Khutba on Knowledge

الحمد لله، الحمد لله الذي أرسل رسوله رحمةً للعالمين، وجعله شفيعاً لأمته يوم الدين ،   نحمده تعالى ونستعينه، ونشكره تعالى ونستغفره ونستغيثه، نعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا ومن سيئات أعمالنا، من يهد الله فهو المهتد ومن يضلل فلن تجد له وليا مرشدا، ونشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك و له الحمد، يحيي ويميت، بيده الخير، وهو على كل شيء قدير،  ونشهد أن سيدنا و مولانا محمداً عبده ورسوله، وحبيبه وصفيه، بلغ الرسالة وأدى الأمانة ونصح الأمة، النبي الأمي الذيأرسله الله بالهدى والدين الحق، بشيرا ونذيرا بين يدي الساعة، صلى الله عليه وسلم وعلى آله وأصحابه ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين.

أما بعد! فيا عباد الله اتقوا الله حق تقاته ولا تموتن إلا وأنتم مسلمون. يأيها الذين ءامنوا اتقوا الله وقولوا قولا سديدا يصلح لكم أعمالكم ويغفر لكم ذنوبكم. ومن يطع الله ورسوله فقد فاز فوزا عظيما. اتقوا الله فيما أمر وانتهوا عما نها عنه وزجر. قال الله تعالى في كتابه العزيز:

قل هل يستوي الذين يعلمون والذين لا يعلمون إنما يتذكر أولوا الألباب.

Say: are they the same – those who know and those who do not know?  (Those who have knowledge and those who don’t) It is only people of intelligence who pay heed. 

Knowledge is light and guidance and its opposite is ignorance, which leads to deviation. 

It is through knowledge that we are able to fulfill our obligations and to reach the highest realisation as human beings – as slaves of Allah. 

Islam is based on and established by knowledge. Without it, understanding the Deen and passing it on to next generations is impossible. 

There are different types of knowledge: beneficial, harmful and that which does not harm nor benefit. 

Beneficial knowledge is the core of our existence as sound Muslims. By it we attain clarity and discrimination, firmness and certainty, not only in matters directly related to the Deen, but also in worldly matters, for it is absolutely essential to carry out any action safely and in its best manner. 

All beneficial knowledge is encouraged, and that which relates to the obligations of the deen is compulsory upon every individual – fard ‘ain. Such is the knowledge to perform all the acts of ibada – salat, wudu, fasting, Hajj, and all of their necessary elements etc. Likewise, the knowledge of any activity you embark upon. 

The highest type of knowledge is that of any of the three pillars of the Deen: Fiqh, Aquida and Tasawwuf, for it what most benefits the Muslims, allowing us to implement what Allah has prescribed for us. The knowledge of medicine, commerce, agriculture, architecture, language, history, and so on, is also necessary and a general obligation upon the community – fard kifaya. 

Allah says in His Noble Book: 

وقل رب زدني علماً

And say: “O Lord, increase me in knowledge”.

We must not be content with whatever knowledge we already have, rather we must continuously seek to increase it, for seeking knowledge is an obligation and a therefore a praiseworthy action. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:  

طلب العلم فريضة على كل مسلم

Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon ever Muslim. 

He also said: 

"من سلك طريقًا يبتغي فيه علمًا سهل الله له طريقًا إلى الجنة، وإن الملائكة لتضع أجنحتها لطالب العلم رضا بما صنع، وإن العالم ليستغفر له من في السماوات والأرض حتى الحيتان في الماء، وفضل العالم على العابد كفضل القمر على سائر الكواكب، وإن العلماء ورثة الأنبياء وإن الأنبياء لم يورثوا دينارًا ولا درهما وإنما ورثوا العلم ، فمن أخذه أخذ بحظ وافر.

"Whoever follows a path in search of knowledge, Allah will make the path to the Garden easy for him. The angels lower their wings over the seeker of knowledge, being pleased with what he does. The inhabitants of the heavens and the earth and even the fish in the depth of the oceans seek forgiveness for him. The superiority of the learned man over the devout worshipper is like that of the full moon to the rest of the stars (i.e., in brightness). The learned are the heirs of the Prophets who bequeath neither dinar nor dirham but only knowledge; and he who acquires it, has in fact acquired an abundant portion."

