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, according to the wise.
By Dr. Hamzah Ibn Fayi' Al Fathi.
May Allah preserve him.
Being deprived of the blessing of knowledge.
Imam Al-Awza'i, the Imam of the Levant, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
He who passed away in the year 157 AH.
"When Allah intends to deprive His servant of the blessing of knowledge,
He casts 'al-maghalit' (erroneous, contentious speech) upon his tongue;
for I have seen them to be the least knowledgeable of people."
The blessing of knowledge is recognized by correcting one's path and maintaining sincerity within it,
by selecting its finest aspects,
and by proceeding therein upon guidance from Allah.
It also requires distancing oneself from impurities, contentious speech, and obscure branches of knowledge.
Therefore, excessive preoccupation with minute details, anomalous issues, or engaging in argumentation,
all of these are things that strip away the blessing of knowledge.
For this reason, 'al-maghalit' has been interpreted as that which is unnecessary, such as asking "how" and "why" excessively,
meaning those deep, far-fetched details
that are inconsistent with the essence, core, and reality of knowledge.
Others have interpreted it as difficult and convoluted issues,
or questions posed for the sake of obstinacy and to incapacitate scholars and authorities.
This is why the eminent scholar Al-Khattabi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said,
in his commentary on the hadith that prohibits such behavior—though the hadith itself is weak:
"The meaning is that he forbade challenging scholars with difficult questions
in which errors are frequent, in order to cause them to slip or to undermine their opinions."
It also implies the dislike of over-complication and affectation regarding matters for which a person has no need,
and the obligation to refrain from speaking on what one does not know.
It has been narrated from Ubayy Ibn Ka'b that a man asked him about an obscure issue,
so he asked, "Has this happened yet?"
The man replied, "No."
He said, "Wait for me until it happens."
Apply this same principle to anomalous issues and trivialities of knowledge,
to raising the banner of argumentation without right,
to the contentions of the foolish,
and to showing off with knowledge and understanding,
while one possesses little substance,
or is still at the beginning of one's studies,
and at the start of one's academic journey.
And Allah is the Grantor of success.