What Are the Steps to Increase the Pursuit of Knowledge?
Answered by Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yakti
Question
What are the steps to increase the pursuit of knowledge as in the saying of Allah the Almighty: “And say, ‘My Lord! increase me in knowledge.’” [Quran, 20:114] ?
Answer
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon the Master of the Messengers, his family, and all his companions.
This great verse was revealed in the context of directing the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to listen to Gabriel during the revelation of the Quran, and to ease himself from the fear of forgetting it. It was also about not presenting it to the companions before its clarification and understanding of its meanings. Then, he was guided to seek an increase in knowledge from what Allah the Almighty had taught him.
To achieve an increase in the pursuit of knowledge, it is essential to follow these steps: sincerity in intention for Allah, setting a clear goal, adopting an appropriate and comprehensive scientific approach along with implementing it, wisely choosing knowledgeable and devout scholars, and learning from them, organizing time and priorities, along with continuous follow-up and review. And Allah knows best.
Firstly, we must discuss the importance of seeking knowledge in Islam, the methods of acquiring it, its status, the merit of knowledgeable and honest scholars, and the religious texts concerning this are too numerous to count. However, I will mention one Hadith that encompasses many of these meanings.
Narrated by Abu Darda, may Allah be pleased with him, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allah will cause him to travel on one of the roads of Paradise. The angels will lower their wings in their great pleasure with one who seeks knowledge, the inhabitants of the heavens and the Earth and the fish in the deep waters will ask forgiveness for the learned man. The superiority of the learned man over the devout is like that of the moon, on the night when it is full, over the rest of the stars. The learned are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets leave neither dinar nor dirham, leaving only knowledge, and he who takes it takes an abundant portion.” [Abu Dawud; Tirmidhi, and others]
Secondly, it is essential to understand the noble verse and the context in which it appears. Allah (Most High) says:
“Exalted is Allah, the True King! Do not rush to recite (a revelation of) the Quran (O Prophet) before it is (properly) conveyed to you, and pray, ‘My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.’”[Quran, 20:114]
This (My Lord! Increase me in knowledge) was preceded by: “Do not rush to recite (a revelation of) the Quran (O Prophet) before it is (properly) conveyed to you” This is a directive from Allah, exalted be His praise, to His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), advising him not to hurry with the Quran, either in reciting it to his companions or reading it to them, before the revelation of its meanings is complete. Then, He guided him to seek further knowledge and understanding.
Thus, He instructed him: “And say, ‘My Lord! Increase me in knowledge,’” meaning: Say, O Muhammad, “My Lord, increase me in knowledge beyond what You have already taught me.” [Tabari, Tafsir al-Tabari]
Ibn Kathir
Ibn Kathir says: “His saying: ‘Do not rush to recite (a revelation of) the Quran (O Prophet) before it is (properly) conveyed to you’ is similar to His saying in Surat al-Qiyama: ‘Do not rush your tongue trying to memorize (a revelation of) the Quran. It is certainly upon Us to (make you) memorize and recite it.’ [Quran, 75:16-19] And it is established in a sound narration from Ibn ‘Abbas; that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to exert himself during the revelation intensely, and part of this was moving his tongue. So, Allah revealed this verse to him.” [Bukhari]
Meaning: when Gabriel brought the revelation to him, peace and blessings be upon him, he would repeat each verse along with Gabriel, out of his eagerness to memorize the Quran. Then Allah the Almighty guided him to what was easier and lighter for him, so as not to burden him. He said: “Do not rush your tongue trying to memorize (a revelation of) the Quran. It is certainly upon Us to (make you) memorize and recite it.”
And He said in this verse: ‘Do not rush to recite (a revelation of) the Quran (O Prophet) before it is (properly) conveyed to you,’ meaning: rather listen, and when the angel finishes reciting it to you, then recite it afterward, “‘And pray, ‘My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.’” meaning: increase me in knowledge from You.
