THE HONOUR AND VIRTUE OF KNOWLEDGE

THE HONOUR AND VIRTUE OF KNOWLEDGE

In a hadīth al-qudsī, Allah Ta‘ālā speaks to Dawud (alayhi’s salām): “Tell the seekers of knowledge to take a staff of iron and a pair of iron shoes; to acquire these shoes so that they may seek knowledge until their staff breaks and their shoes wear out and tear.”

Abu’l-Āliya (rahimahullāh) from the tābi‘īn remarked, “If we heard a hadīth in Basra that was narrated by a sahābī of Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam), we would not be content until we travelled to Madinah to hear the hadīth directly from the mouth of that sahābī.”

Abdullah ibn Abbās (radhiyallāhu anhumā) stated: “Many of the ahādīth of Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam) is learned from the people of that (a certain) district in Madinah. By Allah, if I were to visit one of them and was told that the person was sleeping, I would wait at their door until they awoke so that I could listen to the hadīth properly from them.”

Ibn Abbas (radhiyallāhu anhu) narrates: “Sulayman (alayhi’s salām) was given a choice between ilm (knowledge), wealth, and kingdom. He chose knowledge, and along with it, he was granted wealth and kingdom.”

The rank of ilm is more precious and virtuous than anything else. Along with knowledge, wealth and kingdom are also granted.

So, the honour of ilm is such exalted and seeking it is such great, valuable and virtuous.