MUSLIM VILLA - QURAN ONLY

BismEm


20:114   رَبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا

(https://i.imgur.com/yNySGb1.jpg )



Noble Quran, start of knowledge
To begin with, the Quran is itself an infinite sea of knowledge.  In the very first Divine Revelation of the Final Message, The Almighty speaks of knowledge; knowledge that comes to humans through the pen.

"Read: In the name of your Rab Who created,  created man from a clot.   Read:  And your Rab is the Most Bounteous, Who taught by the pen, taught man that which he knew not."  (96:1-5).

The Verse describes knowledge, that is, the embryo when it begins to grow in the fetus (start of human life in the womb months prior to birth).  This is learning (knowledge).  And then The Almighty mentions that He has given humans access to knowledge through the practice of studying and writing, that is, the process of gathering and gaining knowledge.   The word "pen" is symbolic of knowledge and its attainment.   Alhumdulilah. 

In Islam knowledge is imperative even before you begin the practice of worship so that you know the Creator, the One and Only, Whom you are worshiping.  Getting to know Allah Almighty with the humility we require as humans would enable us to obtain His guidance, a very important pre-condition for the right utilization of productive knowledge, by His Will.   It's only when you understand (and practice) that you are commanded to submit to Allah alone, that you actually become a Muslim (a submitter) in the actual sense of the term.    The first thirteen years of the Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) call was largely spent informing the people about Monotheism (Tawheed) and it's indispensable need, correcting their corrupted belief on polytheism, and plainly highlighting that worship MUST be of Him alone.   After learning the importance of Monotheism, comes studying and grasping the contents of the Glorious Final Message to be applied in our daily lives as a code of life, a code of conduct.   Henceforth, Quranic knowledge is indispensable for awareness of the permissible and the impermissible (Halal and Haram).  

“And say: My Lord, increase me in knowledge.” (Quran 20:114).   It's a lovely supplication Allah Almighty mentions for believers in the Noble Quran.   It would now be easier for you to comprehend the importance of this Verse.

Furthermore, instructions by The Almighty on the importance of knowledge is called to attention throughout the Noble Quran where He encourages people to ponder and reflect on the contents of His Final Message so we understand why Allah is calling us to faith, so that our belief in Him is based on facts not fictional traditional stories.   Read more on this facet with relevant Verses for referral in our post Investigation Before Belief. (http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=3501.0)  

Patience
Let us also not forget the quality of patience (taqwa) which can be viewed as a part and parcel of the field of knowledge.  We all know how often the Beautiful Quran reminds us to stay patient on the face of earthly trials and tribulations, be it practical or emotional.  People often downplay the aspect of patience as "easier said than done."   Frustrations and edginess like these prop up in challenging situations if one's iman is weak or none at all.   Try to avoid being as unfortunate as that.  Once you submit to the Quran with a contrite heart of a believer, you will be amazed at your own dexterity, your own inner strength, for the betterment of your soul with perfect clarity of the truth that you are living in a temporary world with ups and downs and the quality of your reaction (be it negative or positive) affects your book of accounts in the Real World, the Hereafter.   Patience or sabr often needs to be applied in the course of acquiring knowledge and wisdom because the course of obtaining knowledge is not necessarily a short one.  It can be longer than you may presume, in that, comprehensive knowledge cannot be acquired outright in a single day.  It may take time, different lengths of time for different people in their quest for constructive knowledge.  Tread the various paths of ilm and advance slowly with patience so you understand exactly what you study and learn.    Some aspects of knowledge would be easy to acquire and learn, some might be tougher.  Have patience.  If something confuses you, seek the values, principles and guidelines of the Noble Quran to know where to stop or how to interpret a difficult situation on the path of knowledge.   Discuss with people who follow the Quran as a Standalone Book.  Get their opinion.  But deduce with the Quran as your Sole Criterion.   If your iman is solid and firm, answers of your queries will come to you, one way or another, to your satisfaction.  Insh'Allah.
Importance of Taqwa (perseverance) (http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=4434.0)
What is 'Sabr' ? (http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=4859.0)  

