Importance of Acquiring Knowledge in Islam Abul Kashem Chowdhury It is not appropriate to simply say that Islam put very much emphasis on acquiring knowledge. The appropriate speech is - Islam put the most emphasis on acquiring knowledge. The first message that came to Muhammad (SM) was not certainly about Iman, Salat, Sawm (fasting) or Hazz. It was about acquiring knowledge. Revelation of Al Quran began with the revelation of the following five Ayats all of which is about knowledge: “1. Read in the name of your Rabb who created you 2. He created human from a substance hanging* 3. Read, your Rabb is the most bountiful 4. Who taught with pen 5. Taught human being which they did not know.” (Surah Al Alaq: 1-5) A question rises. The question is why did Allah reveal the Ayats ordering to acquire knowledge as the first message leaving behind the topics like Iman, Salat, Sawom etc? If we think deeply we find the answer easily. It is not wise to believe (to have Iman) in something without acquiring proper knowledge about it. Most people choose the religion which they found their parents following. Such ignorant following leads to fanaticism and fanaticism leads to astray and darkness. If we have a close look into those who commit suicide blasts, we can perceive how destructive one’s activities might be if one has Iman without proper knowledge. Those kinds of people take pride in their works against humanity considering their actions as the duty of Iman. It is because they are misguided by some evil people. If they acquired proper knowledge, nobody could deviate them. To have pure Iman, one must acquire proper knowledge. That is exactly why Allah ordered mankind to acquire knowledge first before following any tenets or custom and tradition. Blind following leads to ignorance and ignorance leads to destruction. *The Arabic word ‘Alaq’ means both clot of blood and thing hanging. According to medical science, to accept the first meaning for the Ayat (human is created from the clot of blood) is not correct; medical science supports the 2nd meaning. So we can assume that by the word ‘Alaq’, Allah meant ‘thing hanging’. In the past, because of lack of proper knowledge of science people thought Allah meant ‘clot of blood’. That is why translation of the Ayat in almost every copy of Al Quran is found ‘clot of blood’. So to acquire proper knowledge is not optional in Islam. Every Muslim must acquire knowledge at least to the extent enough to distinguish between the right way of life and wrong way of life. Muhammad (SM) said “to acquire knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim”. Allah regards the knowledgeable one as the most honourable one. Rasul (sm) said: ‘the best amongst you is the one who acquire the knowledge of Al Quran oneself and teach others.’ (Bukhari) Once when Muhammad (sm) was asked about the status of two persons – one of whom is Abed (Ignorant Ibadat doer) and the other is Alim (Knowledgeable person).Rasul (sm) replied that status of Alim upon the Abed is the same as that of mine upon the inferior-most person among you. Then Rasul (sm) added that Allah Himself, angels, all that are between the heaven and earth even the ants from their holes and fishes keep on praying for the teachers of righteousness of mankind.(Tirmizi, Miskat-Hadith no-203) In another speech Rasul (sm) said that spending an hour of night in acquiring knowledge is better than remaining awake for whole of night in Ibadat. Rasul (sm) regarded the acquiring knowledge as the most prestigious righteous deed. He said that to Saitan a knowledgeable is more horrible than a thousand Abed (Ibadat doers).That is to say a thousand people being engaged in Namaz-Roza is not a matter of concern for Saitan. Because Saitan knows it very well that a knowledgeable person would disseminate the light of the truth across the world. But thousands of Ibadat doers cannot do more than self-purification. We know that the better the work is the more anxious Saitan is. So the deed which is the most horrible to Saitan is certainly the most dignified good deed i.e acquiring knowledge is the most esteemed job- no doubt. Allah Himself is the teacher of mankind as He said in Surah Al Alaq “He taught mankind with pen”. We almost everybody know the history of creation of Adam (A). All the angels had to bow head to Adam (A) to honour him. What was the special quality of Adam (A) which put him in a more venerable position than the all Angels? We know that Allah Himself, as a teacher of Adam (A), imparted him some knowledge. In the contest of knowledge with the Angels, Adam (A) passed with flying colours. Allah raised the status of knowledgeable one to acme by celebrating his win. One day Muhammad (sm) was passing by two groups of people. One of them was reciting different duas, remembering the exalts of Allah while the other was engaged in group study.Rasul (sm) said both of the groups are doing the good jobs. But the group which is engaged in study (acquiring knowledge) is better than the other. So saying he sat with this group and he added that I have been sent as a teacher. After all we can conclude that Islam put highest emphasis on acquiring knowledge. But sadly enough we do not deem it as a so great Ibadat. Let’s give priority to acquiring knowledge to other Ibadat while striving to be more beloved to the creator. May Allah help all of us to lead our life in the way prescribed by Him.