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SECTION 1 (A)
• Why should we seek knowledge?

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem.

Why Should we seek knowledge?
A normal human doesn’t do things because other people do them, he does it because he is convinced by a strong reason. Before we embark on seeking knowledge, we must have a strong ‘why’ that convinces us that knowledge is worthy of our
efforts and sacrifices. Even if we face circumstances on the path that want to make us quit, we remember these ‘why’s and they keep us moving.
We are created to worship Allah and there is no how we can worship Allah without knowledge. If you don’t learn, how do you know about Tawheed which is the only key to Jannah? How do you know about Purification without which there’s no Salaah?
Imaam Aajurree rahmatullah alayhi said, “Worship is not possible without knowledge, so seeking knowledge is compulsory and ignorance is not a
good state for a believer to be in. So he seeks knowledge to remove ignorance from himself and to be able to worship Allah in the way Allah has commanded. [Akhlaaqul ‘Ulamaa pg 42-43].

In several verses of the Qur’an, Allah has
commanded that we fear Him and an example is where He says,
{O you who believe! Fear Allah (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islam (as Muslims) with
complete submission to Allah.} [Al Imran: 102]

It is obvious that we can’t live as Muslims except we fear Allah and this fear can’t be duly attained except by the way of knowledge. Allah says,

{And of men and AdDawab (moving living creatures, beast, etc,), and cattle, in like manner of various colours. It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah. Verily, Allah is AllMighty, OftForgiving.} [Fatir: 28]
How do you fear Allah without knowledge?
Isn’t it ignorance that led the Khawarij to believe they could be more pious than the Sahaabah?

Isn’t it ignorance that led the Tablighis to propagate Da’wah with an innovated methodology?

Do ISIS not love to fear Allah but ignorance led them to tying bombs to themselves and perish on the path of misguidance and killing other innocent people?
The worship of a scholar can never be compared to that of the ignorant ones. A scholar worships Allah based on certainty, knowledge and truth, unlike an ignoramus who worships Allah based upon blind following and doubts. An ignorant one who fears Allah loves to serve Allah, but his ignorance will make him worship Him in the wrong way.

You can’t make Jannah except that you fear Allah, you can’t fear Allah duly except that you have knowledge.
Also, Knowledge raises your status in the society.

Allah says, {…Say: “Are those who know equal to those who know not?…} [Az-Zumar:9]

This rhetorical question shows that there is no comparison between a person with knowledge and a person who doesn’t possess knowledge. Let’s look at our society, many were children of the unknown, but knowledge raised their status and
degrees among men.

Their statuses were not only raised while they were alive, knowledge engraved their names on rocks and their names can never be erased.
Had it not been for knowledge, Shaykh Abdul Azeez bn Baaz would have lived as a mere blind man, but knowledge raised him in front of men.
How did you know Muhammad bn Idrees As-Shaafi’? As-Shaafi’ grew up like every fatherless child, but knowledge raised him so high and his name is not forgotten.
If not for knowledge, what would make rulers consult Ahmad bn Hanbal before appointing judges?
Imam Bukhari was just a Russian man, whom at a point of his life had nothing to wear. If not for knowledge, why would we mention his name everyday? I doubt there is any corner in this world where the name Bukhari is not reechoed.
If not for the knowledge of Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibnul Qayyim, Ibn Kathir, Adh-Dhahabi and many others, why would we still remember them today?
If not for knowledge, how would a small boy like Iyyas bn Muawiyyah be the leader of the scholars
of Basra?

Knowledge raises your status among people, seek knowledge, Baarakallahu feekum. Allah says,

یَرۡفَعِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمۡ وَٱلَّذِینَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ دَرَجَـٰتࣲۚ

{…Allah will exalt in degree those of who believe and those who have been granted knowledge…} [Al- Mujadila 58:11.]

Knowledge contains all the goodness of this life and the hereafter.
Mu’awiyah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
من يرتد الله به خيرا يقفهه في الدين

If Allah intends goodness for someone, he gives him understanding of the religion. [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 71]
Knowledge helps a man live a righteous life, his knowledge will benefit him while he’s alive and the benefits of his knowledge still go to him after his death.
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِذَا مَاتَ الْإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَنْهُ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثَةٍ: إِلَّا مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ، أَوْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ

When the human being dies, his deeds end except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him [Sahih Muslim 1631.]
The benefits of knowledge can’t be counted,
hence, Abu Ishaaq Al-Ilbeeri said in his Taa’iyah:

Oh, Abu Bakr, I am calling you, perhaps you respond ## to a great fortune, which you will reap, if you understand.
To a knowledge that will make you foremost, ## obeyed, when commanding and when reprimanding.

And it will remove from your eyes that which is veiled ## and guide you to the path if you go astray.
And you will carry with it, a crown in your gathering (be respected) ## and covers you with beauty when displayed.
You will grasp his benefit as long as you live ## and its virtue lasts with you when you’re gone (dead).
It is a sharp sword that doesn’t err ## you strike with it whoever seeks it.
It is a light treasure that is not meant to be stolen ##light in weight, with you wherever you are.

I believe this chapter has been able to inform you about reasons why it is obligatory that you seek knowledge. If you get tired of it one day, you come back and read this chapter, and In Shaa Allah, it
gets you back on track. Baarakallahu Feekum.