Importance

Question 1

What did Imam Ahmad رحمه الله say concerning needing knowledge in relation to food and drink? What is the distinction between?

Answer 1

الناس إلى العلم أحوج منهم إلى الطعام والشراب
Mankind is more in need of knowledge than food and drink
Whereas with food and drink which you need only twice a day, you need knowledge at all times

Question 2

What did Ali رضي الله عنه say regarding the virtue of knowledge compared with the degradation of ignorance?

Answer 2

كفى بالعلم شرفاً ان يدعيه من لا يحسنه، و يفرح به إذا نسب اليه، و كفى بالجهل ذمّا ان يتبرأ منه من هو في

It is enough of a virtue of knowledge; that it is claimed by the one who has not perfected it and they are pleased when they are attributed to it. It is enough of a degradation of ignorance; that the one who has it frees themselves from it.

Question 3

Poem attributed to Ali رضي الله عنه - saying all people r equal but what distinguishes them is what they perfect

Answer 3

الناس في جهة التمثيل أكفا٠٠٠ابمهم آدم و الأم حواء
نفس كنفس وارواح مشاكلة ٠٠٠ وأعظم خلقت فيهم و اعضاء
فان يكن لهم من اصلهم حسب ٠٠٠ يفاخرون به فالطين والماء
مالفضل إلا لأهل العلم أنهم ٠٠٠ على الهدى لمن استدى ادلاء
و قدر كل امرئ ما كان يحسنه ٠٠٠ و للرجال على الافعال أسماء

“At face value, all people seem equal
Their father is Adam and their mother is Hawa
Every soul resembling the other
with bones and organs in their bodies
If they have for them from their origin, virtue
Then they take pride, though they are (composed of ) earth and water
There is no virtue except for the people of knowledge, indeed they are
upon true guidance and guiding those who seek guidance
Every person’s worth is only in that which he perfects
and for men are names for that which they do.”

~Jami’ Al Bayaan Al ‘ilm

Question 4

Surah 2:ayah 31 in relation to poem attributed to Ali رضي الله عنه on verse about every person’s worth is in that which he perfects…

Answer 4

وَعَلَّمَ ءَادَمَ ٱلۡأَسۡمَاۤءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمۡ عَلَى ٱلۡمَلَـٰۤىِٕكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنۢبِـُٔونِی بِأَسۡمَاۤءِ هَـٰۤؤُلَاۤءِ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِینَ﴿ ٣١ ﴾

And He taught Adam the names - all of them. Then He showed them to the angels and said, Inform Me of the names of these, if you are truthful.

Al-Baqarah, Ayah 31

Question 5

What did Muhammad inn Shihab as-Zuhri رحمه لله say about masculine men and knowledge?

Answer 5

العلم ذكر يحبه ذكورة الرجال و بكرهه مؤنثوهم

• a man is different from a male
• If one claims to be masculine + that they possess mental + physical strength, then they must be eager + determined to learn

Question 6

Be from 4 and not from the 5th…

Answer 6

1- عالم scholar
2- متعالم student
3- مستمعا listener
4- محبا lover

5- a hater of people of knowledge, ridiculing them and showing animosity