Assalamu’alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim
1. Introduction
Friends beloved by Allah,
Knowledge is nourishment for our souls and minds. Yet in this digital era, we often witness a stark disparity: not everyone has equal access to learning resources—whether books, a well-stocked library, or internet access and digital materials. In educational sociology, such limitations can break the chain of a golden generation. But Islam never lets its people surrender to circumstances. The best solution to this external obstacle is collaboration and sharing. When we provide learning tools or form study circles (majelis ilmu) at home or in the community, we are turning scarcity into shared blessing.
Allah Subḥānahu wa Ta‘ālā says about the beauty of helping one another in goodness:
وَتَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ
“And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and transgression.” (QS. Al-Mā’idah: 2)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ also affirmed that knowledge taught and benefited from together becomes an eternal investment:
إِذَا مَاتَ الْإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَنْهُ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثَةٍ: إِلَّا مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ، أَوْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ
“When a person dies, his deeds end except for three: ongoing charity, knowledge that is benefited from, or a righteous child who prays for him.” (HR. Muslim)
2. Lessons and Message
Let us reflect on a true story that often happens in remote parts of the country. Imagine a child who every afternoon stands by the roadside, holding an old gadget with a cracked screen, trying to catch a faint, flickering internet signal. He wants to download his school materials, but his data has run out and he has no textbooks. How heartbreaking it is to see the tears of a child longing to read, yet blocked by the wall of poverty. On the other hand, how beautiful it is when a neighbor opens his door, turns on his Wi-Fi, spreads out a mat, and says, “Come in, son. Study here with my children.” In an instant, that modest home transforms into a paradise of knowledge full of blessings. Friends, the analogy is like a single candle in the dark. If that candle only lights its own corner, its glow is limited and it will burn out alone. But if the lit candle shares its flame with the other unlit candles around it, the pitch-black room becomes brilliantly bright. Providing one book to be read together, or opening our home into a small study circle, will not diminish what we have. Rather, it is like lighting hundreds of candles of life that will illuminate the future of the ummah.
There is a story of a group of youths who pooled money to buy one expensive textbook because they had no library. Since there was only one book for the five of them, they made a unique rule. Monday was A’s turn, Tuesday B’s, and so on. The problem was, E got Friday night. When his teacher asked, “E, why isn’t your assignment done?” E replied with a straight face, “Sorry, Teacher, on Friday night I fell asleep hugging the book, so the knowledge only seeped into my shirt through my dream—it hasn’t reached my brain yet!” We smile at it, but look at the wisdom: limited resources actually gave birth to creativity, teamwork, and a sense of togetherness that selfish people with luxurious facilities will never find.
3. Conclusion and Closing
Brothers and sisters, the obstacle of lacking learning media and tools cannot stop the flow of knowledge as long as the spirit of mutual aid still lives in our hearts. The solution is in our hands: let us set aside a portion of our sustenance to provide learning resources, gather the unused books, and open our homes to form study groups or majelis ilmu in the community. Limited facilities, when used together with sincerity, will bring the limitless pleasure of Allah. Let us be part of the solution, not part of those who can only curse the circumstances.
والله أعلم بالصواب
الحمد لله رب العالمين
Wassalamu’alaikum Warahmaullahi Wabarakatuh.
ِAbu Sultan Al-Qadrie
