VIRTUES OF SEEKING KNOWLEDGE MENTIONED IN THE SUNNAH

VIRTUES OF SEEKING KNOWLEDGE MENTIONED IN THE SUNNAH

As for the Sunnah, then there are many different evidences showing the virtues of knowledge. From amongst them is the saying of the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم "Whoever Allaah سبحانه وتعالى wants good for, He gives him fiqh (understanding) of the Deen.”[1]. Here the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم clarified that those whom Allaah سبحانه وتعالى wishes good for, He gives them understanding of the religion. This is the person that Allaah سبحانه وتعالى wishes good for, the one who has understanding of Deen. Also from the understanding of this hadeeth is that ‘those whom Allaah سبحانه وتعالى does not wish good for, then He does not give them understanding in the religion’. So he حفظه الله advises everybody to be keen in seeking knowledge and gaining understanding in the religion in order to be from those whom Allaah سبحانه وتعالى wishes good for.

In another hadeeth, the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Whoever traverses a path in order to gain knowledge, then Allaah سبحانه وتعالى will make the path to Jannah easy for him.”[2]. So if you go to a masjid for a lecture or a class, then it is as though you are going towards Jannah i.e. you are going on a path towards Jannah, this is a great virtue of Knowledge.

At-Tabaraani narrated a hadeeth by Abu Umaamah that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Whoever comes to a masjid and he did not come to the masjid except with the intention that he would learn something good or teach something good, he will be given the reward of someone who performed hajj.”[3]. Look at this great virtue, just look at this great reward, whoever goes to the masjid to learn, Allaah سبحانه وتعالى will give him the reward of a hajj – of a person who went to Makkah and made tawaaf (circumambulation) around the Ka’bah and he made sa’ee (walking between Safa and Marwah) as well as the rest of the rituals of hajj. Whoever goes to a masjid to seek knowledge will be given this same reward.

In another hadeeth, the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “The student of knowledge (or the seeker of knowledge), everything will ask forgiveness for him even the fish in the ocean.”[4]. Another great virtue is that everything asks forgiveness for the Student of Knowledge, even the fish that are in the ocean. This is due to their being pleased with what he seeks i.e. knowledge. This is another great virtue of knowledge and the seekers of knowledge.

In another hadeeth, the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “There is not a people who gather in a house from the houses of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى (a masjid) to recite the Book of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى or study it except that calmness will descend upon them and mercy would cover them and they would be surrounded by the angels and Allaah سبحانه وتعالى will mention them with good to those near to Him.”[5]. The Shaykh حفظه الله mentioned that the scholars Shaykh Ibn Baaz and Shaykh al-Albaanee رحمهم الله held the opinion that this does not only refer to a masjid, but any place – whether in a classroom or at home, i.e. whoever gathers together in order to study or recite the Book of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى, they will gain this reward. Take a look at this reward, sakeenah which is a great calmness will encompass them, and the angels will descend and surround them with their wings, and they will be in the Mercy of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى. Allaah سبحانه وتعالى will bestow mercy upon them and He would mention them with good, to those close to Him in the Heavens. This is an evidence of the virtues of seeking knowledge, and the khayr (خير - good) which is obtained by those who seek it.

Another hadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم in clarifying the virtues of the gatherings where knowledge is sought, is that it is a reason for the forgiving of sins. The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said that “Allaah سبحانه وتعالى would say at the end of the gathering of those who gathered to gain knowledge, ‘Get up! You have been forgiven.’ The malaaikah (angels) would say ‘O Allaah سبحانه وتعالى there was a servant of yours who only came to that gathering because of a need – he only wanted a person in that gathering.’ Allaah سبحانه وتعالى would respond ‘I have forgiven him as well.’”[6]. This is because in such a virtuous gathering whoever gathers with them cannot be denied. The Shaykh حفظه الله repeated, ‘whoever gathers with such a virtuous gathering will not be denied.’ He will be given the same reward and he will be forgiven.




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