The Path of Knowledge Which Leads To The Fire
And I swear by the Nafs Al Lowwaamah (Qur’aan 75:2)
How many times we read the Qur’aan yet we do not reflect and ponder over the meaning of the verses. In the Qur’aan Allah swears by the Nafs Al Lowwaamah but what is the Nafs Al Lowwaamah and what is its significance and connection to sincerity and intention? What is its role for the one seeking knowledge and how does it direct us to the path of paradise instead of the path to the Fire?
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, ‘He who treads the path of seeking knowledge, Allah makes the path to Jannah easy for him.’ (saheeh of muslim)
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, ‘He who does not acquire knowledge with the sole intention of seeking the pleasure of Allah but for worldly gain will not smell the fragrance of Jannah on the Day of Resurrection.’ (sunan of abu dawood)
The above Ahadeeth are frequently quoted in isolation. However Fiqh is derived when the two narrations are brought together. The earlier scholars carried both these ahadeeth in their hearts when seeking knowledge. If one only knows the hadeeth of Abu Hurairah recorded in the saheeh of muslim, one may develop zeal, love, and motivation for seeking knowledge but the intention for seeking knowledge might change with time. If both Ahadeeth of Abu Hurairah are carried in the heart then in addition to developing the love for seeking knowledge one remains extremely careful about the intention behind it, on a day to day, moment to moment basis.
Thus the path of seeking knowledge is a double edged sword for it can lead to Jannah or it can lead to Jahannam. If knowledge is sought seeking Allah’s pleasure and the home of the hereafter, then this is the road to Jannah. And if knowledge is sought seeking worldly gain, whatever it may be, then this is the road to Jahannam. A similar action with two separate paths and destinations, depending on nothing but intention!
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “The first of people against whom judgment will be pronounced on the Day of Resurrection will be a man who died a martyr. He will be brought and Allah will make known to him His favours and he will recognize them. He will say, ‘And what did you do with them?’ The man will say, ‘I fought for you until I died a martyr.’ He will say, ‘You have lied. You fought so that it might be said- he is courageous. And so it was said.’ Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Jahannam. Another will be a man who studied knowledge, taught it and who used to recite the Quran. He will be brought and Allah will make known to his His favours and he will recognize them. He will say, ‘And what did you do with them?’ He will say, ‘I studied knowledge, I taught it and I recited the Quran for Your sake.’ He will say, ‘You have lied. You studied knowledge so that it might be said- he is learned. And you recited the Quran that it might be said- he is a reciter. And so it was said.’ Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Jahannam. Another will be a man whom Allah had made rich and to whom He had given all kinds of wealth. He will be brought and Allah will make known to him His favours and he will recognize them. He will say, ‘And what did you do with them?’ He will say, ‘I left no path in which money was not spent for Your sake.’ He will say, ‘You have lied. You gave so that it might be said- he is open-handed. And so it was said.’ Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Jahannam. (saheeh of muslim)
From the above Hadeeth the importance of intention becomes clear. Everything we do depends on our intention whether seeking knowledge, giving charity, or anything else. Aside from following the Sunna in our acts of worship, what is important with Allah is our intention. If we seek knowledge or we seek to recite the Qur’aan then we should not seek anything except Allah’s pleasure. We do not seek wealth and riches nor do we seek to be called an Aalim or a Sheikh or a Professor.
In the above hadeeth Allah mentions how He will order a person to be dragged on his face and thrown into Jahannam on The Day of Resurrection. Yet this person who is being dragged and thrown into the blazing Fire was a Muslim who spent time seeking knowledge and learning the Qur’aan. The person may have spent many hours or an entire lifetime engaged in knowledge- reading, understanding, writing, memorising and teaching. Yet the end result was the home of the Fire. This is because the intention was incorrect, seeking knowledge for fame and worldly gain.
How does one seek knowledge yet end up in the Fire of Jahannam? One may seek knowledge with the intention of gaining wealth. In our time, there are so called students of knowledge who studied in reputable Islamic colleges and universities and then used the name of their university to make money. Some of them offer Islamic courses to the public with the aim of making money by carefully planning how many students and classes they need to make X amounts of dollars. They record lectures on tapes and CD’s and author small books with the view to making money. If they had guarded their intention and kept it pure for Allah then their worldly gains would have been truly profitable but their primary intention was to gain wealth itself.
In addition to seeking wealth there are students of knowledge who seek after fame and recognition. There are various ways they do this. They introduce or have themselves introduced as a Sheikh or Aalim when in fact they are not well grounded in knowledge. The intention is to attract the crowds and to build reputation and name. Some of them have been caught lying about who they actually studied under, pretending to be students of well known scholars when in fact they only attended a gathering or two.
Others promote themselves as Doctors or Professors, carrying academic degrees and placing academic titles in front of their name. Although some students and scholars have degrees and titles, their knowledge is not dependent on them, and their intention was to seek Allah’s pleasure and the home of the hereafter. In contrast there are those who have gained some knowledge through courses, colleges or universities but the knowledge does not enter or move their hearts. Instead their knowledge is purely academic, their arguments and research is academic, their speeches and writings are academic. Their intention for seeking knowledge is academic. Such people are misguided and ignorant and a plague upon us all as they draw in others and affect the minds of young Muslim men and women. True knowledge of Qur’aan and Sunna will never be academic and it does not benefit at all unless it is accompanied with understanding the ‘reality of the knowledge’ and ‘living the knowledge’ with a view to drawing closer to our Lord.
And say, ‘My Lord! Increase me in Knowledge.’ (Qur’aan 20:114)
We should also know that Knowledge does not come with study alone for it comes with study when Allah choses to bestow the knowledge. He is Al Wahhaab and He is The One Who bestows everything including knowledge. This further sheds light on the connection between developing Taqwa and gaining knowledge.
And I swear by the Nafs Al Lowwaamah (Qur’aan 75:2)
If there is one thing we could firmly tame, guard and control, then let it be the intention. Before enthusiastically embarking on the path of seeking knowledge let us ask ourselves ‘why are we seeking knowledge?’ Do we want to earn money through it? Do we want to be known as an Aalim or Sheikh? Do we want to be known as one who recites the Qur’aan beautifully? Do we want academic recognition and a title in front of our name? Keeping the intention in check is easy if we perform self reflection and ask ourselves questions. This is the Nafs Al Lowwaamah or the self reproaching soul which Allah mentions in the Qur’aan. It is the state of the believers’ soul wherein the soul interrogates itself asking 'why it said this' or 'why it did that.' It is the soul which keeps itself in check by the leave of Allah. If, through self reflection and interrogation, one finds oneself caught up in the evils of seeking knowledge for other than the pleasure of Allah, then one should pause from knowledge and immediately correct the intention. This may take some time and some vigorous self reflection.
When the hearts and souls are rest assured that knowledge is being sought to please Allah, then the seekers of knowledge should proceed along this noble path. Allah will assist them and will make the path to Jannah easy for them so long as they keep their intention and sincerity in check. Through knowledge Allah will allow them to know Him and to develop more Tawqa of Him. Through knowledge He will teach them how to worship Him and please Him. Through knowledge He will make known truth from falsehood. This is true knowledge which benefits and through it Allah increases us in Emaan, Taqwa, and Birr, guiding us along our way back home.
Written by Kamillah Khan
