of them being knowledge. Observing other people who have knowledge should make us feel envious.
The idea is to use this feeling as a motivation to gain more knowledge. This does not imply that we question The Almighty’s decree as to why He made the other person knowledgeable and why we were not given similar knowledge.
Instead, we should constantly ask Him to grant us an increase in knowledge, (as He has commanded in the Holy Qur’aan), And say, “My Lord, increase me in knowledge.” (Ch 20 : v 114)
In the case of wealth, if it is spent in the cause of the Almighty then it holds great value and one should aspire to reach such a position. Once again, this does not imply that we question the Almighty’s decree as to why He made the other person wealthy and why we were not given similar wealth.
Instead, we should constantly ask Him to grant us beneficial wealth of which we too will be able to spend in His cause.
Word of caution
Knowledge is extremely important in all aspects of our lives – even when we are to speak about something or give evidence on some matter, we are commanded to ensure that we have the knowledge of that before we open our mouths.
Allah Almighty warns us against speaking without knowledge, as He says in the Holy Qur’aan, “And do not speak of that which you have no knowledge. Verily, the hearing, the sight, and the heart will each be questioned about (by Allah),” (Ch 17 : v 36).
This means these faculties are to be used to gain knowledge before speaking.
Acquiring knowledge (learning) is everyone’s birth right. Everyone – young or old, rich or poor, male or female, has access to learning.
Exercise your birth right
Remember what you have learned cannot be taken away by others. A rather comprehensive Prophetic declaration on the subject matter states: “Acquire knowledge: it enables its possessor to distinguish right from the wrong; it lights the way to heaven; it is our friend in the desert; our society in solitude; our companion when friendless; it guides us to happiness; it sustains us in misery; it is an ornament among friends and an armour against enemies.”
For further information on Islam or a free copy of the Holy Qur’aan, please contact:
Majlisul Ulama Zimbabwe, Council of Islamic Scholars
Publications Department
PO Box W93, Waterfalls, Harare
Tel: 04-614078 / 614004, Fax: 04-614003
e-mail: [email protected].
