MUHAMMAD ASHIQUL HOQUE - ST10025010 - DHD101 ASSIGNMENT SPRING 2016

Islamic Online University

Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies
Dawah & Duaat 101
Full Name: MUHAMMAD ASHIQUL HOQUE

Question: One of the principles upon which a successful Dawa is based is

the presence of authentic knowledge based on the Quran and the Sunnah. In
1200 write an essay explaining the attitude the companions had and their
sacrifices in their pursuit to attain knowledge.
Answer:
Introduction
Indeed, I testify that, all praises be to Almighty Allah
and Muhammad
is His Messenger. I also seek protection in Allah from satan the accursed.
Islam is according to Quran and Sunnah provided with guidance for all ages, places
and people.

There are many incidents in the life-history of the companions. But, I would like to
present the juice that I can make out of those stories with my heart. Here in this very
short essay in a very short time, Ill try to express my way of looking at this topic
which may be different from others.
Dawah and Knowledge
For those who have understood the three basic principles 2 of our religious
responsibilities, the relationship between Dawah and Knowledge should be as
clear as water:
1. Know
2. Practice what we know
3. Call people towards what we know
Know, know and know. Knowledge comes before speech and action 3. We must have
what we want to give. And if there is scope of argument, refusal, denial, conflict etc.
then knowledge has to be built on solid grounds. Otherwise, not only our invitation will
fail, even we ourselves may be weakened and deviated.
The Companions attitude towards knowledge
1 http://sunnah.com/muslim/15/159
2 https://abdurrahman.org/2014/01/31/fundamentalsofislam/ - Muhammad bin 'Abdil-Wahhaab
3 http://islam1.org/khutub/Priority_of_Knowledge_O_Action.htm - Priority of Seeking Knowledge to Actions & Deeds

MUHAMMAD ASHIQUL HOQUE - ST10025010 - DHD101 ASSIGNMENT SPRING 2016

I shall focus on the point which, for me, matters the most and is the game-changing
fact which makes the greatest difference 4 between us and them5. And by
companions here I mean the historically documented 6 people around Rasulullah
and not the layman.
They were what Allah
wanted them to be as the cream of the ummah 7 built
on the direct teachings of Rasulullah
. Their struggle can be compared to
8
the notion Train hard, fight easy meaning the quality of actions will be according to
the quality of knowledge. I believe true knowledge comes from Allah which is indeed
inseparable from faith and actions9.
10

They were living examples of the teachings of Islam. So, to understand how they
were, we have to know all the texts of Quran and Sunnah implicating importance of
knowledge, scholarship, learning, teaching, calling and practicing etc.
Their attitude in pursuit of knowledge could be seen in some of their characteristics
while learning deen with Rasulullah
:
The first and foremost: Intention, Sincerity

4 http://islamqa.info/en/83121 - The virtue of the Sahaabah

5 https://islamqa.info/en/3374 - The contrast between the deeds of the Sahaabah and the deeds of the people at the end of
timehttp://www.islamicweb.com/beliefs/cults/integrity_companions.htm - Integrity of the Prophet's Companions

6 http://www.islamicweb.com/history/sahaba/ - Biographies of the Companions (Sahaabah)

7 http://www.darulihsan.com/index.php/downloads/articles/item/6210-the-sahaba-ra-inheritors-of-the-noble-quran-and-sunnah Inheritors of the Noble Quran and Sunnah

8 http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-military-slogan-train-hard-fight-easy-is-more-than-just-rhetoric-asthe-latest-deaths-show-8713746.html
9 http://www.islamweb.net/en/article/134445/the-islamic-concept-of-faith - The Islamic concept of faith
10 http://sunnah.com/bukhari/3/21

MUHAMMAD ASHIQUL HOQUE - ST10025010 - DHD101 ASSIGNMENT SPRING 2016

The mind is where everything starts and what we think and how we think matters all
through our actions11. A wrong mindset can result spoiling our huge amount of
apparent good deeds. And indeed the purest of intentions and sincerity belong to the
generation of companions12. Even if we do the same deeds looks similar to what they
did, it wont be same. What they did was with more sincerity and in a more difficult
circumstance which truly deserves more reward.
The correct path ordained by Quran and Sunnah
In the matters of worship what, why, when and how all matter 13. There are
consequences if we are tampering with any of these. Muslims may express their
intention to follow the Quran and Sunnah but reality is severe in a jungle of
misguidance14. Giving up the polluted understanding is a matter of great blessing.
Intention to obey is one thing but obedience in reality is another. Having vip tickets to
jannah didnt change their attitude towards continuous carefulness (Taqwa). They did
not try to modify deen to suit their lifestyle; rather they changed themselves to a
great extent to keep-up with the teachings of Islam 15.

