THE search for knowledge (the right kind of knowledge, that is) in Islam is noble. “For those who travel in search of knowledge, Allah will surely prepare a way for them to travel in the path to paradise.” (Abu Huraira as quoted in Sahih Muslim)
The search for knowledge calls for sacrifice from scholars and students.
In their travels (riḥla fi ṭalab al’ilm), scholars and students spend most of their time travelling from one centre of learning to another, and from one master to another.
Acquiring knowledge is not easy. Students need to equip themselves with several disciplines to master certain sciences.
It is part of an act of worship in which one needs to follow guidelines and methodologies.
As the source of knowledge is Allah, one must obey the etiquette of seeking knowledge that has been set by Him.
The Islamic tradition that calls for knowledge to be sought, even in a land as distant as China, is a statement on the importance of seeking knowledge.
Given the importance of knowledge, students must persevere despite challenges.
They must learn under the right scholars.
Allah says: “Say to them, are they equal? Those who know and those who don’t?”
Allah commands: “Ask the people of knowledge if you do not know.” We must admit that there
are many things that ail our society and the antidote is education.
Not just any education, but the right education (adab), by which we mean the acquisition of knowledge that recognises the right things in the right places.
As Professor Sayyid Naquib al-Attas puts it, loss of adab leads corruption of knowledge and moral dislocation of the people.
NUAIM BAHRON
Mukah, Sarawak