Home Schooling
The process of home-schooling should preferably begin prior to starting school and continue until the children reach adulthood.   Undoubtedly this would require sacrifice and hard work from parents;  they will need to devote more time to their children, studying, discussing and talking the Noble Quran in a relaxed and perceptive atmosphere.  That requires focus on the Quran independently without the Hadith or any other outside source.  If both parents are working, it might be still harder to find time at home for the children.  Such parents will have to choose between a foundation of knowledge and wisdom for their children OR the enhancement of their money-making capacity.  In other words, a choice between altruism and materialism.    There can be no other way to resolve it. 

Discernment
Do not run after a smart educational institution dazzled by its prestigious name.   With the help of Quranic knowledge (which you need to acquire gradually since childhood), as a young adult, you would know the need to separate what is admirable in the Sight of Allah and what's admirable in the eyes of the world.  There's a big difference out there.  A prestigious institution isn't  necessarily the right place for receiving beneficial knowledge.  It can be a den for propaganda or hypocrisy etc. for disseminating their own agendas that would not help us to grow in wisdom, certainly not in the Sight of The Almighty.  Therefore, discernment is another crucial factor essential for pursuance of knowledge.  Be perceptive, be cognizant, and simply avoid negative tracks masquerading as "knowledge."   The world is full of detrimental concepts as well as beneficial ones.  Strive to achieve the latter, not the former.   Just too often, kids who've studied in low cost schools and colleges with scant funding turn out to be a lot, lot more farsighted, prudent and sagacious than the Oxonians  and Cal Bears. 

Thus, Allah says in Surah Al-Mujadilah:    “Allah will exalt those who believe among you, and those who have knowledge, to high ranks. Allah is Informed of what you do.”(58:11).  

The above Verse refers to positive and beneficial knowledge in those who have grasped the guidance of Allah.   Your Rab is not concerned with the elitist reputation of the educational institutions you attended.  He only takes into consideration your own penchant and search for TRUTH in order to understand HIM, and understand the purpose of your own life.

You may have heard of an Islamic proverb that says "Even if one has to travel from Arabia to China for obtaining knowledge, it's worth it."   This doesn't literally allude to traveling far and wide to attend costly schools and colleges while the rest of your family stays trapped in modest life or battles poverty.   The proverb simply underscores the importance of learning and knowledge, whatever you can afford and manage to acquire within your personal capacity. 

To Conclude  
Start reading the Noble Quran attentively with the help of parents.   Continue reading independently when you are older.    Understand the contents of the Quran as best as you can on whatever Allah Almighty has stated concerning His commandments, assertions, principles and guidelines.   Feel free to ask questions to help your mission on the path of knowledge.   Reject extra-Quranic contents that are not compatible or clash with the Quran.   Act on everything you learn in the Quran to enlighten your mind and elevate your character.  It's pointless preaching what you don't practice yourself.  If others consult you, teach them too.  Remember not to fall beyond the limits taught by Allah Almighty in His Noble Final Message.  Never forget to use your common sense.   Allah has given each one of us a degree of common sense and I am sure HE wants us to use it.  For example, if someone opines that the possession of knowledge is better than possessing a pile of gold, accept it for it is in conformity with Quranic values.  But if someone claims that the ink of a scholar is more precious than the blood of a martyr, reject this rude analogy as the Quran gives us no warrant to accept such ideas.  Knowledge is an indispensable possession for a Muslim.  Just remember to stay within His Limits by NOT picking contradictory contents which come from non-Quranic sources, spoken or drafted by humans.

