Introduction

The human and the jinn are *Thaqalayn*, “two weights,” because of the load they carry of the *amanah* (trust), which is to believe in Allah alone, to obey Him, and to follow the Messenger. Allah says:

“إِنَّا عَرَضْنَا ٱلْأَمَانَةَ عَلَى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلْجِبَالِ فَأبَيْنَ أَن يَحْمِلْنَهَا وَأشْفَقْنَ مِنْهَا وَحَمَلَهَا ٱلْإِنْسَانُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ ظَلُومًا جَهُولًا”  ﴿سورة الأحزاب 33:72﴾

In order to fulfill this trust, humans were entrusted with knowledge because they have the ability to learn, express, process, improvise, create, and build on the knowledge given. However, knowledge must be followed by action; without an outlet for that knowledge, it may cause harm to oneself and others. Allah reminds us of this in the verse:

“وَلَا تَلْبِسُوا۟ ٱلْحَقَّ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُوا۟ ٱلْحَقَّ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ” ﴿سورة البقرة 2:42﴾

Human actions are divided into two parts: actions of the heart (such as belief in Allah and His attributes) and actions of the limbs (such as supplication, prayer, fasting, etc.). Allah says:

“وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱرْكَعُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلرَّٰكِعِينَ” ﴿سورة البقرة 2:43﴾

The Challenges

Tree of Knowledge: And from the fruits of knowledge are:

1. The more one’s knowledge of Allah is complete, the more his love for Allah will be complete.

   Reflection:  

   – The more knowledge the servant has of his Lord, the more complete his love and fear of Him. Allah says:

     “إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى ٱللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ٱلْعُلَمَٰٓؤُا۟” ﴿سورة فاطر 35:28﴾

   – Faith is imperative with regard to knowledge and action; without it, good deeds can never be complete. Allah states:

     “فَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنۢبِكَ” ﴿سورة محمد 47:19﴾

   – If one were to depend solely on knowledge and action without faith, then hypocrites would be able to enter Jannah. Allah warns:

     “إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَٰفِقِينَ يُخَٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَٰدِعُهُمْ ۖ وَإِذَا قَامُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ قَامُوا۟ كُسَالَىٰ” ﴿سورة النساء 4:142﴾

   – The completion of a servant is according to the two strengths of Knowledge and Love. Allah says:

     “وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلَّهِ” ﴿سورة البقرة 2:165﴾

   – The best knowledge is knowledge of Allah, and the highest love is love for Him.

Tree of Ignorance: And from its fruits are:

1. Knowledge that fills the heart and remains but no longer moves the heart and body, nor does it inspire action.

   “يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ” ﴿سورة الصف 61:2﴾

2. Knowledge that gives rise to arrogance and argumentativeness.

   “وَيُجَٰدِلُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱلْبَٰطِلِ لِيُدْحِضُوا۟ بِهِ ٱلْحَقَّ” ﴿سورة الكهف 18:56﴾

3. Loss of sincerity.

   Over time, one starts taking knowledge for granted, stops using it in the cause of Allah, and expects acknowledgment and position from people. Allah says:

   “مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتَهَا نُوَفِّ إِلَيْهِمْ أَعْمَٰلَهُمْ فِيهَا وَهُمْ فِيهَا لَا يُبْخَسُونَ” ﴿سورة هود 11:15﴾

Obstacles to Knowledge:

1. Looking at one’s own deeds.

   He becomes impressed with his deeds, as many opportunities opened for him on the path to knowledge, increasing his output. Allah cautions:

   “يَوْمَئِذٍ تُعْرَضُونَ لَا تَخْفَىٰ مِنكُمْ خَافِيَةٌ” ﴿سورة الحاقة 69:18﴾

2. Expecting compensation for it.

   “مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ثَوَابَ ٱلدُّنْيَا فَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ ثَوَابُ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْءَاخِرَةِ”  ﴿سورة النساء 4:134﴾

3. Contentment with his deeds.

   He becomes apathetic and satisfied with what he does, no longer seeking improvement. Allah says:

   “وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْتُونَ مَآ ءَاتَوا۟ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ وَجِلَةٌ أَنَّهُمْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ رَٰجِعُونَ” ﴿سورة المؤمنون 23:60﴾

Challenges (التحديات)

Knowledge Afflicted by Three Obstacles

Obstacles to Action are Three:

1. Belief in Allah and in His Oneness, love of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, righteous deeds, forbearance, dignity, generosity, excellence, humility, sharing good, advising Allah’s servants, mercy towards them, patience, gratitude, trust in Allah (Tawakkul), knowledge-based fear of Allah, enjoining truth, calling to Allah, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, being dutiful to parents, and maintaining family ties. Allah says:

   “وَتَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ” ﴿سورة المائدة 5:2﴾

2. Disbelief and arrogance, shirk and injustice, hatred and aggression, covetousness, miserliness, boastfulness, lying, hypocrisy, corruption on earth, calling to the path of Shaytan, beautifying the path of error and following desires, preferring temptations over acts of obedience, engaging in trivial conversations, excessive questioning, mistreating those near him, and severing family ties. Allah warns:

   “إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالًا فَخُورًا” ﴿سورة النساء 4:36﴾

   “فَهَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ إِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ أَن تُفْسِدُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَتُقَطِّعُوٓا۟ أَرْحَامَكُمْ” ﴿سورة محمد 47:22﴾

Categories:  

– Faith and Belief  

– Knowledge and Wisdom