The Indications of Beneficial Knowledge

Everything has its indications and signs. Indications that knowledge is beneficial are that it leads to fine character, good manners and praiseworthy attributes. In this regard it was said: "He whose knowledge doesn’t cause him to weep, can be justifiably considered not to have been granted beneficial knowledge, since Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) described the people of knowledge saying:

"Say: Believe in it (the Qur'an) or do not believe. Verily! Those who were given knowledge before it, when it is recited to them, fall down on their faces in humble prostration. And they say: "Glory be to our Lord! Truly, the promise of our Lord must be fulfilled". And they fall down on their faces weeping and it adds to their humility." (Surah Al- Isra’, 17:107-9)

Thus knowledge carries its possessor towards humility, prostration, crying, calling oneself to account and truthfulness with Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He).

Indeed crying is the clearest sign and best proof of the knowledge one possesses and of a person's truthfulness. What is the benefit of knowledge a person learns, if it doesn’t lead him to crying, humbleness, penitence and good dealings with the people?

Is not the possessor of knowledge one who knows most about his Lord (Glorified and Exalted be He)? Has he not read about His Exalted, Perfect, Lofty Attributes that which causes his heart to humble and his eyes to shed tears? Has he not read in the Book of Allah and in the Sayings of the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him), texts pertaining to the Fire, the terror in the grave and the fearful accounts of the Resurrection because of which mountains are humbled out of the fear of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He)?

So compare your position to this - may Allah have mercy upon us - and don’t forget that virtuous saying, "He whose knowledge doesn’t cause him to weep, can be justifiably considered not to have been granted beneficial knowledge".