Knowledge is Never Secular 
Deterioration of human mentality that's apparently unfathomable, often interprets 'knowledge'  (الم) as a thing "secular."   Strange minds typically separate Quranic contents from academic materials, classifying the two groups as religious and secular, respectively.   Those folks with minds inclined as such, are, in my opinion, the emperors and empresses in the world of handpicked idiots!!    Dear peeps, there is no such thing as "secular" knowledge.  Whatever one may consider 'secular' be it technology, mathematics, science, medicine, geography etc.etc., all of these spheres have Allah Almighty as their First and Topmost Architect Who designed every specific field of knowledge at the very beginning.  Thus, to be logical, Faith cannot be separated from knowledge nor from factual life nor from pragmatism.  An institution or an organization or a group visited by secularists questing for knowledge can only influence the atmosphere, making it "secular."  But the field of knowledge itself according to its inner nature is (and will always be) designed by The Almighty.   A submitter (Monotheistic believer) with a thirst for knowledge who already has a firm grasp on the path of Allah will not be influenced by a secular atmosphere.  They will  make use of true knowledge and disregard the secular human culture that may surround it.

"Do you (think that you could) inform Allah of anything in the heavens or on earth that He does not know?"  (10:18).

Subhan'Allah.   This Verse is mesmerizing!  

While man strives to develop technology from era to era, Allah had it ready light years earlier.  Let us at least have the sense not to limit the Limitless.  "Kun Faya Kun" or "Be and it is" .. a repeated reminder in the Noble Quran to convey the information of His creative power.  Nothing is impossible for Allah.   Everything that humankind may discover until the end of time would still be so little compared to everything they don’t know and will never know.  

One can never appreciate science to the fullest without knowledge of the Quran, and neither can one understand the Quran correctly without knowledge of science.   Isn't this what Albert Einstein meant when he said "science without religion is lame and religion without science is blind"?  Because the Author of the Quran is the Source of all Laws - practical, ethical, spiritual and empirical.  

All man-made religions (altered Christianity, altered Judaism, polytheism of various types) are notoriously incompatible with science, logic and just about all forms of meaningful knowledge and hence blind, to be brutally honest.  Precisely for this reason the followers of all non-Divine religions have separated their faith from practical life.  Only the pure and original Noble Quran stays intact until the Day of Judgement, the Greatest Book of Knowledge (spiritual as well as practical) that CANNOT be separated from life.  

Islamic History Intertwined with Knowledge
To support our post, let us take a brief look at some of the golden times of our history - the Islamic Renaissance.   It personifies the benefits of knowledge utilized by the medieval Muslim society (a lot more progressive than the modern Muslims), sparking the Islamic Renaissance and sowing the seeds (and beyond) of the European Renaissance that came hundreds of years later when education was viewed as "wizardry" by the appalling levels of ignorance within the bigoted Catholic Church controlling Europe for nearly 800 years and unleashing a widespread reign of terror.  The depth of intolerance of the Catholic Church, in particular its intolerance and dislike of knowledge, has been vividly covered in the documentary, Inquisition, better known as the Secret Files of the Inquisition. (http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=2140.msg6073#msg6073)  Scroll down for the videos, and the full movie in a single video is at the end.

Islamic Renaissance | Muslim scientists, doctors, academics of medieval Islamic world. (http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=4942.msg18376#msg18376)   A must view/read.   The locations of the earliest libraries in  history are in the Muslim world.  Mosques in the early days were also the centers of education.  There was hardly a mosque without a library.   To know some of the great intellectual minds among pious Muslims of medieval times, do please visit this link on Islamic Renaissance. 

Islamic knowledge and intellectualism began rising to its zenith from the era of the Abbasids.  Here's where you need to go to know the history of the amazing grand library, Bait-al-Hikma (House of Wisdom) in Baghdad (http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=4441.0) established by Haroon Rashid.  This was the largest library in the medieval world (probably even today) with thousands of rare books and manuscripts.   There were many other public and private libraries across Baghdad with many more collections of priceless books.  While public libraries were open to the common masses, private libraries were made accessible only to scholars and served as a venue for research and discussions.    From Baghdad spread the love and quest for knowledge into Syria, Egypt, Persia and An-Andalus (Muslim Spain).    Aleppo in Syria was one of the renowned citadels of knowledge with countless libraries adorned with many of the most unique books covering every field of knowledge.  One needs to mention tearfully, many of those libraries with loads of exceptional books have been destroyed by the proxy war in Syria initiated by the U.S., U.K. and E.U.  sponsoring the deviant takfiris of AlQaeda for the destruction of Syria and the breakup of the Axis of Resistance.   These wretched takfiris of modern times fed by Western colonialist powers are no different from the barbarian kufaar, the early Mongols, of the middle-ages. Both these heathen savages had, and have, an intense dislike for knowledge.  Just as the Mongol killer, Halagu Khan, destroyed Bait-al-Hikma and the gorgeous infrastructure of Baghdad, the AlQaeda murderers destroyed much of the precious books in Iraq and Syria. 

