Part of Rawnaq Al-Ilm (series completed)
· Lesson 11 of 50
The book of the elegance of knowledge among the wise | Episode (11) | Ashbar Al-Ilm
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Transcript
Machine translation — may contain errors
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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
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“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)
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The Splendors of Knowledge according to the Sages.
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By Dr. Hamzah Ibn Fayi' Al Fathi.
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May Allah preserve him.
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The Spans of Knowledge.
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Imam 'Amir al-Sha'bi, may Allah the Exalted have mercy upon him, said:
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He who passed away in the year 103 AH.
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Knowledge consists of three spans.
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Whoever attains the first span,
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Becomes arrogant and thinks he has attained it all.
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And whoever attains the second span,
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Becomes humble before himself and realizes he has attained nothing.
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As for the third span,
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Alas, no one ever attains it.
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Knowledge is both a trial and a gift.
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It is a gift for the pious,
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And a trial for the wretched,
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Those who do not grasp its lessons,
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And do not take heed of its etiquette.
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Among its most important etiquettes,
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Is not to be deluded,
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To remain humble within it,
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And to be certain of its vastness and depth.
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Therefore, as some have said:
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Do not be a "man of one span,"
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Meaning that arrogant person who has memorized a matter or two,
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Then goes about,
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With his nose held high,
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Looking down upon his brothers,
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Devoid of all manners, forbearance, and mercy.
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Thus, al-Sha'bi, may Allah have mercy on him, warns against these spans of knowledge.
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The first is the beginner who is arrogant.
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The second is the one who humbles himself,
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Realizing he has neither reached the goal nor achieved the objective.
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He is akin to the truly humble,
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Who has studied fiqh but does not claim to be a jurist,
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And has learned,
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Yet deflects the role of the seeker out of humility and compassion.
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The third span is the best and highest of them,
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Where one realizes he knows nothing at all.
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He believes in a state beyond humility,
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Always highlighting his own ignorance and shortcomings,
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Knowing that what he possesses is but a meager amount,
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A superficial understanding,
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And limited insight.
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He sits the way the humble poor sit,
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He greets everyone,
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And does not distinguish himself with titles or ranks,
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Or specific signs or symbols.
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That is the scholar in truth,
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And the jurist in sincerity,
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For those who reach it or touch its branches.
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Peace.