Seeking knowledge and learning for life in Islam

Abu Amina Elias February 18, 2016

By Abu Amina Elias

In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
Islam teaches use to be life-long learners and to seek knowledge for as long as we
reside on earth. Not only is seeking knowledge a religious and moral obligation, it is
a continuous obligation.
Allah said:

Say: My Lord, increase me in knowledge.
Surat Ta Ha 20:114
The Prophet responded to this verse by seeking knowledge for the rest of his life and by
making this task an obligation for all Muslims.
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him,
said:

Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.

Source: Sunan Ibn Majah 224, Grade: Sahih
Ibn Utaybah, may Allah have mercy on him, said:


The Prophet continued to increase in knowledge until Allah the Exalted took his soul.
Source: Tafsir al-Quran al-Az iz m 20:114
If the Prophet himself sought knowledge until his death, then how much more are we in
need of learning?
The light of faith produces an insatiable quench for knowledge and understanding of the
divine revelation as well as the mysteries of nature. We ought to pursue spiritual
knowledge, especially what every Muslim needs to know in order to practice the religion
correctly, but we also need scientific knowledge that can benefit our community and
humanity at large. Classical scholars, such as Al-Ghazali, designated the natural
sciences, particularly medicine, to be a collective obligation (fard al-kifayya) upon the
Muslim community.
In contrast, the darkness of unbelief produces an insatiable quench for goods, money,
and temporary pleasures at the expense of the soul itself.
Abdullah ibn Masud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon
him, said:

The seekers of two concerns are never satisfied: the seeker of knowledge and the
seeker of the world.
Source: al-Mujam al-Kabir 10239, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

Moses asked his Lord: Who are the most knowledgeable of your servants? Allah
said: A scholar who is unsatisfied with his knowledge and adds the knowledge of
people to his own.
Source: Szahzihz Ibn Hzibban 6352, Grade: Hasan

For this reason, many Muslim scholars from the righteous predecessors (as-salaf assalih) were committed to seeking knowledge for as long as they could.
Malik ibn Anas, may Allah have mercy on him, said:


It is not befitting for anyone with knowledge to give up learning.
Source: Jami Bayan al-Ilm 423
Nuaim ibn Hammad reported: It was said to Ibn Al-Mubarak, For how long will you
seek knowledge? Ibn Al-Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

Until death, if Allah wills. Perhaps the words that will benefit me have not yet been
written.
Source: Jami Bayan al-Ilm 428
In fact, someone who considers himself without need of learning has become ignorant
regardless of how much he already knows. Every scholar must remain as a student or
else he is no longer a scholar.
Ibn Al-Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

A man will continue to have knowledge as long as he is seeking knowledge. If he
assumes that he has knowledge, then he has become ignorant.
Source: al-Mujalasah wa Jawahir 312
Ibn Abi Ghassan, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

You will have knowledge as long as you are a student. If
you consider yourself sufficient, then you will become ignorant.
Source: Jami Bayan al-Ilm 430
Saeed ibn Jubair, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

A man will continue to have knowledge as long as he is learning. If he forsakes

knowledge and assumes that he is sufficient and already has enough, then he will
become ignorant.
Source: al-Majmu Sharhz al-Muhadhab 1/56
Ibn Manadhir reported: I asked Abu Amr ibn Al-Ala, For how long is it appropriate for a
man to learn? Abu Amr, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

It is appropriate for him to learn his entire life.
And Sufyan ibn Uyainah was asked, Which people are most obliged to seek
knowledge? Sufyan, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

Those who have the most knowledge, for their mistakes are the most distasteful.
Source: Jami Bayan al-Ilm 429
Recognizing our constant need for more knowledge is an act of humility. In reality, the
proportion of someones wisdom is directly related to their proportion of humility.
Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:



There is no human being except that the wisdom of his mind is in the hands of an
angel. When he shows humility, the angel is ordered to increase his wisdom.
When he shows arrogance, the angel is ordered to decrease his wisdom.
Source: al-Mujam al-Kabir 12771, Grade: Hasan
Arrogance lulls us into the false sense that there is nothing that anyone else can teach
us. It tempts us to reject the truth when it damages our pride and our ego.
Ibn Rajab reported:

Some of the righteous predecessors said: Humility is that you accept the truth from
anyone who brings it, even if they are young. Whoever accepts the truth from whoever
brings it, whether they are young or old, whether he loves them or not, then he is

humble. Whoever refuses to accept the truth because he regards himself as too
reputable for it, then he is arrogantly proud.
Source: Jami al-Ulum wal-Hzikam 13
In sum, every Muslim has an obligation to seek spiritual knowledge in religion and the
community as a whole must seek scientific knowledge in beneficial disciplines. We
should have the attitude of a life-long learner, that we are always students even when
we are teachers, and that we must be humble enough to learn from anyone regardless
of their status.
Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.

REFERENCE: http://abuaminaelias.com/seeking-knowledge-and-learning-for-life-inislam/