1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,520 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:10,820 “Is he who payeth adoration in the watches of the night, prostrate and standing, bewaring of the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, (to be accounted equal with a disbeliever)? Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Are those who know equal with those who know not? But only men of understanding will pay heed.” (39:9) 3 00:00:10,820 --> 00:00:16,980 The Splendors of Knowledge according to the Sages. 4 00:00:16,980 --> 00:00:21,780 By Dr. Hamza Ibn Fayi' Al Fathi. 5 00:00:21,780 --> 00:00:27,170 May Allah preserve him. 6 00:00:27,170 --> 00:00:31,890 Compound Ignorance. 7 00:00:31,890 --> 00:00:35,890 Sahl Ibn 'Abdullah al-Tustari, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: 8 00:00:36,049 --> 00:00:40,960 He who passed away in the year 283 AH. 9 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:45,630 "Allah the Exalted has not been disobeyed by any sin greater than ignorance." 10 00:00:45,630 --> 00:00:46,829 It was asked: 11 00:00:46,829 --> 00:00:50,189 "Is there anything more severe than ignorance?" 12 00:00:50,189 --> 00:00:51,710 He replied: "Yes." 13 00:00:51,710 --> 00:00:53,789 "Ignorance of one's own ignorance." 14 00:00:53,789 --> 00:00:56,179 "Compound ignorance." 15 00:00:56,179 --> 00:01:01,299 This is because ignorance of one's own ignorance completely shuts the door to learning. 16 00:01:01,299 --> 00:01:03,539 For he who imagines himself to be knowledgeable, 17 00:01:03,539 --> 00:01:06,829 How can he learn? 18 00:01:06,829 --> 00:01:10,109 This is often embellished by a sense of cognitive sufficiency, 19 00:01:10,109 --> 00:01:13,469 Or incomplete knowledge wrapped in ignorance, 20 00:01:13,469 --> 00:01:16,510 Whereby one is content with what life has taught him, 21 00:01:16,510 --> 00:01:18,590 Or his own limited experience, 22 00:01:18,590 --> 00:01:20,430 Or a few credentials, 23 00:01:20,430 --> 00:01:22,989 Believing them to be the pinnacle of knowledge, 24 00:01:22,989 --> 00:01:25,390 And the ultimate limit of intellect and sagacity. 25 00:01:25,390 --> 00:01:27,549 So he begins to trade upon them, 26 00:01:27,549 --> 00:01:30,909 Defending them out of stubbornness and vanity. 27 00:01:30,909 --> 00:01:34,909 He sees no knowledge or intellectual sophistication beyond them, 28 00:01:34,989 --> 00:01:38,189 And thus is afflicted with the calamity of compound ignorance. 29 00:01:38,189 --> 00:01:43,489 He accepts no correction or addition to what he possesses, 30 00:01:43,489 --> 00:01:46,049 And becomes obsessed with this state, 31 00:01:46,049 --> 00:01:48,450 To the point that he defends absurdities, 32 00:01:48,450 --> 00:01:50,450 And praises misguidance, 33 00:01:50,450 --> 00:01:53,250 Believing them to be a form of knowledge, 34 00:01:53,250 --> 00:01:56,370 Or a type of intellectual superiority. 35 00:01:56,370 --> 00:02:00,209 Such a person is difficult to reason with or debate, 36 00:02:00,209 --> 00:02:02,609 Because he is an affecter of knowledge, 37 00:02:02,609 --> 00:02:05,090 Boasting of his own ignorance therein. 38 00:02:05,170 --> 00:02:07,170 And Allah is the One whose help is sought. 39 00:02:07,170 --> 00:02:09,969 It is from this that one falls into compound ignorance, 40 00:02:09,969 --> 00:02:12,819 And accumulated superstition. 41 00:02:12,819 --> 00:02:15,620 That is why they distinguish between simple ignorance, 42 00:02:15,620 --> 00:02:17,620 And compound ignorance. 43 00:02:17,620 --> 00:02:19,620 The person of simple ignorance, 44 00:02:19,620 --> 00:02:21,620 Knows that he is ignorant, 45 00:02:21,620 --> 00:02:23,379 And does not lay claim to knowledge. 46 00:02:23,379 --> 00:02:26,259 Unlike the person of compound ignorance, 47 00:02:26,259 --> 00:02:29,939 Who, despite his ignorance, thinks he is a scholar. 48 00:02:29,939 --> 00:02:32,740 His ignorance is compounded of two ignorances: 49 00:02:32,740 --> 00:02:34,419 Ignorance of the thing itself, 50 00:02:34,500 --> 00:02:37,219 And ignorance of the fact that he is ignorant of it, 51 00:02:37,219 --> 00:02:40,340 Along with the claim of absolute knowledge and understanding. 52 00:02:40,340 --> 00:02:43,379 This is what the poet meant by his words: 53 00:02:43,379 --> 00:02:46,819 "It is a hardship to try to make an ignorant person understand, 54 00:02:46,819 --> 00:02:50,830 When he ignorantly thinks he is more understanding than you." 55 00:02:50,830 --> 00:02:53,659 They also recited in this regard: 56 00:02:53,659 --> 00:02:56,460 "The donkey of the sage Tuma said: 57 00:02:56,460 --> 00:02:59,340 If they were fair, I would be the one riding, 58 00:02:59,340 --> 00:03:02,060 For I am merely simply ignorant, 59 00:03:02,060 --> 00:03:04,620 While my master is compoundly ignorant." 60 00:03:04,620 --> 00:03:08,740 Compound ignorance arises from intellectual arrogance, 61 00:03:08,740 --> 00:03:10,419 Personal stubbornness, 62 00:03:10,419 --> 00:03:12,180 A refusal to seek further knowledge, 63 00:03:12,180 --> 00:03:13,780 A love of prominence, 64 00:03:13,780 --> 00:03:16,340 Living within the confines of limited experience, 65 00:03:16,340 --> 00:03:19,379 Believing oneself to be correct in every situation, 66 00:03:19,379 --> 00:03:22,659 Claiming intellectual sagacity at all times, 67 00:03:22,659 --> 00:03:24,659 Corrupt sources, 68 00:03:24,659 --> 00:03:26,659 Misreadings of books, 69 00:03:26,659 --> 00:03:28,659 And the fallacies of people. 70 00:03:28,659 --> 00:03:30,659 Peace.