Allah, All-mighty, created man in the fairest and best stature, bestowed honor upon him, subjected the whole universe for him, endowed him with an intelligent mind, deposited desires in him, made good things lawful and bad things unlawful for him, and favored him with a free will. All of this is meant to enable man to know his Lord, serve Him and gain happiness by serving Him in the present world and the hereafter. To this effect, the Holy Book goes, “I have not created jinn and mankind except to serve Me. “ [LI; 56].

Therefore, no human being will ever have access to safety and happiness, the two permanent quests of mankind at all times, unless his daily movement in his mundane life falls in well with the real purpose for which he has been created. Therefore, spotting the right goal and moving towards it are considered to be the two main provisos for the achievement of man’s permanent quest for happiness and safety.

Should man fail to spot the real purpose for which he has been created, should he fancy for himself a target other than that which has been set for him, or should his daily movement deviate from the right goal, anxiety, confusion, aberrance, wretchedness and a great everlasting loss will certainly be awaiting him. To this purport, Allah, All-high, says, “Say, ‘Shall we tell you who will be the greatest losers in their works? Those whose striving goes astray in the present life, while they think that they are working good deeds’”. [XVIII; 103-104].

Beyond a shadow of doubt, man’s movement in this present life is governed by conceptions he forms of target and equipment. Such conceptions are considered to be right only if they stem from “scientific knowledge”, which can be defined as “a definite relation between things, which is constant, conforms to reality, and based on definite conclusive evidence”. If such a relation is not decisively true, it turns to be one of three types of uncertainty: surmise, doubt or delusion.

If knowledge does not conform to reality, it is mere ignorance. If it lacks definite conclusive evidence, it becomes blind imitation. Allah, All-high, says. “They follow only surmise, and surmise avails naught against truth.” [LIII; 28].

Man’s daily movements and activities can never be rightly guided towards the proper target for which he has been created unless they are based on conceptions derived from definitive knowledge that abrogates all kinds of uncertainty or blind imitation.

The relationship between man’s obedience to Allah and the fruits whereof is a scientific relation [i.e., that of cause and effect].Similarly is disobedience interrelated with its evil results. Therefore, knowledge constitutes the basis of man’s safety and happiness in this present life and the life to come. It is said that “if you seek this present life, you must be equipped with knowledge; if you seek the hereafter, you must also be equipped with knowledge”. Hence, Islam - being the religion of Truth and the Original Nature (in which Allah originated mankind) -has always called for seeking knowledge in all aspects of life, and praised human mind, the equipment that enables man to attain such knowledge.

Knowledge, in the sight of Islam, is like the soul for the body. Man’s whole existence is vested in his intellect; and those who are not possessed of intellect are possessed of no religion, and vice versa. Because religion is based on intellect, about one thousand verses from the Holy Koran speak about knowledge and intellect. It is enough here to mention the Koranic supplication, “ and say, ‘ O my Lord, increase me in knowledge’”. [IX; 114].

Allah All high has revealed His cosmic as well Koranic signs especially for those who are possessed of intellect. To this effect He, All-high says, “ So We distinguish the signs for a people who understand.” [XXX; 28], and “ So We distinguish the signs for a people who know.” [VII; 32].

It is indisputably confirmed that only men possessed of knowledge and understanding are more likely to fear Allah. Allah, All high, says,

“ Even so only those of His servants fear Allah who have knowledge.” [XXXV; 28]. The verse lays stress that only those who are possessed of knowledge are able to fear Allah.

More importantly, pursuit of knowledge is a firmly established religious duty, which is by no means less important than any of other religious duties. In fact it is the most dangerous. To this effect, the Prophetic Hadith goes, “ Acquiring knowledge is the duty of every Muslim”. In the sight of Islam seeking knowledge is considered far more important than supererogatory performance of religious services. Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “ seeking knowledge is better than staying up the night (in devotion); and seeking knowledge for one day is better than fasting for three months”.

