knowledge

• Knowledge


  The information, understanding, and skills that you gain through education or experience
• The modern West defines knowledge as denoting acquaintance with, or clear perception of facts
• The western concept of knowledge is limited to the scope of empirical or scientific observation
• The meaning of knowledge was restricted to the physical facet that can be captured by the senses, thus anything that is beyond sensory experience might be rejected and eventually thrown away, with religion as a prime concern
• Al-'ilm (Knowledge in Islam)


  The Arabic word for knowledge
• Synonyms of Al-'ilm


  • Al-Ma'rifah (cognition)
  • Al-Fiqh (understanding)
  • Tadabbur (Meditation / Observation)
  • Basiran (Mental perception)
  • Tazakkur (Remembrance)
  • Tafakkur (Thought)
• Antonyms of Al-'ilm


  • Conjecture
  • Doubt
  • Ignorance
  • Foolishness
  • Misguidance
• Technical Definition of Al-'ilm

  • The acquisition of that information through which one can successfully attain the true goal of life (Imam al-Ghazali)
  • The obtain in the soul of the meaning of a thing or an object of knowledge and the arrival of the soul at the meaning of a thing or object of knowledge (Al-Jurjan)
• Knowledge (ilm) as ma'rifah


  To know, to explain, to confess, to comprehend a certain thing with the use of thinking
• Allah can only be worshiped by possessing knowledge (marifah) of Him, which is why He created the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, as an indicator to His divinity and majesty
• All of this creation was to know and discern that Allah's knowledge and power circumscribe each and everything
• Key features of the concept of knowledge in Islam


  • Knowledge covers both seen and unseen world
  • Knowledge is a system of learning which is to be developed and disseminated in a manner that recognizes Allah as Lord and Creator
  • Knowledge is infinite since it originates from and ends in God
  • The proper and sincere application of knowledge forms the basis of taqwa or God-consciousness
  • Seeking, expanding and teaching knowledge are considered acts of divine worship
• Salient features of the western concept of knowledge


  • The material world is the only reality
  • No purpose or plan govern the universe
  • Man is self created with faculties of reason and sense perception, and he determines his own purpose and direction
  • He is rational being and master of his own destiny
  • Fulfillment of desire for the sake of happiness with certain values
• The first revelation to the Messenger of Allah is about seeking knowledge
• Islam is a religion based upon knowledge
• The Quran is full of verses inviting man to use his intellect, to ponder, to think and to learn
• The main miracle and sign of authenticity of prophethood of Mohammed was a book of knowledge - the Quran
• Seeking knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim
• Knowledge elevates the status of its bearer
• Information


  Data that is presented in a structured or unstructured form. It can be in the form of text, numbers, images, or any other format that conveys meaning
• Knowledge


  The understanding and comprehension of information. It involves the ability to interpret and make sense of information in a way that can be applied to different contexts
• Knowledge is derived from information, but it goes beyond the mere accumulation of facts or data
• Degrees of Certainty of Knowledge


  • Knowledge by inference with certainty of mind ('Ilm al-Yaqin)
  • Knowledge by observation with certainty of sight ('Ayn al-Yaqin)
  • Knowledge obtained through one's personal involvement, one's direct, physical contact, so to say, at physical or spiritual level (Haqq al-Yaqin)
• The degree of certainty of Quran and Hadith reflects level of Iman
• Rasulullah (sallallahu'alayhi wasallam): '"O Allah! Make my 'ilm profitable for me, give me knowledge which is profitable and add in my knowledge."'
• The objective of seeking knowledge in Islam is to practice with it, to achieve the happiness of both worlds, and to distinguish between right and wrong
• Rasulullah (sallallahu'alayhi wasallam): 'You are a slave whose heart has been illuminated with Iman (belief). Remain steadfast on this perception of yours.'
• Objective of seeking knowledge


  To practice with it
• Prophet Muhammad (s): 'O Allah! Make my 'ilm profitable for me, give me knowledge which is profitable and add in my knowledge.'
• Prophet Muhammad (s): 'O Allah! I seek your refuge from useless knowledge, from a heart that is not humbled, form an insatiable soul and from du'a' that is not heard.'
• Objective/Purpose of seeking knowledge


  • To achieve the happiness of both worlds (hasanah fi al-Dunya wa al-Akhirah)
  • To distinguish between right and wrong
  • To get Allah's pleasure, to gain nearness to Him
• The highest purpose of knowledge is to enable one to get closer to Allah, and eventually to the ultimate bliss of coming face to face with Him
• The more the self comprehends knowledge, the better it knows God
• With better knowledge and awareness of God, the closer one comes to Him and the greater is the happiness of humankind
• Clear understanding and clear intellect are the highest attributes of man, because through the intellect, the responsibility of Allah's trust is accepted, and through it man can enjoy the closeness to Allah
• Allah: 'Allah will exalt in degree those of you who believe, and those who have been granted knowledge.'
• Allah: 'It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah.'
• Messenger of Allah: 'When Allah wishes good for someone, He bestows upon him the understanding of Deen.'
• Messenger of Allah: 'Allah makes the way to Jannah easy for him who treads the path in search of knowledge.'
• Messenger of Allah: 'He who goes forth in search of knowledge is considered as struggling in the Cause of Allah until he returns.'