Being a Student of Knowledge:

Looking at Some Fallacies”

______

If Allah wants good (khayr) for a person then He undoubtedly grants him deep
knowledge of the Religion (tafaqquh). Also, a person who sets out to seek sacred
knowledge, Allah will lay a clear path to paradise for him.[1] The hadiths on
knowledge and its virtues are many and the responsibilities too are many. However,
a few attitudes adopted by students of Islamic knowledge have set in that need
correcting because the arguments put forward, are at the core, un-islamic.  Some of
these arguments and basic responses are given below:

[1] Argument

P1. ‘I’m studying Islamic knowledge.

______

C1. Therefore, I don’t have to do da`wa.’

Response:

Da`wa is an individual obligation ordained by Allah as much as one is able (i.e.

according to his capacity).[2]

Studying does not excuse a person from da`wa – it is not an either or situation.
Both must be combined although no doubt some basic knowledge is required and is
essential to make da`wa effective and even possible.

One cannot pick and choose or prioritise da`wa based on one’s own preferences and
convenience but the texts (Qur’an and hadith) must be examined to ascertain how
obligations are prioritised or scaled.

Not all Islamic knowledge is mandatory to learn but da`wa is an individual

obligation according to ability.

Dangers:

Leads to inactivity.

Leads to negligence of Allah’s religion.

Leads to evil overcoming Good.

Leads to the Truth being mute over falsehood.

[2] Argument

P2. ‘I’m studying Islamic knowledge.

______

C2. Therefore, I don’t have time for politics.’

Response:

Responses given in argument [1].

Islam and politics are not separated in as much as any other aspect of the
religion, including its devotional (`ibadat) aspects. There is no secularism in
Islam.

It is a serious failing to lack concern for the affairs of the Muslims.[3] A Muslim
is bonded to his brothers and sisters by virtue of his creed and that brings with
it duties and responsibilities, e.g. to support, protect, help, assist, be loyal
and honour his fellow Muslim to mention but a few.

It is difficult to see how one can argue he is exempted from being concerned with
the way Muslim affairs are administered and looked after (that is what ‘politics’
[siyasa] is) just because a person is studying. This kind of attitude creates
silence over evils and wrongdoings (munkarat) and breeds inaction against it.
Neither of which is permitted.

Allah’s punishment extends to a people who see injustice and evil and disregard it
or do not attempt to stop it – the generality of the text includes the student of
Islamic knowledge.[4] Thus, on account of either deliberately ignoring injustice or
abandoning any recourse to changing it, Allah will send His punishment. Thus either
of these actions would be unlawful.

Dangers:

Leads to a secular mind-set.

Leads to disloyalty against Muslims.

Leads to spread of corruption.

Leads to lack of change of the situation as well as inactivity.

Leads to Allah’s punishment.

[3] Argument

P3. ‘I’m studying Islamic knowledge.

______

C3. Therefore, I don’t have to command right and forbid wrong.’

Response:

Responses given in argument [1 & 2].

Commanding right and forbidding wrong (al-amr bi’l-ma`ruf wa’l-nahy `an al-munkar)
is one of the most important obligations in Islam. It was the work of the Prophets
and then those who followed them and is the defining quality of the Muslim ummah.
[5]

Studying is not a reason to abandon the duty of trying to change

the munkarat (‘evils’, ‘wrongs’) but more of a reason to understand its need and
importance.

There is no evidence to show how one is excused from the duty of commanding right
and forbidding wrong just because one is studying.

Dangers:
Leads to abandoning an obligation.

Leads to negligence of Allah’s religion.

Leads to evil overcoming Good.

Leads to the Truth being mute over falsehood.

Leads to sin.

We ask Allah to save us from our own ignorance.

s.z.c.

[1] For a discussion on the virtues of seeking sacred knowledge, see “The Virtues
of Seeking Knowledge” at https://daralnicosia.wordpress.com/2011/05/02/the-virtues-
in-seeking-knowledge/ 

[2] Allah states in Q.41:33: {And who is better in speech than he who [says: ‘My
Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness),’ and then stands firm (acts upon His
orders), and] invites (all people) to Allah’s (religion), and does righteous deeds
and says: ‘I am one of the Muslims}. The Prophet (saw) commanded: “Convey from me
even if it is (only) one ayah.” Bukhari, Sahih (#3461):

‫بلغوا عني ولو آية‬

[3] Although the following narrations have weaknesses, their meaning is sound:

[1] “Whoever does not care about the Muslims is not one of them.” See al-
Tabarani’s al-Mu`jam al-Awsat, 1:29. al-Haythami graded it weak (da`if) in al-
Majma` al-Zawa’id, 10:433.

 ‫يهتَمَّ بأمر المسلمين فليس منهم‬

‫ّـ‬ ‫من لم‬

[2] “The one whose main concern is this world has nothing to do with Allah, and
whoever does not have taqwa (fear, consciousness, awareness) of Allah has nothing
to do with Allah and whoever does not care about the Muslims is not one of
them.” See al-Hakim, al-Mustadrak, 4:352. al-Hafiz al-`Iraqi graded it weak (da`if)
in his takhrij (sourcing) of Imam al-Ghazali’s Ihya’ `Ulum al-Din, 2:180.

‫ ومن لم يهتم للمسلمين عامة‬،‫ ومن لم يتق الله فليس من الله في شيء‬،‫من أصبح والدنيا أكبر همه فليس من الله في شيء‬
‫فليس منهم‬

See also “Not bothered about the Affairs of the Muslims”

at https://daralnicosia.wordpress.com/2012/05/05/not-bothered-about-the-affairs-of-
the-muslim/

[4] Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (ra) narrates: “O people, you recite this verse: {O you who
believe! Take care of your own selves. If you follow the [right] guidance [and
enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong] no hurt can come to you from those
who are in error} (Q.5:105). But I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say: ‘If the
people see an evildoer and do not take him by the hand [to put a stop to his evil],
soon Allah will punish all of them’…”

ْ ‫عل َيْك ُْم أَنْفُ َسك ُْم ال ي َ ُض ّـُُّرك ُْم َم ْن َض ّـ ََّل ِإذَا‬
‫وإني سمعت رسول‬ { ‫اهتَ َديْتُ ْم‬ َ ‫آمنُوا‬ َ ‫يَا أَُي ّـُّ َها اَل ّـَِّذ‬ } ‫يا أيها الناس إنكم تقرءون هذه اآلية‬
َ ‫ين‬
‫ ” إن رأى الناس الظالم فلم يأخذوا على يديه أوشك أن يعمهم الله بعقاب منه‬: ‫الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول‬ “
See Abu Dawud (#4338) and Tirmidhi (#2168) in their Sunans.

[5] For details, see “Imam al-Haddad: Commanding Right and Forbidding Wrong”
at https://daralnicosia.wordpress.com/2011/05/02/imam-al-haddad_commanding-right-
and-forbidding-wrong/ 

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