Hadith of the Five Commands

The following hadith may not seem relevant but it does ring bell in my mind as all
prophets are teachers and their followers are students:
16

The relevance of this hadith is vital for followers of the prophet therefore seekers of
knowledge:

11 https://abdurrahman.org/2014/09/30/sincerity-in-seeking-knowledge-shaykh-muhammad-baazmool/ - Sincerity in seeking

knowledge is a condition that is continuous and not just preliminary

12 http://islamqa.info/en/83121 - The virtue of the Sahaabah

13 https://islamqa.info/en/174660 - Sunnah and Bidah
14 http://www.islam.org.hk/hy/signsofthelastday/the_rejection_of_the_true_religion.html - The Rejection of the True
Religion
15 https://abdurrahman.org/2014/09/30/the-effect-of-the-knowledge-guidance-the-messenger-of-allaah-came-withshaykh-rabee/ - The Effect of the Knowledge & Guidance the Messenger of Allaah came with
16 http://sunnah.com/urn/630960

MUHAMMAD ASHIQUL HOQUE - ST10025010 - DHD101 ASSIGNMENT SPRING 2016

1.

Listening: the companions were very good listeners all the qualities of a good
listener which is one of the two primary ways (seeing and listening) of
learning.17

2.

Obeying: which I have already discussed earlier is my key point.

3.

Hijrah: generally when its about earning knowledge its more about travelling 18
than migration. But, the companions did both. Many of them moved mountains
just to be near Rasulullah
for the rest of their lives.19

4.

Jamaah: earning knowledge generally isnt possible without the jamaah and the
leader meaning a group/class under a teacher giving natural scope of
discussion, revision, cooperation, consultation, correction, collaboration, teamspirit. Jamaah enables us to witness more questions and answers and more
incidents, problems, solutions etc. are many privileges which arent accessible
otherwise.

Some of the class-room etiquettes they possessed20:

1. Smart questions: being able to ask intelligent questions minimizing and
avoiding possible confusions or misunderstandings.
2. Revising Knowledge: revision was part of the regular meal done by collaboration
or by teaching new comers. This greatly helped them refresh, correct and
solidify their memory.
3. Avoid questioning about the unclear matters and hidden meanings i.e. to show
off one's cleverness, to provoke doubt, etc. and not trying to make the religion
more complicated by asking excessive or unnecessary questions.
4. Avoid finding or digging into matters avoided by Allah and His Rasul
. They were patient and self-motivated that there is a proper time and situation
for things. Allah knows best what He wants the Muslims to know and learn. So
isnt it better to keep on track with the syllabus and accept whatever is included
or excluded from it. And Allah
being the creator and all-knowing has
a plan for everything.
5. Waiting for the right time/situation/condition to ask a question. Not disturbing a
class or a lecture or a meeting.
6. Utilizing mind and benefiting from questions of other people. The whole time
they were near Rasulullah
, they were alert of all the happenings
and took lessons.

17 http://the-finalrevelation.blogspot.my/2012/12/manners-ofthe-sahabas-while-learning-islam.html - Manners of the Sahaba While

Learning Islam

18 http://ilmfeed.com/11-reasons-why-muslims-should-travel/ - 11 Reasons why muslims should travel

19 http://www.irfi.org/articles/articles_451_500/significance_of_the_hijrah.htm - The Significance of the Hijrah
20 http://the-finalrevelation.blogspot.my/2012/12/manners-ofthe-sahabas-while-learning-islam.html - Manners of the Sahaba While
Learning Islam