And in another hadeeth:

" تَعَلَّمُوا الْعِلْمَ ، فَإِنَّ تَعَلُّمَهُ لِلَّهِ خَشْيَةٌ ، وَطَلَبَهُ عِبَادَةٌ ، وَمُذَاكَرَتَهُ تَسْبِيحٌ ،

 وَالْبَحْثَ عَنْهُ جِهَادٌ ، وَتَعْلِيمَهُ لِمَنْ لا يَعْلَمُهُ صَدَقَةٌ ، وَبَذْلَهُ لأَهْلِهِ قُرْبَةٌ ، لأَنَّهُ مَعَالِمُ الْحَلالِ وَالْحَرَامِ ، وَمَنَارُ سَبِيلِ الْجَنَّةِ ، وَالأُنْسُ فِي الْوَحْدَةِ ، وَالْمُحَدِّثُ فِي الْخَلْوَةِ ، وَالصَّاحِبُ فِي الْعُزْلَةِ ، وَالدَّلِيلُ عَلَى السَّرَّاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ ، وَالسِّلاحُ عَلَى الأَعْدَاءِ ، وَالزَّيْنُ عِنْدَ الأَخِلَّاءِ ، وَالْقَرِيبُ عِنْدَ الْغُرَبَاءِ ، يَرْفَعُ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَقْوَامًا فَيَجْعَلُهُمْ فِي الْخَيْرِ قَادَةً ، وَهُدَاةً يُهْتَدَى بِهِمْ ، وَأَئِمَّةً فِي الْخَيْرِ تُقْتَصُّ آثَارُهُمْ ، وَتُرْمَقُ أَعْمَالُهُمْ ، وَيُقْتَدَى بِفِعَالِهِمْ ، وَيُنْتَهَى إِلَى رَأْيِهِمْ ، تَرْغَبُ الْمَلائِكَةُ فِي خِلَّتِهِمْ ، وَبِأَجْنِحَتِهَا تَمْسَحُهُمْ ، وَفِي صَلاتِهَا تَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُمْ ، حَتَّى حِيتَانِ الْبَحْرِ وَهَوَامِّهِ ، وَسِبَاعِ الْبَرِّ وَأَنْعَامِهِ ، وَالسَّمَاءِ وَنُجُومِهَا ، لأَنَّ الْعِلْمَ حَيَاةُ الْقُلُوبِ مِنَ الْعَمَى ، وَنُورُ الأَبْصَارِ مِنَ الظُّلَمِ ، وَقُوَّةُ الأَبْدَانِ مِنَ الضَّعْفِ ، يَبْلُغُ بِالْعَبْدِ مَنَازِلَ الأَبْرَارِ ، وَمَجَالِسَ الْمُلُوكِ ، وَالدَّرَجَاتِ الْعُلَا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ ، وَالْفِكْرَةُ فِيهِ تُعْدَلُ بِالصِّيَامِ ، وَمُدَارَسَتُهُ بِالْقِيَامِ ، وَبِهِ يُطَاعُ وَيُعْبَدُ ، وَبِهِ يُعْمَلُ وَيُحْفَدُ ، وَبِهِ يُتَوَرَّعُ وَيُؤْجَرُ ، وَبِهِ تُوصَلُ الأَرْحَامُ ، وَيُعْرَفُ الْحَلالُ مِنَ الْحَرَامِ ، إِمَامُ الْعَمَلِ وَالْعَمَلُ ، قَالَ : تَابِعُهُ ، يُلْهَمُهُ السُّعَدَاءُ ، وَيُحْرَمُهُ الأَشْقِيَاءُ 

“Attain knowledge, for learning it is Khashya (fearing Allah), seeking it is ‘ibadah, delving in it is glorification, searching for it is jihad, teaching it to those who do not know it is sadaqah. … It indicates the halal from the haram, it is the the light-posts of the path to the Garden, the companion in loneliness and retirement, … the weapon against the enemy, the beauty among friends, the element that draws near strangers. Allah raises some people making them examples in goodness, a guidance to follow, imams in what is good whose steps are imitated, their actions are taken as example, and their opinions are resorted to, … the angels cover them with their wings, and in their prayers ask for forgiveness for them, even the fish in the oceans, and lions and other animals on earth, and the sky and the stars. Knowledge gives life to the hearts against blindness, and light to sight against darkness, and strengthens the body from weakness. By it the slave reaches the station of the Abrar, the gatherings of kings, and the highest degrees in this world and the next. Reflecting on it equals fasting and studying it standing in prayer. By it Allah is obeyed and worshipped …” 

أقول قولي هذا وأستغفر الله لي ولكم ولسائر المسلمين من كل ذنب فاستغفروه إنه هو الغفور الرَّحيم.

الحمد لله الحمد لله رب العالمين، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له وأشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله، والصلاة والسلام الأتمان  الأكملان على أشرف الأنبياء وإمام المرسلين وعلى آله وصحبه الطيبين الطاهرين، والتابعين وتابعي التابعين ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين.

أما بعد! فيأيها الذين ءامنوا اتقوا الله ما استطعتم واسمعوا وأطيعوا وأنفقوا خيرا لأنفسكم. يا عباد الله أوصيكم وإياي بتقوى الله وطاعته وأحذركم وإياي عن معصيته ومخالفته.