Through the Koran and Sunna, Islam rejects power, money, family or appearance as the basis for distinction among people concerning preference or excellence. It considers “ knowledge” as the only criterion for preference among human beings. Allah, All-high, says, “Say;’’ ‘Are they equal- those who know and those who know not?’ Only men possessed of minds remember” [xxx1x; g].

Al-Daylami and Ibn Abdul Birr narrated that the Messenger of Allah, (PBUH) said, “Seek knowledge, for acquiring it (leads to) fear from Allah; learning it is worship (of Allah); reviewing it is extolling glorification (of Allah); seeking it is holy strife; teaching it to those who know it not is charity; making it available to those who are seeking it is nearness (to Allah). It is the guidepost of the lawful and the unlawful, the guide-light on the way to Paradise, the affable in loneliness, the friend in solitude, the interlocutor when being alone, the guide in good and bad days, the armor against the enemies, the adornment when with friends, the intimacy when with aliens, and for the sake of it Allah raises (in esteem) some people and makes them leaders in the Garden.”

As seen by Imam Al-Ghazali, the well-known Muslim scholar, knowledge can be of three types: knowledge of Allah, knowledge of His Commandments, and knowledge of His creation. In other words, knowledge can be of the Truth, of the Sharia [i.e. Islamic Law], and of the universe. Knowledge of Allah is the basis of religion; knowledge of His commandments is the essence of religious devotions; and knowledge of Allah’s creation [i.e., the universe] is the origin of adequacy and welfare of the mundane world.

Islam has always advocated the quest for knowledge of Allah through speculation on the creation of the heavens and the earth.

Numerous Koranic verses repeatedly bid for seeking knowledge and consider it the fundamental basis for the establishment of the pillars of faith and tenet. Allah, All-high, says, “so let man consider of what he was created; he was created of gushing water issuing between the lions and the breast-bones” [LXXXVI; 57], “Let man consider his nourishment. We poured out the rains abundantly, then we split the earth in fissures and therein made the grains to grow and vines, and reeds, and olives, and palms, and dense-treed gardens.” [LXXX; 24-30], “What! Do they not consider how the camel was created, how heaven was lifted up, how the mountains were hoisted, how the lifted up, and how the earth was outstretched!” [LXXXVIII; 17-20], and, “Say: ‘ Behold what is in the heavens and in the earth’. But neither signs nor warnings avail a people who do not believe.” [X; 101].

Contemplation on the creation of the heavens and earth is the greatest act of devotion. Ibn Hibban related in his “Sahih” book that Ata’a quoted ‘A’ishah, Allah be pleased with her, as saying, “The Prophet (PBUH) came to me one night and Said, ‘Let me worship my Lord’. He went to the water skin, performed ablution from it, and then he stood up to perform prayer. He wept and wept until he wetted his beard. Then he prostrated so long as to wet the floor, and then he lay down on his side until Bilal came to call him for the dawn prayer. He (Bilal) asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what causes you to weep although Allah has forgiven all your sins, early and late?’ The prophet said, ‘Woe unto you, Bilal, what can stop me from weeping after Allah, All high, revealed unto me this very night, ‘Surely in the creation of the heavens and earth and in the alternation of night and day there are signs for men possessed of minds’!’ “[III; 190], Then he (PBUH) said ‘Woe unto him who recites it (this verse) and does not contemplate on it.’”

The Messenger of Allah was also quoted as saying, “I have been bidden that my silence be contemplation, my speech be Thikr [i.e., remembrance, invocation and praise of Allah] and my stare be learning.” Al-Hassan Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, also said, “If man’s speech is not wisdom; it is mere idle talk; if his silence is not contemplation, it is mere absent- mindedness; if his stare is not learning, it is mere play.”

Behold the sun and ask, who has raised it a fire, and set it a light, shaped it like a coin (a dinar) ? Who has hung it in the sky as a clock that ticks the time, till the Hour comes forth? Who has granted it its ascension, and guided it unto its ways, and established it in its constellations, and moved it like a lamp in the sky? Time derives its existence from it-seconds and ages. The tree of time gets its trunk and branches from it. The book of time gets its pages and chapters from it. Without it, the days wouldn’t have been so well ordered, months and years so well organized. Light and shade wouldn’t have alternated. Pure gold is from its mines and the dusk comes from its blazing flames. The ages have been wrecked on its horn; the elapse of time has not spoiled its beauty.