Ibn Uyayna, may Allah have mercy on him, said: And he (peace and blessings be upon him) was continuously increasing in knowledge until Allah the Almighty took him (passed away).
Therefore, it is mentioned in the Hadith: “Indeed, Allah continued revelation upon His Messenger until the revelation was most frequent on the day the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away.” [Ibid.]
And from Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say: “O Allah, benefit me with what You have taught me and teach me what will benefit me, and increase me in knowledge, and all praise is due to Allah in all circumstances.” [Ibn Majah; Tirmidhi] [Ibn kathir.Tafsir ibn Kathir]
Learning and Teaching
And now, after explaining the meaning of this verse and the context in which it was revealed, we will mention the most important steps in seeking knowledge and increasing it.
Here, it is crucial to emphasize an important matter, which is: that our youth today must not be devoid of one of these two paths: either learning or teaching. Otherwise, they will live in a state of intellectual loss, blind following, wasting energies, capabilities, and time, and engaging in trivial matters that do not benefit, and perhaps even in doubts or forbidden things, God forbid.
Therefore, as narrated by our master Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The world is cursed, cursed is what is in it, except for the remembrance of Allah and what relates to it, or a scholar or a student.” [Tirmidhi; Ibn Majah]
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud, may Allah be pleased with him, used to say: “Be a scholar or a student, and do not be indecisive in between that.” [Tahawi, Sharh Mushkil al-Athar]
Sayyiduna Hasan, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “Be a scholar, or a learner, or a listener, and do not be the fourth, lest you be destroyed.” [Ibn Abd al-Barr, Jami‘ Bayan]
Narrated by Abu Bakra, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Be a scholar, or a learner, or a listener, or a lover (of knowledge), and do not be the fifth, lest you be destroyed.” The fifth, in which destruction lies, is the enmity towards scholars, or hatred towards them, and some said the innovator. [Ibid.]
- Defining the intention and motive for seeking knowledge. It should be for the sake of Allah. As narrated by Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever learns knowledge that should be sought for the sake of Allah – the Mighty and Majestic – only to obtain some of the worldly things, will not smell the fragrance of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection.” [Abu Dawud; Ibn Majah; Ahmad]
- Defining the purpose and goal, one strives to achieve, which is calling and conveying on behalf of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). As Ibn Mas‘ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saying: “May Allah brighten a man who hears something from us and conveys it as he heard it, for perhaps the one who is informed understands it better than the one who hears it.” [Tirmidhi; Ibn Majah; Ahmad, and others]
- Choosing devout scholars and trusted, specialized, certified scholars who are linked in a continuous chain to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
- Adopting a comprehensive scientific method along with practicing it. This includes (the knowledge of the hearts, limbs, and soul) which are: Iman, Islam, and Ihsan, along with practicing them as much as possible, as in the Hadith of Gabriel, peace be upon him.
- Determining traditional or technological methods and means of acquiring knowledge. Therefore, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever follows a path in search of knowledge,” he did not specify a particular means, and this is one of his miracles (peace and blessings be upon him) to include all methods and means in his time and in all times that follow, as appropriate.
- Organizing time according to the state of availability for seeking knowledge.
- Relying on methods of follow-up, review, and perseverance with scholars, family, or others, especially with companions in the path of knowledge, and more, and Allah knows best.
It is incumbent upon us to adopt this approach, based on learning and teaching, in guiding our youth. By doing so, knowledge will spread, increase, and be passed down, as it is the legacy of the prophets.
Umar ibn ‘Abd al-Aziz, may Allah have mercy on him, said in his letter to Abu Bakr ibn Hazm:
“Look for what there is of the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah – peace and blessings be upon him – and write it down, for I fear the loss of knowledge and the passing of scholars. Only the Hadith of the Prophet – peace be upon him – should be accepted. Let knowledge be disseminated, and let them sit so that those who do not know may learn, for knowledge does not perish until it becomes a secret.” [Jazari, Jami‘ al-Usul]
