1-The Importance of knowledge
The search for knowledge is one of the most central concerns to
Islam. The value of each human being is determined by the degree of his knowledge. The Qur'an asks: "Are they equal those whoknow and those who know not?" The answer is self evident. That is why that Rumi says: "Oh my brother you are nothing but knowledge / other than this you will be only bones and flesh"(9,vol.2,277).
Hence, as the Prophet (s) said: "The search for knowledge is
incumbent upon every Muslim." Knowledge is so important that God, counting and reminding His graces and favors, the first thing that mentions is knowledge and He Introduces Himself as "Giver of the knowledge". He Says: "The all merciful. He taught (and gave the knowledge of) the Qur'an." After that He Says, "He created human being."(55:1-3). It means that Knowledge is more important than the creation of human being. In another verse God says: "I created Jinn and mankind only to Worship me"(51:56). Many commentators such as Ibn Abbas have reported from the Prophet (s) that the meaning of "to worship me" is "to know me". So, knowledge is the goal of the creation of mankind. And this goal has no an end and is not limited,
such that the most Knowledgeable of all human beings, the Prophet (s), has been commanded to pray: "My Lord increase me in knowledge"(20:114). That is why, in contrast to many Sufis who emphasize love more than knowledge, Ibn Arabi emphasizes knowledge. He says:
God never commanded His Prophet to seek of anything except knowledge, since all good lies therein. It is the greatest charismatic gift. Idleness with knowledge is better than ignorance with good works. Knowledge is a divine attribute of all encompassingness, so it is the most excellent bounty of God. Hence God said (in the story of Moses and Khizr): "[Then they found one of our servants, whom we had given mercy from us], and whom we had taught knowledge from Us", that is, as a mercy from Us. So knowledge derives from the mine of mercy (4,vol.2:370).