MUHAMMAD ASHIQUL HOQUE - ST10025010 - DHD101 ASSIGNMENT SPRING 2016

Their Struggle for Knowledge

How many examples can be accommodated in this paper ? The stories of Ashab-asSuffah could be a book and remarkably there is Abu Bakr (r), Umar ibn al-khattab (r),
Usman bin Affan (r), Ali ibn Abi Talib (r), 21 Abu Hurayrah (r)22, Abdullah ibn Abbas (r)23,
Abdullah ibn Masud (r)24, Muadh ibn Jabal (r) 25 and many others. Several among the
mothers26 of the believers had remarkable role in learning and teaching. Was there
any companion around Rasulullah
who didnt struggle to learn the Quran
and the sayings of the Rasul ? The answer is: None.
Salman-al-Farsi was in search of truth. But, if we ponder we may realize that in Islam,
Truth and Knowledge are almost like two sides of a coin. Whatever comes from God is
The Truth and that seek that as knowledge. If Salman-al-Farsi was only finding the
correct path he could feel satisfied embracing religion of Isa (a). But, he remained with
the priests, one after another, to learn and serve and therefore came to know about
the latest updates on the last prophet.
If seeking knowledge would vary from the search of truth 27, then, I myself would
continue being an asharee and keep increasing my hanafi knowledge.
Sacrifices28 were integrated in their normal lifestyle i.e. in their obedience, patience
and migration. Having their own lives, families, businesses to take care; they still
continued to struggle spending their precious times in the company of the teacher
and then teaching others.

21 https://islamqa.info/en/34577 - Who is better and more knowledgeable

22 http://www.newmuslims.com/lessons/268/ - The Companions of Prophet Muhammad: Abu Hurayrah
23 http://sohabih.blogspot.my/2015/03/thirst-for-knowledge-abdullah-ibn-abas.html - Thirst for Knowledge - Abdullah ibn Abbas
24 http://hadithoftheday.com/abdullah-ibn-masud/ - Abdullah ibn Masud (RA)
25 http://hadithoftheday.com/muadh-ibn-jabal/ - Muadh Ibn Jabal (RA)

26 http://idealmuslimah.com/38-islamic-sciences/knowledge/2852-obligation-of-seeking-knowledge-for-women.html - Obligation
of Seeking Knowledge for Womenhttp://www.islam21c.com/islamic-thought/8511-the-role-of-women-in-preserving-islamicscholarship/ - The Role of Women in Preserving Islamic Scholarship

27 http://en.islamtoday.net/artshow-421-4475.htm - Seeking Knowledge for Its Own Sake

28 http://islamqa.info/en/83121 - The virtue of the Sahaabah

MUHAMMAD ASHIQUL HOQUE - ST10025010 - DHD101 ASSIGNMENT SPRING 2016

Weird Knowledge & Strange People

What a single sentence could do to them wont happen to us even with several books
or even a PhD degree on that subject. Such weird knowledge doesnt come from
books or degrees, but is the result of a combination of knowledge, faith and actions
and comes with understanding way deeper than ours, with super insight and
farsightedness. Such knowledge makes people kind of stupid 29 i.e. very old man
going out for battle, drinking the urine of camel, leaving newly married beautiful wife
in the greed of martyrdom, donating every single dime for Allahs sake, giving half of
all wealth and own wife for migrant brothers, dying soldiers passing on water to other
dying soldiers moments before death, saying shahadah at the face of swords, loving
to die more than all the wealth in this world etc. are just a few instances.
Change is what we need but sadly it doesnt happen to us. Their pious knowledge
changed them from illiterate beduins to elite super human ghurabas most beloved
to Allah.30

Conclusion
Good performance as a student and teacher in our modern education system doesnt
ensure anything. Moreover it adds a reason for Allah to punish the seeker of
knowledge with faulty intention or serious lack of practice.
Ture Knowledge which is a blessing of Allah is inseparable from faith, intention and
action and always comes in a package. Every Daai must sincerly act upon his own
dawah. And thus his deeds will be accepted in terms of Allah. The benefit, guidance
and utilization of knowledge31 is the goal. May Allah bless us.

