Is The One Who Knows Equal To Those Who Don't Know?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The early generations of Muslims were avid learners and they too had desire for knowledge and they would travel to distant lands to seek even a single Prophetic hadith. Imagine if they were like most of us non seekers or small time or part-time seekers of knowledge, our generation would be worse off- we wouldn't have the guidance we need.

A man came to Abu Darda' while he was in Damascus. Abu Darda' asked him "What has brought you here, my brother?" He replied, "A hadith which you relate from the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. Abu Darda' asked, "Have you come for some worldly need?" He replied, "No." "Have you come for business?" He said, "No." "You have come only to seek this hadith?" He said, "Yes."

Abu Darda' then said,

I heard the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wassallam say: 'Whoever travels a path seeking sacred knowledge, Allah will place him on a path leading to Paradise. The angels lower their wings for the student of sacred knowledge, pleased with what he is doing. The creatures in the heavens and earth seek forgiveness for the student of sacred knowledge, even the fish in the water. The superiority of the religious scholar over the devout worshiper is like the superiority of the full moon over the other heavenly bodies. The religious scholars are the heirs of the Prophets. The Prophets leave no money as a bequest, rather they leave knowledge. Whoever seizes it has taken a bountiful share. [Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawood, at-Tirmidhi, ibn Majah]

How many of us didn't mind at all the trouble of trying to gain admission into the best schools of arts and sciences even the ones far away from our hometowns, even abroad, and spent years of studying, spent lots of money and countless sleepless nights to acquire the highest academic degree. But many of us don't put the same effort and money, in fact not even a small fraction of this effort and money to acquire sacred knowledge. Unfortunately, even when it comes to attending short religious classes, lessons or gatherings locally or taking online courses in the comfort of one's own home, even free ones, we hear so many excuses for not doing so.

We can't do this. We can't put learning this religion in the back burner. We can't shy away from learning Arabic and Qur'an. We can't postpone learning until we have accomplished all things in life. You can't wait until you have a degree, or a job, or a spouse, or a child, or after your child goes to college, or until you see all grey on your head. Time flies. The basket is always full. If you are not busy with Qur'an, you will be busy doing weddings or going to weddings.

We have to find time to learn His religion now, and learn it properly, because if you don't learn it, you won't be able to worship your Creator the way He wants you to. One example unfortunately, is in prayers- if you go to the masjid, you will find the same people praying, young and old, with the same mistakes or making wudu' with the same mistakes. It is clear that they didn't learn properly how to pray. Don't be one of them.

Allah Most High says,

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَٱلدَّوَآبِّ وَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ كَذَٰلِكَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى ٱللَّـهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ٱلْعُلَمَـٰٓؤُا۟ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ ﴿٢٨

... Even so only those of His servants fear Allah who have knowledge; surely Allah is All-mighty, All-forgiving. [Qur'an, Fatir 35:28]

The one who knows is not equal to those who don't know.

Allah Most High says,

أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَـٰنِتٌ ءَانَآءَ ٱلَّيْلِ سَاجِدًا وَقَآئِمًا يَحْذَرُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُوا۟ رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِۦ ۗ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ﴿٩

Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding. (Qur'an Az-Zumar 39:9)

In Surah AleImran, Allah began attestation first by Himself, then by His angels and then by the learned. It is understood from this that the rank of the learned and their honor is tremendous with Allah.

شَهِدَ ٱللَّـهُ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمِ قَآئِمًۢا بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ﴿١٨

Allah witnesses that there is no deity except Him, and [so do] the angels and those of knowledge - [that He is] maintaining [creation] in justice. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise. (Qur'an, AleImran 3:18)

May Allah increase us in beneficial knowledge. Ameen.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

Wassalaam