Scientifically speaking, the sun is 1,300,000 times bigger than the earth, and is 156,000,000 km’s away. Yet, there are even stars as big as the Sun and Earth plus the distance existing between them. The temperature in the center of the Sun is 20,000,000c. If the Earth were thrown into the interior of the Sun, it would evaporate in an indefinitely short time. The flames shooting out from its surface are more than half a million kilometers long. Allah, All-high, All-mighty, speaks the truth when He says, “We shall show them Our signs in the horizons and in themselves.”

[XLI; 53].

Behold the heart-its work and design- its miraculous creation. It works incessantly and restlessly. Everyday, it pumps eight cubic meters of blood, which runs through a hundred and fifty kilometers of veins. During the average human life, it pumps as much blood as the size of the greatest skyscraper in the world.

Allah again speaks the truth when he says, “We shall show them Our signs in the horizons and in themselves.” [XLI; 53].

Speculate, dear brother, on what Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, says, “ Behold the ant, small in size as it is, gentle in appearance, too tiny to see; how it crawls on the ground to seek its livelihood; how it carries the grain into its hole and stores in summer what it needs for winter; how its livelihood is guaranteed by its Lord, never neglected by the Benefactor or denied a grace by the Judge, even in the arid rock. If you contemplate on its miraculous body- how it eats and digests food- what the inside of its body is made of- how it sees and hears, you will be amazed of its creation and find it too difficult to describe. Exalted is He Who has established it on its legs and erected it on its holds and pillars. None has taken part with Him in originating it or helped Him in creating it”.

Allah, All-high, speaks the truth as He says, “ No creature is there crawling on the earth, but its provision rests on Allah; He knows its lodging-place and its repository”. [XI; 6]

Behold the tree with its verdant branches- how it has grown out of a grain and how it has become a tree. Think and say, “ Who issues fruit from it?” Behold the Sun, which is always burning. It gives light, and in it Heat is spread. Who has established it in the sky like a lamp? Behold the night! Who has created its moon, and adorned it with lamps like pearls spread out? Behold the clouds! Who has caused its rain to fall, and turned the earth with it Green after being yellow? That is Allah! Whose graces are abundant; whose Wisdom is far-reaching, whose Might is all-Omnipotent!

That was knowledge of the Truth, of Allah, All high, but what about the second type of knowledge, namely that of the Sharia [i.e., the revealed, or canonical, law of Islam]?

Contemplation on the creation of the heavens and earth helps man realize that Allah is the Genuine Creator, Nurturer and Governor of everything. It helps him conceive some of Allah’s most beautiful Names and Attributes and develop an ardent desire to seek His favor through devoted compliance with His commandments and prohibitions. Hence the importance of knowledge of the Sharia, which helps man understand Allah’s commandments and forbiddances concerning such vital issues as religious observances, life relationships and ethics.

Sharia (Islamic Law) is all justice, all mercy and all benefit. Whatever issue departing from justice to injustice, from mercy to the opposite, from benefit to blight and from wisdom to frivolous play, is by no means part of the Sharia.

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was quoted by Al-Boukhari as saying, “ Whosoever Allah wishes good for, He grants him knowledge of religion. Knowledge is but (acquired) by learning.” He (PBUH) also confirms,“ A little knowledge is better than much work.”

Furthermore, knowledge of the Sharia, and working in compliance with its rules and principles is considered to be the very best kind of religious devotion. To this effect, Al-Darakunti narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Allah is never served by anything better than acquiring knowledge of religion; and one learned man in more dreadful for Satan than a thousand worshipers; and everything has pillars (to stand on) and the pillar of religion is knowledge of Al-Fiqh [i.e., Jurisprudence of Islam]”.

