Assalamu’alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim
1. Introduction
Friends beloved by Allah, let us calm our hearts for a moment, step away from the noise of the world, and water our souls with wisdom. Spiritually and intellectually, knowledge in Islam was sent down as a means to cultivate _khashyah_—awe, submission, and devotion to Allah Subḥānahu wa Ta‘ālā. The main purpose of seeking knowledge is so that we know how to worship and act correctly, not so that we gain a “scepter of power” to belittle other servants of Allah.
Allah Subḥānahu wa Ta‘ālā describes the purpose of knowledge beautifully:
إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ
“Only those of His servants who have knowledge fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Almighty, Oft-Forgiving.” (QS. Fāṭir: 28) When the intention of learning shifts into a contest to display strength or seek worldly status in the eyes of people, that knowledge loses its blessing.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ reminded us to always purify our intention in seeking knowledge :
مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ عِلْمًا مِمَّا يُبْتَغَى بِهِ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَا يَتَعَلَّمُهُ إِلَّا لِيُصِيبَ بِهِ عَرَضًا مِنَ الدُّنْيَا لَمْ يَجِدْ عَرْفَ الْجَنَّةِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
“Whoever learns knowledge that should be sought for the sake of Allah ‘Azza wa Jalla, but only learns it to gain worldly benefit, will not smell the fragrance of Paradise on the Day of Judgment.” (HR. Abū Dāwūd, Ibn Mājah, Al-Ḥākim)
2. Lessons and Message
Friends, let us picture a logical analogy. A person who seeks knowledge only to display power and arrogance is like someone entrusted with the key to a rice warehouse during a famine. That key should be used to open the warehouse door and distribute rice so people can cook and survive. But because of a desire to show off power, he stands in front of the warehouse door, waving the key arrogantly and shouting, “Look, I’m the only one who has this key! You’re all helpless without me!” How absurd is that? The key is paraded around, but not a single person gets fed. That’s how it is with someone who collects knowledge only to appear powerful—their knowledge becomes an ego display, while their own soul and those around them starve for righteous deeds. We see this “display of power” through knowledge often today. Someone returns from a management training or finishes one thick book, and the next day turns into a “fierce foreman” at home or at work.
Every corner of the house is inspected using the latest theory. The wife’s cooking is criticized for being inefficient, the child’s play is called unproductive, even folding clothes has to follow international standard operating procedures (SOP). Everyone at home ends up stressed. This is called “learning knowledge not to make life easier, but to colonize the household.” Remember, knowledge was sent down to first correct our own actions, not to audit other people’s mistakes from morning till night!
Let us lower our heads and bring our hearts to a touching true story from the past. There was a student of a great scholar who was extremely intelligent. In the study circle, he was always the fastest to memorize and the most eloquent in speech. Gradually, people’s praise made him intoxicated. He began studying not to practice his knowledge, but so he could argue, defeat his friends’ arguments, and display his authority before the teacher. Until one day, the teacher called him privately to a quiet room. The teacher didn’t scold him. Instead, he looked at the intelligent student with tear-filled eyes, full of deep sorrow. The teacher said in a trembling voice, “O my child… it breaks my heart to see you these past months. Every time you speak, I no longer see the light shining on your face. You memorize hundreds of hadith about mercy, but you use them to stab your brother’s heart in debate. You know the theory of khushū‘, but your prostration has become rushed because you’re in a hurry to be praised by people. I cry, not because you’re not smart, but because I fear that the knowledge I taught you will become a bridge that takes you into the Fire…” Hearing his teacher’s sincere words, all of the student’s arrogance collapsed. He wept uncontrollably on his teacher’s lap, realizing that all along he had traded the purity of knowledge for a stage of illusory power that nearly killed his heart.
3. Conclusion & Closing
Brothers and sisters, the highest moral lesson for us today is this: The ultimate goal of learning is the formation of noble character and the increase of righteous deeds—not an increase in the list of people we belittle. Let us realign our intention. Every time we gain new knowledge, ask yourself immediately: “What action can I do with this knowledge?” instead of “Who can I defeat with this knowledge?” Make your knowledge a lantern that illuminates your path of submission to Allah, not a whip to dominate others. May Allah Subḥānahu wa Ta‘ālā keep us far from useless knowledge, and grant us hearts that always long to act sincerely.
والله أعلم بالصواب
الحمد لله رب العالمين
Wassalamu’alaikum Warahmaullahi Wabarakatuh.
ِAbu Sultan Al-Qadrie
