Assalamu’alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim

1. Introduction

Friends whom Allah has blessed, etymologically the word ‘ilm comes from the Arabic ‘alima, meaning “to know.” But in its deeper meaning and within Islamic epistemology, knowledge is not merely a pile of information or statistical data stored in the brain. In Islamic terms, knowledge is _ma‘rifah_—an unveiling of truth that produces certainty, removes doubt, and guides its possessor to the essence of creation.In Islam, true knowledge is always intertwined with nūr, the divine light. Knowledge that does not lead its possessor to ultimate truth and to the recognition of the Creator cannot be called complete knowledge. At best, it is mere conjecture or technical skill.

Allah ﷻ says:

إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ

“Only those who have knowledge among His servants fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Forgiving.” (QS. Fatir: 28)

The definition of knowledge in Islam is also inseparable from its benefit and its fruits in real life.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught us a standard supplication so we would not fall into a mistaken definition of knowledge—knowledge that becomes nothing more than a burden on memory:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لَا يَنْفَعُ، وَمِنْ قَلْبٍ لَا يَخْشَعُ، وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لَا تَشْبَعُ، وَمِنْ دَعْوَةٍ لَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهَا

“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit, from a heart that does not humble itself, from a soul that is never satisfied, and from a supplication that is not answered.” (HR. Muslim)

2. Lessons and Message

The main moral message of this definition is: the measure of successful learning is not how much we memorize, but how much fear of Allah we develop and how gentle we become toward others. If the higher our education goes, the more skilled we become at lying; or the more books we read, the more we belittle others, then in reality we are not yet “knowledgeable.” We only “know.”Let us recall the story of Imam Ash-Shafi‘i in his youth. He was known for his extraordinary memory, yet one day his memorization suddenly slowed and became scattered. With a sad and troubled heart, he complained to his teacher, Imam Waki‘. His teacher did not tell him to read harder. Instead, he told him to examine his heart. It turned out that Imam Ash-Shafi‘i had unintentionally caught sight of the ankle of a non-mahram woman in the market.This story is immortalized in his heart-wrenching verse:

“I complained to Waki‘ about the weakness of my memory, so he guided me to abandon sin. He told me that knowledge is light, and the light of Allah is not given to a sinner.”How sad it is when today we see knowledge pursued in the midst of sin and the loss of shame, so that it loses its blessing.The definition of knowledge in Islam is like the root of a tree buried deep in the soil. External information and theories are only like leaves and branches. A tree with lush leaves but weak roots will be toppled by a strong wind—just like a clever person whose faith easily shakes when tested.Knowledge in Islam must strike deep into the heart, nourish the soul, and naturally produce fruits in the form of righteous deeds, refined character, and calm for those who seek shelter beneath it.There is a story about a donkey fitted with a saddle loaded with the thick books of a great scholar. The donkey walked proudly through the village, feeling honored for carrying so much “knowledge.” Suddenly, in the middle of the road, there was green grass. The donkey immediately began devouring it, kicking at the people around it.The lesson: This mocks people who collect hundreds of degrees, read thousands of articles, or store hundreds of PDF books on their phones, yet whose behavior never becomes wiser. Remember, storing data does not automatically make you knowledgeable. Let us not become like the example mentioned in the Qur’an: “like a donkey carrying volumes of books” (QS. Al-Jumu‘ah: 5)—the burden is heavy, but the essence is not understood at all.

3. Conclusion and Closing

Friends, let us correct our understanding. Knowledge in Islam is not merely a commercial commodity for making a living or a stage for praise. Knowledge is an attribute of Allah entrusted to earth to guide humans back to Him in safety and dignity. Knowledge is awareness that ignites light in the heart and moves the hands to act righteously.May Allah purify our hearts from intellectual arrogance and guide us to attain true knowledge—knowledge that brings coolness to the world and salvation in the Hereafter.

والله أعلم بالصواب

الحمد لله رب العالمين

Wassalamu’alaikum Warahmaullahi Wabarakatuh.

ِAbu Sultan Al-Qadrie