A discussion on the importance of seeking knowledge. The lecture took place during the Sisters Luncheon and Lectures, June 2013.
Say, “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?”
[Al-Zumar, 39:9]
From the topics discussed:
The value of knowledge
Knowledge guides and corrects
It is enough to know the value of knowledge that the people of misguidance rush to feign it
Are those who possess knowledge equal to those who do not?
Knowledge is a key to all good
Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim
Imām Ibn al-Qayyim [d. 751 AH] said:
Allāh says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ ۖ فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا ﴿٥٩﴾
“O you who have believed, obey Allāh and obey the Messenger and those in authority over you. And if you disagree among yourselves over anything then refer it back to Allāh and the Messenger if you truly believe in Allāh and the Last Day. That is better (conduct) and (leads t…
Allāh says,
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ ﴿١٥٣﴾
“O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”
[al-Baqarah, 2:153]
Imām Abū Jaʿfar Muḥammad ibn Jarīr al-Ṭabarī [d. 310 AH] said:
If someone was to say to us: We know very clearly what it means to seek [Allāh’s] help with patience regarding fulfilling our duty towards Him and continuously engaging in acts of obedience. But regarding the order to seek help [from Allāh] in carrying out acts of obedience and leaving…
Although reading or reciting the Qurʾān is always rewarding, doing so during the blessed month of Ramaḍān is much more rewarding since the Qurʾān was revealed in Ramaḍān. Allāh said:
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ ﴿١٨٥﴾
“The Qurʾān was revealed in the month of Ramaḍān.”
[Al-Baqarah, 2:185]
Additionally, Jibrīl would review the Qurʾān with the Messenger (ﷺ) during Ramaḍān. ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) narrated: “Jibrīl would meet Allāh’s Messenger (ﷺ) during the entire month of Ramaḍān to review the Qurʾān.” (Reported by Muslim with this wording)
Therefore, reading or r…
اسْتَحْوَذَ عَلَيْهِمُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَأَنسَاهُمْ ذِكْرَ اللَّهِ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ حِزْبُ الشَّيْطَانِ ۚ أَلَا إِنَّ حِزْبَ الشَّيْطَانِ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ ﴿١٩﴾
Shayṭan (Satan) has overtaken them. So he has made them forget the remembrance of Allah. They are the party of Shayṭan (Satan). Verily, it is the party of Shayṭan (Satan) that will be the losers!
[al-Mujādilah, 58:19]
The 10 plots of Shayṭān:
17:31 Plot 01: The Call to Shirk (polytheism and disbelief)
21:16 Plot 02: The Call to Bidʿah: Innovating Religious Matters into Islām
24:00 Plot 03: The E…
