Imaam Ibn Qudaamah Al-Maqdisi rahimahullaah said:
Seeking Knowledge is an Obligation.
It is reported from Anas Ibn Maalik radiyallaahu anhu who said-The Messenger of Allah Salallaahu àlayhi wasallam said:
“Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim”¹
Ibn Qudaamah rahimahullaah said:
The ulaama differ over the meaning of knowledge in the context of the Hadith.
The Fuqaaha said:
“It is the knowledge of fiqh, for it is the means for knowing what is Halaal and what is Haraam.”
The Mufassirun and Muhaddithun say:
“It is the knowledge of the Quran and the sunnah of the Messenger of Allah Salallaahu àlayhi wasallam, for they are the key to other sciences.”
The Sufis say:
“It is the knowledge that is meant for knowing how to attain sincerity and to realize the diseases of the soul.”
And lastly, the Mutakallimûn (the experts in the science of logic and rhetoric) hold:
“It is the knowledge of Al-kalaam (i.e science of discourse)”
Nevertheless, the authentic and most correct view is that;
“knowledge” in the above Hadith refers to the knowledge of the relationship between man and his Lord, The Almighty.
The Ílm Al-Mua’malah (i.e the knowledge of the relationship between servant and his Lord) that a servant is charged with is classified into three divisions;
♦ Al-I’itiqaad (belief)
♦ Al-Fi’l (action)
♦ At-Tark (prohibition)
We will continue on the explanation of each of these divisions inshaaAllah in our next daily post .
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¹Transmitted and recorded by Imaam Ahmad in “Al’ilal”
And Ibn majah #223, and Abu Ya’laa#2837. And Shaykh Al-Albaani declared it as Sahih in ‘Sahihu Attargheeb wattarheeb’ #79.
Allaahu A’alam
Baarakallaahu feekum
