The True Meaning of Knowledge

Abu Moosa Ash'ari (Radiyallahu ‘Anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said:

"The example of the guidance and knowledge that Allah has sent me with is like a drenching rain that falls on a particular piece of ground. While a part of the ground is fertile and absorbs the water to grow grass and an abundance of vegetation, another portion of the ground is hard and holds the water. However, Allah still allows it to benefit people because they drink from it, give their animals to drink from it and also irrigate their fields with it. The rain also falls on another portion of the ground that consists of a rocky terrain which neither holds the water nor grows any grass. Such is the example of a person who has a deep understanding of the Deen of Allah. That which Allah has sent me with benefits him, because of which he becomes knowledgeable and teaches others as well. It is also the example of the person who pays no heed to it and refuses to accept it."[1]

Abdullah bin Mas'ood (Radiyallahu ‘Anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said:

"Every Prophet that Allah has sent before had close friends and companions who adopted his ways and obeyed his instructions. However, there came after them generations who did not practice what they preached and who did what they were not instructed to do. Whoever resists them physically is a Mu'min, whoever resists them verbally is also a Mu'min and whoever resists them by heart (by disapproving of what they do) is also a Mu'min. After these (three categories of people) there remains none with even a mustard seed of Iman."[2]

Abdullah bin Amr (Radiyallahu ‘Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said:

"Knowledge is of three types; explicit verses of the Qur’an, concrete Ahadeeth (with authenticity that is beyond doubt) and injunctions of the same standing (ljmaa[3] and Qiyaas[4] that is beyond doubt). Everything apart from this is extra (it is not compulsory to learn)."[5]

Amr bin Auf (Radiyallahu ‘Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said:

“I have left with you two factors that you will never go astray as long as you hold fast to them. They are the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of your Prophet (Sal Allahu alaihi wasallam).”[6]

Abu Hurayrah (Radiyallahu ‘Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) once entered the Masjid where he found the people gathered around a man.  "What is happening?" Rasulullah (Sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) asked. "O Rasulullaah (Sal Allahu alaihi wasallam)!" the Sahabah replied: "He is an Allamah." "What is an Allamah?" Rasulullah (Sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) enquired. The Sahabah said: "Someone who knows Arabic better than anyone else and also has the most knowledge of poetry and the differences between the Arabs." Rasulullah (Sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) remarked, "That is knowledge that does not benefit a person and no harm will be done to remain ignorant of it."[7]

Abdullah bin Umar (Radiyallahu ‘Anhu)  once said, "Knowledge is in three things; the talking book (the Qur'an) I the perpetual Sunnah and to say 'I do not know' (when one does not know something)."[8]

Abdullah bin Abbas (Radiyallahu ‘Anhu) said, "Knowledge is really in the Book of AllaIh and the Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sal Allahu alaihi wasallam). Based on personal opinion, if anyone says anything other than this, I cannot say whether he will find it included amongst his good deeds or amongst his sins."[9]

Mujaahid says, "Abdullah bin Abbas was once performing salah while Ataa, Tawoos and Ikramah and I, all his students, were sitting together. A man arrived and asked, 'Is there a Mufti amongst you?' 'Ask your question,' I said. He said, 'Every time I urinate, a spurting liquid follows the urine out.' 'Is it the type of liquid from which a child is born?' we asked. When he replied in the affirmative, we ruled that he should take a bath (each time it happened). The man then turned away saying, 'Innaa Lillaahi wa Innaa Ilayhi  Raaji'oon'. Abdullah bin Abbas (Radiyallahu ‘Anhu) hastened with his salah and as soon as he made the Salam, he said, 'Ikramah! Go bring that man back.' When Ikramah brought him back, Abdullah bin Abbas (Radiyallahu ‘Anhu) turned to us saying, 'Tell me whether the verdict you gave this man was sourced from the Book of Allah?' 'No,' we admitted. 'Then was it sourced from the Sunnah of Rasulullah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam)?' he asked further. When we again conceded that it was not, he asked, 'Then was it from the Sahabah of Rasulullaah (Sal Allahu alaihi wasallam)?' Again we said no. 'Then from who did you learn it?' he asked. 'We derived it from our own judgement,' we replied. To this, he remarked, 'It is for this reason that Rasulullah (Sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said, 'A single jurist is more difficult for Shaytan to contend with than a thousand (ignorant) worshippers.' He then turned to the man and asked, 'Tell me. Do you feel any lust in your heart when this happens to you?' 'No, I do not,' the man replied. Abdullah bin Abbas (Radiyallahu ‘Anhu) asked further, 'Then do you feel any weakness in your body (after it emerges)?' When the man again replied negatively, Abdullah bin Abbas  (Radiyallahu ‘Anhu)  said, 'This happens because of coldness (in the body). So wudhu would suffice for you (there is no need to bath).'[10]