Muslims, our search of knowledge should be constant. We must never cease to learn and look for every opportunity to acquire useful knowledge, take advantage of it and apply it. Knowledge is something you cannot have enough of. By it you will be refined, elevated and drawn nearer to Allah. Allah says in his noble Book: 

إنما يخشى اللهَ من عباده العلماء

Only those with knowledge have fear of Allah. 

It is through knowledge that we come to know Allah, and subsequently have fear of Him. He says:

فاعلم أنه لا إله إلا الله 

Know that there is no god but Allah. 

Knowledge of the Deen is higher than voluntary acts of ‘Ibada. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

فضل العالم على العابد كفضلي على أدناكم

The superiority of one with knowledge over an ‘abid (one who is devoutly engaged in worship) is like my superiority over the lowest among you. 

Allah raises of the people of knowledge with Him. He says: 

يرفع الله الذين ءامنوا منكم والذين أوتوا العلم درجات

Allah will raise in rank those of you who believe and those who have been given knowledge. 

The Messenger also said, may Allah bless him and grant him peace: 

أفضل العبادة الفقه

The best form of ‘ibadah (worship) is fiqh. 

And:

يسير الفقه خير من كثير العبادة

A little fiqh is better than a lot of ibadah. 

These ahadeeth show the significance of knowledge with respect to worship. The Deen is protected by sincere people of knowledge. It is a weapon against shaytan, the whims and desires of the nafs and against the those who attack Islam. We must therefore endeavour to become of this people, sincerely striving to gain more knowledge, asking Allah for it, since it is only a gift from Him.  

Needless to say that knowledge does not mean information. Information is only part of it. Knowledge encompasses elements of profoundity, discrimination and wisdom, which create a perfect equilibrium. 

The people of knowledge within muslim communities must be respected and honoured. They in turn, should be utterly at the service of the Muslims, passing on that knowledge and implementing it, not manipulating it in any way.

Knowledge is within the reach of every Muslim. That is not to say that everyone is capable of issuing fatwas or verdicts overnight. But that knowledge must not be viewed as possessed only by a class of erudits who are above the average Muslim and gifted with the exclusivity of possessing a knowledge unreachable for them. That has been the crime of the christians and the jews. 

We ask Allah to increase us in knowledge. We ask Allah to give us useful knowledge. We ask Allah benefit us by that knowledge and to permit us to apply it fully. And we seek protection from ignorance. 

إِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ، يَا أَيُهَا الذِينَ آمَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِيماً. 

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ وَبَارِكْ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ  أَجْمَعِينَ. وَارْضَ اللَّهُمَّ عَنِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَعُثْمَانَ وَعَلِيٍّ، وعن أم المومنين عائشة، وَعَنْ سَائِرِ الصَّحَابَةِ أَجْمَعِينَ، خُصُوصاً اِلأَنْصَارَ مِنْهُمْوَالمُهَاجِرِينَ، وَعَنِ التَّابِعِينَ وَتَابِعِي التَّابِعِينَ وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ.

اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِ وُلَاةَ أُمُورِ المُسْلِمِينَ لِمَا يُرْضِيكَ وَلِاتِّبَاعِ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّكَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَهُمْ عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ المُسْتَقِيمِ، وَأَصْلِحْهُمْ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ. 

اللهم اغننا بحلالك عن حرانك وبطاعتك عن معصيتك وبفضلك عن من سواك

اللهم علّمنا ما ينفعنا وانفعنا بما علّمتنا وزدنا علماً

اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى شَيْخِنَا، وَعَلَى أَمِيرِنَا، وَعَلَى جَمِيعِ أُمَرَاءِ وَزُعَمَاءِ المُسْلِمِينَ. 

اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى المُسْلِمِينَ فِي هَذِهِ المَدِينَةِ، وَوَفِّقْهُمْ لِمَا تُحِبُّهُ وَتَرْضَاهُ يَا أَكْرَمَ الأَكْرَمِينَ. 

اللَّهُمَّ أَعِزَّ الإِسْلَامَ وَالمُسِْلمِينَ، وَاخْذُلِ الْكُفْرَ وَالْكَافِرِينَ، وَانْصُرِ المُجَاهِدِينَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ. وَاجْعَلْ كَلِمََتَكَ هِيَ العُلْيَا وَكَلِمَةَ الْكُفْرِ هِيَ السُّفْلَى. 

رَبَّنَا ءَاتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقَِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ. 

إِنَّ اللهَ يَامُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى، وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ، يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَّكَّرُونَ، وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ أَكْبَرُ وَاللهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ. وَقُومُواْ إِلَى صَلاتِكُمْ يَرْحَمُكُمُ اللهُ.