The capital of Islamic Spain, Cordoba, (also known as the Jewel of Europe)  was the cultural center for intellects and artists, a venue for get-togethers of scholarly minds that included scientists, mathematicians, writers, poets and musicians from all over Europe and the Middle-East.  The largest university in the region with over 4,000 students was attached to the Cordoba Mosque that also comprised of the Cordoba library with no less than 600,000 books!   All of these books were listed within a catalogue of nearly 50 volumes.  Altogether there were approximately between 75 to 80 libraries throughout Muslim Spain.  To know more of this unforgettable history, check our post Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain (Al-Andalus). (http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=1439.msg4107#msg4107)   Don't forget to watch the full documentary at the end of it.

The factual and very interesting history of knowledge in the Islamic world tells us that use of a pen automatically required paper for compiling and record-keeping of knowledge.  The rule of the Abbasids and the Muslims in Spain began more or less in the same period of history.  The offshoot of the Ommayad dynasty completed its conquests in Spain between 711 and 770 AD.  The Abbasids succeeded the Ommayads based in Damascus and established the Abbasid capital in Baghdad in 750 AD.  By this time the Muslims already had access to paper that enabled them to write and print thousands of books.   The rest of Europe had not yet acquired paper yet nor the concept of using it .. for quite a long time to come.   Though paper was initially invented in China between the first and second centuries, neither the Chinese nor the Europeans made any good use of it.  The Arab Muslim traders and merchants purchased loads of paper from China, and brought it home to different parts of the Middle-East and Al-Andalus for the purpose of compiling the large number of books that were frequently written and printed, year after year.  And that's how began the book culture.   


Related topics:

-  Science is a part of the Religion of Allah. (http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=4161.0)
-  Investigation Before Belief (http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=3501.0)
-  Scientists on the Glorious Quran (http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=1336.0)
-  Glorious Quran is about reason, not blind faith (http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=2850.0)
-  Acquisition of knowledge increases with Divine Guidance (http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=2976.0)
-  Professor Maurice Bucaille's investigation on Phoarah  Ramesses II (http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=1799.0)
-  NOBLE QURAN - Cornerstone of Science & Renaissance (http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=489.0)
-  Spice trade and the Islamic world (http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=4803.0)
-  Bait-al-Hikmah or House of Wisdom (http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=4441.0)

Salaam Sister.  Such an adorable topic.  SubhanAllah.   I really like the upfront and practical stance you have taken on writing this piece.  Indeed for a Muslim, knowledge or ilm (spiritual as well as practical) starts from the Quran. And then no matter what institutions you attend, the foundation of knowledge provided by the Quran stays in the heart and mind of a true submitter forever to help discerning true and positive knowledge with the use of patience.   So many points you mentioned ring a loud bell.  The issue about home schooling for instance.  I think the deteriorating mentality of many Muslim households could be reduced to less than half if only parents focused seriously on the feature of home schooling.  It does not mean not sending the children to school.  The idea is to provide a firm foundation with the help of Quranic principles, which will be enormously helpful for children as they grow to discern the suitable from the unsuitable in academic institutes.


 

I specifically liked your clarification of the sad misconception of this world presuming academic knowledge to be secular. Very correctly explained sister.  All knowledge is constructed (with different laws & rules) by Allah alone.  A lot of people who search for knowledge are the ones who may be secular.  Such folks strive for knowledge, yet they leave their mission incomplete by deviating and rejecting the truth when it comes to reflecting on the Source of every bit of knowledge they acquire.

Indeed Verse 10:18 is absolutely fascinating that occurred to me so many times.

