Tradition

"أَشَدُّ النّاسِ عَذَاباً فِى الْقِيامَةِ عَالِمٌ لَمْ يَعْمَلْ بِعِلْمِهِ وَ لَمْ يَنْفَعْهُ عِلْمُهُ"

The Prophet (S) is narrated to have said: “He who knows something and does not act upon it and benefit from his knowledge will be punished more severely than others on the Day of Judgment.”1

Brief Commentary

From Islam’s perspective, knowledge is a tool used primarily for action. Through actively utilizing knowledge, we can improve our own lives and the lives of those around us. Without this important element, knowledge will be of no use to us. Those who lack knowledge have a lesser amount of culpability than those who know but still choose to act improperly. When someone knows and acts contrary to their knowledge, this is a heavy responsibility for which they will be asked about on the Day of Judgement. Everyone is responsible to the same degree as the level of their knowledge. The one who has more knowledge is duty-bound to apply this greater amount, while the one who has less knowledge is duty-bound to apply this lesser amount.

• 1. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 2, p. 38.