This Type Of Knowledge Is Obligatory On Every Single Muslim

And we've reached the third part of the hadith, where the Imam speaks about knowledge. So the Imam now will give 'Anwan al-Basri three pieces of advice that relate to knowledge, and inshaAllah this will be our focus for tonight and tomorrow night. "Wa amma al-lawati fi 'l-'ilm" Imam as-Sadiq says: as for my advice to you, relating to knowledge. "Fa s'il al-ulama ma jahilt, wala wa iyyaka an tasa'lahum ta'annutan wa tajiriba."

The Imam says: seek knowledge, ask scholars about what you don't know. And do not ask them, beware of asking them, to test their knowledge. "Fa s'il al-ulama ma jahilt", ask scholars about what you don't know. Now, we as human beings, our knowledge is very limited. There are many things that we are ignorant of, but there is a certain type of ignorance that is inexcusable in the eyes of God.

For example, I don't have knowledge of chemistry. Am I liable before Allah, Subhana wa Ta'ala for that type of knowledge? Physics, mathematics, what type of knowledge? Is it a religious requirement for me to seek? An individual requirement? There is one type of ignorance that is inexcusable. There is a type of knowledge that is obligatory upon every individual Muslim to acquire.

Many of us are familiar with the famous hadith of the Prophet that is transmitted by both schools, by Sunnis and Shi'as. It is found it is a very famous hadith, an authentic hadith. Rasul Allah, salla Allahu alayhi wa alih, says: "Talabu al-'ilmi faridha, 'ala qulli Muslim." The Prophet says, seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim. Now, what does this mean?

The Prophet is not encouraging us to seek knowledge. He is not recommending us to seek knowledge. He is saying that seeking knowledge is what? It's a faridha. What type of knowledge - is it wajib? Because the Prophet is speaking about a type of knowledge that is obligatory on every single Muslim.

Is it wajib for every Muslim to gain knowledge about medicine? No. Gaining knowledge of medicine is wajib kifa'i. It is a communal obligation. Someone has to become a doctor for society to function. Knowledge of medicine is wajib kifa'i, it is a communal obligation. If someone fulfills that task, the obligation is lifted from the rest. So 'Ilm here is a reference to Islamic knowledge. It is an obligation upon each and every one of us to gain Islamic knowledge.

But what type of Islamic knowledge? When the Prophet says it is an obligation upon every Muslim to seek knowledge, it means that you have to know your legal duty in every area of your life that is relevant to you. And the way that we know our legal duty is we refer to specialists. Now, it is not wajib on each and every person to become a specialist in Islamic law. It is not an obligation upon you to become a theologian per sé, but it is obligatory upon you to know why you believe what you believe. This is an obligation.

So if you just attend a majlis every once in a while and you don't really have evidence for what you believe, you are exactly like the one who just doesn't pray, or who just doesn't fast. This is one of the obligations. This is the most important. We need to ask questions. When we don't know something, we should ask scholars, especially when it comes to issues of political activism.

You are running for public office. Have you consulted with a scholar as to what is your religious obligation now that you are working in an un-Islamic government? In a government that does not propagate Islamic values? Or is it just about adding another career to your resumé? You have to ask. You want to participate in some demonstration that is advocating for certain values and certain ideas that are antithetical to Islam. Are you permitted to attend these types of demonstrations? You have to ask.

So the Imam says to 'Anwan, ask questions.

Do you know, brothers and sisters, we have gained so many treasures from Ahl ul-Bayt because of questions. Du'a Kumayl do you know why we even have Du'a Kumayl? Because Kumayl Ibn Ziyad an-Nakha'i went to Imam As-Sadiq and asked him to teach him the Du'a of Khidhr.

Imam Amir al-Mu'minin, in passing, he mentioned a Du'a of Khidhr. Kumayl goes and asks. Abu Hamza ath-Thumali, Du'a Abu Hamza ath-Thumali, we received this Du'a from Imam As-Sajjad because Abu Hamza asked the Imam a question.

So Imam as-Sadiq says: Fa s'il al-ulama ma jahilt",ask scholars about what you don't know. Now, the question is, how can we recognize the characteristics of a scholar? Is it just we look for who is ever wearing an imamah? Let me tell you something: if you're judging scholarship by just a turban, I promise you, some of the most corrupt people you will meet wear turbans. It doesn't mean anything. It is just a piece of cloth.

It doesn't mean that someone who wears an imam is knowledgeable. Imam Amir al-Mu'minin, he gives us some of the characteristics that we should look for to determine if someone is a true scholar. Amir al-Mu'minin, he says, " 'ala ukhbirukum bi 'l-faqih, haqq al-faqih?" Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib, he says, do you want me to tell you who is the quintessential scholar? Who is a real scholar?

The Imam says: "lam yuqannit an-nas min Rahmati Allah." A true scholar is the one who does not make people lose hope in Allah's Mercy. There are some speakers, there are some who, when they speak, it is all doom and gloom. All of their lectures revolve around the horrible things that will happen to you in the grave, and in Barzakh. And by the way, let me share this other hadith about how big the flames are in Jahannam.

A true scholar is balanced. They do not speak in a way that makes people despair of the Mercy of Allah. And then the Imam says: "wa lam yuamminhum min adhabi Allah." Have you guys ever heard of a pastor? His name is Joel Osteen. He is a preacher. Many of you may have heard of him. He is a Christian preacher. If you listen to his sermons, he is very popular, because he speaks about only positive things: God's love and God's mercy and never give up hope. This is important.

But Imam As-Sadiq says there needs to be balance. A true scholar also does not embolden people to disobey God. He doesn't make them feel safe and secure from his punishment. Meaning he teaches them in a way that infuses both hope and fear in their hearts. "Wa lam yurakhkhis lahum fi ma'asi Allah." A true scholar doesn't permit people to disobey Allah. He doesn't try to find problematic loopholes for you. He makes you mindful of the boundaries of Allah.

"Wa lam yatruki al-Qur'ana raghbatan anhu ila ghayri." A true scholar is someone who is rooted in the Qur'an. It's amazing. Sometimes you listen to certain speakers, ten lectures. This story and I had a dream about this Imam. And let me tell you about this incident. Ten lectures, and there is not a single Ayah of the Qur'an that is mentioned.

Imam Amir al-Mu'minin he says: a true scholar is someone who always brings you back to the Qur'an. Everything revolves around the Qur'an.