Expertise in Islamic sciences is necessary to meet modern challenges

Seeking and acquiring Islamic knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim.  Outward and inward success depends on this alone.  Islamic knowledge is that priceless treasure that the more one acquires it, the thirst for it increases likewise.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) who is the fount of all kinds of knowledge and wisdom, in spite of being granted the knowledge of what has happened and what is to happen, supplicates for increase in knowledge: O Lord!  Increase my knowledge.  Surah Taha -114

 

These are the words of Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi, Professor, Islamic Law, Jamia Nizamia and Founder-Director Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center in the weekly lecture at Masjid Abul Hasanaat, which is held under the auspices of Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center.

 

The revered Mufti said that there is no treasure better than knowledge.  If there was any, we would have been ordered to acquire it.  Worldly wealth lessens with spending, but the treasure of knowledge increases with spending.

 

The importance and necessity of knowledge as per Islam can be well understood by the fact that the first divine revelation was about knowledge.  In the first 5 verses of Surah ‘Alaq “knowledge” has been mentioned 4 times.

 

The revered Mufti quoted a Hadith from Kanz Ul ‘Ummaal that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  You either become a scholar or someone who is acquiring knowledge or someone who listens to scholarly talk or someone who loves knowledge.  Don’t become the fifth, i.e. the ignorant, otherwise you will be destroyed.

 

The revered Mufti said that nowadays many objections are being raised on Islam from various quarters.  To meet the challenges to Islam head-on, expertise in religious sciences is a must.  Many people embraced Islam only seeing the stature of our elders, saints and scholars in knowledge.

 

A non-Muslim read a book by Imam Muhammad (May Allah shower His mercy on him).  When he read the rules and the subtleties described in the book, he embraced Islam saying that if a follower is of this stature, then what should be the stature of the Prophet himself.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had made special arrangements in Masjid Nabawi for the education of the Companions.

 

The revered Mufti quoted a Hadith from Sahih Bukhari that when Hadhrat Jabir (May Allah be well pleased with him), a great Companion of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), heard that another Companion in Syria has heard a Hadith directly from the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), he traveled for 1 month and acquired that Hadith from that Companion in Syria although that Hadith was known to him through a different chain of narration.

 

At the end of the session, the revered Mufti supplicated on behalf of the Muslims of Assam and other troubled areas that peace and harmony should return to those areas.

 

Maulana Hafidh Syed Ahmed Ghouri, Teacher, Jamia Nizamia, led the proceedings.