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 Sages.
By Dr. Hamza Ibn Fayi' Al Fathi.
May Allah preserve him.
The Perpetuity of Learning.
The Imam and exegete Sa'id Ibn Jubayr, may Allah the Exalted have mercy upon him, said:
Who passed away in the year 95 AH:
"A man remains knowledgeable as long as he continues to learn.
But if he abandons learning,
and assumes that he has become self-sufficient and content with what he possesses,
then he is at his most ignorant."
Knowledge is a sustainable process,
a continuous effort,
and a lifelong immersion;
it has no limit in time, stage,
degree, or position.
The reason for this
is its vastness and the immensity of its ocean,
and that it cannot be fully encompassed,
nor can all its chapters be attained.
Therefore, the wise person continues to draw from it,
sipping its pure waters,
gathering its springs,
and finding delight in its collection and acquisition.
Whoever believes they have reached sufficiency
will find themselves bound by the shackles of ignorance,
which will surround them from every side.
And whoever signals that they are self-sufficient
is counted among the ignorant,
just as Sa'id said here, may Allah have mercy upon him.
A similar sentiment is reported from Ibn Al Mubarak:
"And if he is content with what he has,
he is at his most ignorant."
This is because the one who claims sufficiency and self-reliance
has blocked the door to learning.
He claims understanding and fluency,
believing that what he gathered at the beginning,
or during his university stage,
or in that high position he holds,
is sufficient for providing benefit, answering questions, and issuing fatwas.
Nay, not so.
We must continue to learn,
we shall continue to read,
and we shall remain lovers of knowledge and benefits,
from whichever door they may come and be obtained.
Self-sufficiency may lead to arrogance,
and the wearing of a haughty disdain for knowledge,
and for drawing inspiration from lessons and benefits,
which results in the rejection of truth,
the denial of sources,
the refusal of proofs,
and the belittling of those who provide benefit.
This is because he has closed the door,
fastened its lock securely,
and summoned his cavalry and infantry and his army,
such that no window remains for a solution,
no door for mutual understanding,
and no channel for enlightenment.
And Allah is the One whose help is sought.
The fact that scholars continue to learn,
and that sheikhs ask those who are younger than them,
despite their high standing,
is a testament to their humility and their love for knowledge.
I recall some of our sheikhs consulting me
at the university
regarding issues of hadith and authorship
after we had graduated.
They thought well of this poor servant,
and I answered according to what I understood,
but it taught me a lesson
in humility, good companionship,
and continuous scholarly discourse.
So I followed their path,
and followed those who walked it.
To Allah belongs all praise and grace.