2.17. KNOWLEDGE AND EDUCATION

God says

…. say: “O my Lord, cause me to grow in knowledge!” -- Q.20:114

Of all His servants only such as are endowed with [innate] knowledge* stand [truly] in awe of God: [for they alone comprehend that,] God is almighty, much- forgiving. -- Q.35:28

* I.e., spiritual knowledge, born of the realization that the phenomena which can be observed do not comprise the whole of reality, inasmuch as there is “a realm beyond the reach of human perception”(cf.surah 2, verse 3).

The Most Gracious has imparted the Qur’an [unto man]: He has created man: He has imparted unto him articulate thought and speech.* -- Q.55:1- 4

*The term al-bayaan – denoting “the means whereby a thing is (intellectually) circumscribed and made clear (in spoken or written language)” (Raghib).

Prophet said

1. “If you learn a chapter of religious knowledge whether it is in practice among the faithful or not, it will be better than one thousand units of non-obligatory prayers” – H: Ibn Majah. N: Abu Zarr.

2. “It is part of knowledge to say: ‘God knows best’ for what you don`t know.”- N: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abdullah

3. “Verily, the learned are the heritage of prophets” – H: Ahmed, Tirmizi and Abu Daud. N: Abu Darda.

2.16. DISUNITY

God says

And hold fast, all together, unto the bond with God, and do not draw apart from one another. -- Q.3:103

And be not like those who are divided among themselves and fall into disputations after all evidence of the truth has come unto them; for these it is, for whom tremendous suffering is in store -- Q.3:105

And pay heed unto God and His Apostle, and do not [allow yourself to] be at variance with one another, lest you lose heart and your moral strength desert you. And be patient in adversity: for, verily, God is with those who are patient in adversity. – Q. 8:46

Verily, [O you who believe in Me,] this community of yours is one single community, since I am the Sustainer of you all: worship, then, Me [alone]! But men have torn their unity wide asunder, [forgetting that] unto Us they all have to return. And yet, whoever does [the least] of righteous deeds and is a believer withal, his endeavor shall not be disowned: for, behold, We shall record it in his favour. -- Q.21:92-94

… and seek not [occasion for] mischief in the land: for God loves not those who do mischief. -- Q.28: 77

Prophet said

1. “Dispute about Qur’an is infidelity”-- H: Ahmed and Abu Daud. N: Abu Hurairah.

2. “Surely, the devil (Shaitan) is to a man as wolf is to sheep, attacking those sheep that stray away from the flock: those which wander and those which take to a corner (apart from the flock). So avoid the branching paths and stick to the united body and the majority (of believers)” -- H: Ahmed. N: Muaz-b-Jabal.

3. “You must not become unbelievers after me, some of you killing the others.”-- H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Jorair.

2.15. UNITY

God says

….help one another in furthering virtue and God consciousness, and do not help each other in furthering evil and enmity; and remain conscious of God: for, behold, God is severe in retribution! -- Q.5:2 (last sentence)

Remain, then, conscious of God, and keep alive the bond of brotherhood among yourselves* and pay heed unto God and His Apostle, if you are [truly] believers. -- Q. 8:1

* Lit., “set to rights the relationship between yourselves” – i.e., “remain conscous of your brotherhood in faith and banish all discord among yourselves”.

And [as for] the believers, both men and women -- they are close unto one another: they [all] enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong, and are constant in prayer, and render the purifying dues [zakat], and pay heed unto God and His Apostle. It is they upon whom God will bestow His grace: verily, God is almighty, wise! -- Q.9:71

Better to say “I should not just read the above verse and pass on. I should think and plan to redress myself in the light of God’s definition so as to qualify myself for His grace. I should pay attention to right and wrong in daily dealings, and always be thankful when corrected.”

Prophet said

1. “In mutual kindness, love and sympathy you will see the believers like a single body. When a limb complains, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever”– H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Nu’man-b-Bashir.

2. “Eat together and be not separate, because blessing is only with the united body”-- H: Ibn Majah. N: Omar-b-al-Khattab.

2.14. FALSE PRIDE (concluded)

God says

...such as would call God’s messages in question without having any evidence therefor: [a sin] exceedingly loathsome in the sight of God and of those who have attained to faith. It is in this way that God sets a seal on every arrogant, self-exalting heart. -- Q.40:35

And though some be too proud [to listen to this call], they who [in their hearts] are with thy Sustainer extol His limitless glory by night and day, and never grow weary [thereof].-- Q.41:38

Yet indeed , as for any who defend themselves after having been wronged – no blame whatever attaches to them: blame attaches but to those who oppress [other] people and behave outrageously on earth, offending against all right: for them there is grievous suffering in store! -- Q. 42:41,42

The sin of Iblis was false pride that made him disobey God and, yet, not ask for forgiveness: (See surah 7, verses:12 and 13)

Prophet said

1. When enquired about a man who liked that his dress and his shoes should look nice, the Messenger of God said: “God is beautiful and likes beauty. Pride is in disclaiming the truth and despising people”– H: Muslim. N: Ibn Masud.

2. “On the Resurrection Day God will not look at one who lets flow his trouser out of vanity”-- H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Ibn Omar. (Same is narrated by Abu Hurairah with slight variation in words.)

2.14. FALSE PRIDE

God says

And walk not on earth haughtily, for you cannot rent the earth asunder nor reach the mountains in height -- Q.17:37

And swell not your cheek at people in pride, and walk not haughtily on earth, for God does not love anyone who , out of self-conceit , acts in a boastful manner. Hence be modest in your bearing, and lower your voice: for the ugliest of all voices is the (voice) of asses -- Q.31:18,19

Is not hell the [proper] place for all who are given to false pride? -- Q.39 : 60

Moses said (to Pharaoh), “with (Him who is) my Lord and your Lord have I indeed found refuge from everyone who, immersed in false pride, will not believe in the Day of Reckoning!” - -- Q. 40:27

Prophet said

1. “Let me inform you about the inmates of hell: every ignoble, uncivil, proud man”– H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Haresah-b-Wahb.

2. “God said : Pride is my cloak and greatness. My robe and whoever competes with me in respect with either of them I shall admit him in the hell-fire”– N: Hades Qudsi: Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.