Knowledge of the universe, Allah’s creation, has always been called for by Islam, which bids for seeking knowledge about such important issues as the nature and properties of things and the laws and principles that govern the relationships existing among them. Such knowledge paves the way for man to exploit the things that Allah, All-high, has subjected for him. Allah, All-mighty, says, “Have you not seen how that Allah has subjected to you whatever is in the leavens and earth, and He has coveted on you His blessings, outward and inward?”[XXXI; 20], and, “ We sent down iron, wherein is great might, and many uses for men.” [LVII; 25].

Acquiring secular science helps man build human civilization on Earth through mining its inner wealth, exploiting its sources of energy, overcoming difficulties and making things available for man in order to fulfill Allah’s words, “And to Thamoud (we sent) their brother Saleh; he said, ‘O my people, serve Allah! You have no god other than He. It is He Who produced you from the earth and has given you to live therein; so ask forgiveness of Him, then repent to Him, surely my Lord is nigh, and answers prayer’”. [XI; 61].

Acquiring secular sciences and excelling in them is real “Power” that must necessarily be in Muslims’ possession in order to be able to confront enemies of the truth, welfare and peace and to fulfill Allah’s word, “Make ready for them whatever force and strings of horses you can, to terrify thereby the enemy of Allah and your enemy.” [VIII; 60].

Since science is the essence of modern power, strength of body is no longer needed for warfare; mental and intellectual strength definitely is.

Due to absolute wisdom, Allah, All-high, has decreed that Earth’s treasures and resources are accessible only through human effort, as manifested by science and labor. Allah for instance, has deposited in a seed of plant the ability to grow; however, man has to plant and tend such a seed in order to reap the fruits whereof. Allah, Al-mighty, has deposited minerals in the earth, but man has to dig up such minerals so as to make use of them. All of this emphasizes the importance of both knowledge and labor, tests the degree of humanity man possesses, and determines whether man’s knowledge and labor would raise him up to the highest, or bring him down to the lowest, ranks of humanity.

Moreover, the ability to disprove all the biased destructive claims put forward by enemies of Islam is only attainable through emancipation from ignorance and delusion, adoption of science, and implementation of objective methodology. Reliance on scientific approach corrects our vision; and faith in Allah and abidance by His religion provide us with power. To this effect, Allah, All-high, says, “If Allah helps you, none can ever overcome you; but if He forsakes you, who then can help you after Him.” [III; 160].

Learning and education are the spirit of Islam and the guarantee for its survival and prosperity. Human nature necessitates persistent search for knowledge, for it is the only way to safety and salvation. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “ The teacher and learner are both partners in the good; and there is no good in all other people”. It has also been said “Seek knowledge; for if you are of the leaders, (with it) you excel; and if you are of the common, (with it) you subsist”.

Knowledge, however, is only accessible through ardent effort and sincere devotion. And man, after all, has to be a teacher, a learner, a listener or a lover (of knowledge), otherwise he will inevitably perish. Even more, knowledge is the essence of religion, so the greatest possible effort has to be exerted concerning where to get knowledge from. A Muslim must obtain knowledge from people of honesty and straightness, but never from those of deviation and misguidance.

* Knowledge acquired for a living is nothing but a craft.

* Knowledge that does not reflect positively on our souls and behavior is void preciosity.

* Knowledge that leads one to swagger over other human brothers is mere arrogance.

* Knowledge that voids sound reason and good intellect is nothing but blind imitation.

* Knowledge that makes one take for granted that one is a great scholar is a kind of self-deception.

* Knowledge that aims at destroying mankind and producing harmful materials is but a grievous crime.

* Knowledge that is used to drive a wedge among people and to trespass their property and dignity is a type of delinquency and deviation.

* Knowledge that does not lead to human welfare and prosperity with regards to religion and livelihood is a kind of censured luxury.

In the Prophetic supplication we read, “Oh Allah, we seek refuge with You from knowledge that avails not, from a heart that humbles not, from and ear that hears not, from an eye that sheds no tears, and from a self that is never satisfied!”