In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
“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)
The Splendor of Knowledge in Wisdom.
By Dr. Hamzah Ibn Fayi' Al Fathi.
May Allah preserve him.
The Beacons of the Lands.
'Ubayd Allah Ibn Abi Ja'far, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
Who passed away in the year one hundred and thirty-four of the Hijrah.
Scholars are the beacons of the lands.
From them is drawn the light by which one is guided.
Nations and states do not rise,
Except through scholars who excel in every field,
And who innovate within their specializations,
Thereby serving their religion, their country, and their people.
For they are the beacons of life and the landmarks of guidance,
And the lamps of civilization and advancement.
This entails developing the educational landscape,
And strengthening its capabilities and domains,
Until knowledge becomes the highest of their goals and aspirations.
Thus, the youth are transformed, goals are elevated, and generations ascend.
Developing minds becomes, in their view, better than developing bodies,
And the perfection of hearts is better than the perfection of physiques.
Ideas prevail over luxuries and distractions.
Only then do we witness civil and cultural development,
And our countries compete with other nations and surpass them.
The priority is to elevate the sciences and educate generations accordingly,
To ignite the fuse of ambition and sharpen resolve,
To prioritize the eternal over the ephemeral,
And to prefer the precious over the trivial and the wretched.
If you venture for a sought-after honor, do not be content with anything less than the stars.
So let our ambitions be high and the aspirations of our youth be refined.
Do not be satisfied with the base or the degrading,
But strive with the striving of the high-minded and the successful.
“Whose seal is musk - for this let (all) those strive who strive for bliss -” (83:26)