بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
:الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله، وبعد
AlHamdu lillah, all praises are due to Almighty Allah (SWT /سبحانه وتعالى ), and may His peace and blessings be upon our noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW / صلى الله عليه وسلم).
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ * عَلَّمَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ* خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ * عَلَّمَهُ ٱلۡبَيَانَ
The Most Merciful. Taught the Qur'an, Created man, [And] taught him/her to comprehend.
(Quran 55:1-4)
In ayahs 2 and 4 above, Allah, the Most Wise and All Knowing, repeated the word (علّم) “He taught”, and presented it before (and after) His statement (خلق) “He created”. This sequence and repetition reflects the importance of knowledge, and of the onus on us to seek it constantly, no matter where it is found (“like the lost property of a believer”) or when to seek it (“from the cradle to the grave”), as indicated by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family, and upon his companions).
Do you want (for yourself and your family) the following benefits [Note that the Arabic words below in parentheses are the actual words from the Quran and Hadith]:
Get to know Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (SAW) better and establish a firm bond with the teachings of Islam (أولوا الألباب)?
Better comprehend the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah, and fully implement Islamic values in your daily lives (الفقه في الدين)?
Fulfill your personal obligation (فريضة) and engage in the best of voluntary deeds (أفضل القربات)?
Appreciate the purpose of our existence, give life and light to our hearts and become a strong and enlightened community (على بصيرة)?
Be among those who are truly in awe and reverence to Allah (يخشى الله)?
Be close to Allah and honored (فضل العالم) and raised to high levels in this world and the hereafter (يرفعهم درجات)?
Stand in the shoes of all the Prophets of Allah and continue their mission (ورثة الأنبياء)?
Be blessed with an abundance of Goodness (من يرد الله به خيراً) in this world and the next?
Follow an easy path to Paradise (طريق إلى الجنة)?
Be constantly protected by the Angels (إن الملائكة لتضع أجنحتها)?
Have all of Allah’s creation make duaa for you and seek forgiveness for your sins (يستغفر له), and that includes all the fish in the oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, etc. (حتى الحيتان في الماء)?
Obey the very first command of Allah (SWT) to read, understand and proclaim (اقرأ)?
You can have all the above rewards (as mentioned by Allah and His Prophet (SAW)) and more, by taking your quest for knowledge to a higher level. And by being better informed about the teachings of Islam, you become a better individual and we can become the model community that we should be. At the same time, the quality of your submission and belief will take you closer to Allah Almighty through a better understanding of the deen (Islam).
والعلمُ يدخُل قلبَ كلِّ موفَّقٍ من غير بوَّابٍ ولا ٱستئذانِ
ويردُّه المحروم من خِذلانه لا تُشْقنا اللَّهمَّ بالحرمانِ
Knowledge enters the heart of every successful one,
without being stopped by a guard or needing permission.
While the bereft repels it due to his or her failure.
O Allah! Make us not wretched by denying us (true knowledge)!
We have at our disposal at the masjid (and elsewhere) many programs, discussions, khatirahs (reflections and reminders), duroos (lessons), Halaqahs (study circles) and Sunday School, in addition to the daily Salahs and Jumu’ah Khutbahs (sermons). These have been established for your benefit and upliftment (and at absolutely no charge to you either). We cater to all ages and levels, some even in fact for new and non Muslims, and we are assisted, in some cases, by knowledgeable volunteers. There is a wide range of subject areas, available throughout the week and at different times of the day, to facilitate your participation, in sha Allah.
The Companion Abdullah ibn Abbas (RAA/May Allah be pleased with him), the ‘ocean of knowledge’ and the ‘ink’ of the Muslims, is reported to have said: “You have to seek out knowledge, it doesn't just come to you” ( العلم يؤتى ولا يأتي ). Knowledge is so venerated in Islam that Sayyidna Ali ibn Abi Talib (RAA) is quoted as saying:
كفى بالعلم شرفاً أنه يدعيه من لا يحسنه ويفرح إذا نسب إليه من ليس من أهله، وكفى بالجهل خمولاً أنه يتبرأ منه من هو فيه ويغضب إذا نسب إليه.
It is enough of a virtue of knowledge that it is claimed by the one who is not qualified for it, and are pleased when they are attributed to it. And it is enough degradation of ignorance that one who has knowledge disassociates from it, and is angry when it is attributed to them.
And also:
ما الفضل إلا لأهل العلــــم إنهم على الهدى لمن استهدى أدلاء
There is no virtue except for the people of knowledge, for they are
Upon true guidance, guiding those who seek guidance.
Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal (RA) said, pointing out the necessity of knowledge in the life of every person:
الناس إلى العلم أحوج منهم إلى الطعام والشراب، لأن الرجل يحتاج إلى الطعام والشراب في اليوم مرة أو مرتين، وحاجته إلى العلم بعدد أنفاسه.
People are more in need of knowledge than of food and drink. Because a person needs to eat and drink once or twice a day, but his/her need for knowledge is with every breath.
Families, sisters, and kids and the youth in particular, are urged to join in the blessed gatherings in the various masajid and musallas. You are all personally invited by Allah Almighty to His House, so please accept His invitation - He will reward you abundantly and it will help you in your daily and weekly challenges and struggles, in sha Allah.
سُبۡحَـٰنَكَ لَا عِلۡمَ لَنَآ إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمۡتَنَآۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ
[We say humbly, as the angels said:] "Glory be to You Allah, we have no knowledge except what you have taught us. You are truly the All-Knowing, All-Wise." (2:32)
May Allah bless us and shower His Grace upon us. We seek His guidance and His pleasure. Ameen.
وجزاكم الله خيراً. والسلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته.
[I want to express my gratitude and appreciation to the one who helped me in writing this article. May your noble effort be added to the record of your good deeds.]