32

29 An irony to indicate the stupidity of the people of modern times for whom such acts are insane/crazy/irrational.
30 https://abdurrahman.org/2014/09/30/the-effect-of-the-knowledge-guidance-the-messenger-of-allaah-came-with-shaykh-rabee/ The Effect of the Knowledge & Guidance the Messenger of Allaah came with

31 https://abdurrahman.org/2014/09/30/the-signs-of-beneficial-and-non-beneficial-knowledge-ibn-rajab/ - The Signs of Beneficial

and Non-Beneficial Knowledge

32 http://sunnah.com/urn/1309770 & http://sunnah.com/urn/1302580 - both narrated by Ibn Majah

MUHAMMAD ASHIQUL HOQUE - ST10025010 - DHD101 ASSIGNMENT SPRING 2016

BIBLIOGRAPHY
https://abdurrahman.org/2014/01/31/fundamentalsofislam/ - Muhammad bin 'Abdil-Wahhaab
http://islam1.org/khutub/Priority_of_Knowledge_O_Action.htm - Priority of Seeking Knowledge to Actions & Deeds
http://islamqa.info/en/83121 - The virtue of the Sahaabah
https://islamqa.info/en/3374 - The contrast between the deeds of the Sahaabah and the deeds of the people at the end of time
http://www.islamicweb.com/beliefs/cults/integrity_companions.htm - Integrity of the Prophet's Companions
http://www.islamicweb.com/history/sahaba/ - Biographies of the Companions (Sahaabah)
http://www.darulihsan.com/index.php/downloads/articles/item/6210-the-sahaba-ra-inheritors-of-the-noble-quran-and-sunnah Inheritors of the Noble Quran and Sunnah
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-military-slogan-train-hard-fight-easy-is-more-than-just-rhetoric-as-the-latestdeaths-show-8713746.html
http://www.islamweb.net/en/article/134445/the-islamic-concept-of-faith - The Islamic concept of faith
https://abdurrahman.org/2014/09/30/sincerity-in-seeking-knowledge-shaykh-muhammad-baazmool/ - Sincerity in seeking
knowledge is a condition that is continuous and not just preliminary
https://islamqa.info/en/174660 - Sunnah and Bidah
http://www.islam.org.hk/hy/signsofthelastday/the_rejection_of_the_true_religion.html - The Rejection of the True Religion
https://abdurrahman.org/2014/09/30/the-effect-of-the-knowledge-guidance-the-messenger-of-allaah-came-with-shaykh-rabee/ - The
Effect of the Knowledge & Guidance the Messenger of Allaah came with
http://the-finalrevelation.blogspot.my/2012/12/manners-ofthe-sahabas-while-learning-islam.html - Manners of the Sahaba While
Learning Islam
http://ilmfeed.com/11-reasons-why-muslims-should-travel/ - 11 Reasons why muslims should travel
http://www.irfi.org/articles/articles_451_500/significance_of_the_hijrah.htm - The Significance of the Hijrah
https://islamqa.info/en/34577 - Who is better and more knowledgeable
http://www.newmuslims.com/lessons/268/ - The Companions of Prophet Muhammad: Abu Hurayrah
http://sohabih.blogspot.my/2015/03/thirst-for-knowledge-abdullah-ibn-abas.html - Thirst for Knowledge - Abdullah ibn Abas RA
http://hadithoftheday.com/abdullah-ibn-masud/ - Abdullah ibn Masud (RA)
http://hadithoftheday.com/muadh-ibn-jabal/ - Muadh Ibn Jabal (RA)
http://idealmuslimah.com/38-islamic-sciences/knowledge/2852-obligation-of-seeking-knowledge-for-women.html - Obligation of
Seeking Knowledge for Women
http://www.islam21c.com/islamic-thought/8511-the-role-of-women-in-preserving-islamic-scholarship/ - The Role of Women in
Preserving Islamic Scholarship
http://en.islamtoday.net/artshow-421-4475.htm - Seeking Knowledge for Its Own Sake
https://abdurrahman.org/2014/09/30/the-effect-of-the-knowledge-guidance-the-messenger-of-allaah-came-with-shaykh-rabee/ - The
Effect of the Knowledge & Guidance the Messenger of Allaah came with
https://abdurrahman.org/2014/09/30/the-signs-of-beneficial-and-non-beneficial-knowledge-ibn-rajab/ - The Signs of Beneficial and
Non-Beneficial Knowledge
http://sunnah.com