All praise be to Allah The Greatest. 

Big thanks sister Heba.  That's the most rationally all-inclusive article I've read on this topic.    Allah bless.

Walaikum Salam dear Sister Zeynab, you're most welcome.  It's such a pleasure to contribute for MV.    Thank you for going the extra mile by further articulating matters.  That's exactly it.

MashAllah.  A very thorough and overarching piece. 

Our discussion group has started printing quarterly journals on Islamic issues.  I will present this write-up for publishing .... with your name of course. 


Alhumdulilah. 

Einstein emphatically highlighted this point.   Yet secularists, namely the hardcore secularists or atheists, feel offended and frightened.  Some argue he didn't say it, some try to manipulate it.


"Islamic History intertwined with knowledge" is another enthralling subject, absolutely awesome!  I love that movie so much, Al-Andalus.   Watched it a few years ago;  am enjoying watching it again.

MashAllah!   That sounds like a great development.   No problem brother, even if you don't put my name.  You can have it published in your name, I'm fine with that.  The vital point is to get the facts around.  Since this is an exclusively Quran based article, I doubt if other members will agree to publish it.



Yes, as kuffar those buggers feel scared.  They don't want to read or hear any one asserting the Truth of the Supreme existence of Allah, because they know they are all finished in the Hereafter.

Thank you so much sister.  But I would certainly like to mention the name of the actual author.   They will take Quran based writings without hadith references for publication.  There are altogether five or six Quran alone followers (including myself) in this group of about 30.   Everyone is contributing financially for the journal.  We, Quran alone followers' contributing share is quite large.  We made a deal with them that if they don't allow our Quran alone articles, we won't contribute.   Furthermore, the hadithists we have in our group (who are the majority as usual), fortunately aren't the fierce hardline salafist-type guys.  They do keep mingling hadith in their discussions and writings, but they are not as intolerant as the common lot.  Certainly more civilized than them.   Even when there's a debate, they're fairly respectful over our differences compared to those folks in traditional forums who quickly get distracted from the main topic and take little time resorting to name calling.  Fortunately it's not that way here otherwise I wouldn't be participating in their discussions.

Many, many thanks Sister.  Alhumdulilah, Allah accepted our prayers and the prayers of all our well-wishers.

SubhanAllah, SubhanAllah     :)   



InshAllah, of course Sister.  You folks are so young, Allah Willing, you and your husband will certainly see all three of your kids grow up into wonderfully civilized believing adults.  Ameen ya Rab.

Btw, spot-on that knowledge is never 'secular' as unthinking minds often claim.

Just for my info, what about domains such as literature, poetry, painting, singing and other similar fields of art?  Would it be right to say these fields are "secular?"   

No Sister, it wouldn't be right to label them as 'secular' in my opinion.   These aspects of learning can better be categorized as talents.  Basic talent of whichever field you pick, comes from Allah Almighty.  For instance some folks have a knack to write in a manner that's aspiring and eloquent, others can't.  Some have an inborn ability to write wonderful poems or paint fine pictures, other can't.  Some have an aptitude to sing nicely, others don't.   These are all primarily innate techniques or plainly put, gifts from Allah Almighty.  Those fortunate enough to have been given these gifts can work more to perfectionize their expertise, but only if they have been granted the fundamentals of every talent as a foundation.   Without that, just anyone cannot learn to become a skilled artist in any such fields.  Needless to say, that essential foundation (the gift) can only be granted by Allah alone.

    

Of course the point of keeping things within limits also arises here, a factor Sister Heba already highlighted in her original post.   

One needs to make sure that while making use of their talents they don't overstep their bounds and step on to immodesty or any sort of indecency.  For example if one is a good singer and is singing in a dignified manner a song with dignified (Halal) wordings, that's fine.  But many don't.   A lot many times someone may sing well, but the song is lewd and their bodily gestures are lewd. That means they're misusing their talents.  Undoubtedly, The Almighty would hate that.   So one needs to be careful keeping in mind the aspect of modesty, self-respect and limits.