Excellence Through Acquisition of Knowledge

Posted by Hazman Aziz On February - 2 - 2008

Allow me to share this morning’s entry on of the Friday’s surmon, which I found in the archives. It is an interesting subject and all this my 20 years of life, since I begin to read and understand what is knowledge, I felt that I am kinda of stuck to the idea.

ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS COUNCIL OF SINGAPORE
FRIDAY SERMON
19 DECEMBER 2003M / 5 SYAWAL 1424H

Excellence Through Acquisition of Knowledge

Let us begin by reminding ourselves to always be God fearing in all instances and conditions. Let us believe that only by being God conscious can we then attain success in this world and the hereafter.

In the last two sermons delivered in mosques throughout Singapore, we have talked about the importance of self-confidence in order to build a community of excellence. We were reminded not to easily blame it on fate whenever things happen that will impede our road to excellence and progress.

On this blessed Friday, we will be discussing on another step towards building self-confidence, and hence achieving excellence. Today’s sermon will touch on the importance of empowering knowledge, which is an impetus of the Ummah’s excellence.

Dear brothers,
I believe that this pulpit have been the place for many deliverance on the topic of knowledge, its importance and status in Islam, the rewards of Paradise which Allah bestows upon those who seek knowledge and practice it.

Today, let us all question ourselves on how do we value the importance of acquiring knowledge, not only for ourselves, but also for our children and our community? Where do we stand as a community that places knowledge as a pinnacle in our everyday lives, and also in our effort in planning for the future?

If you are asked now to give a kind of assessment to assess the level of knowledge empowerment or knowledge culture in our community, what would your assessment be? Excellent? Very good? OK? Or it is average? Or is it at the rate of unsatisfactory?

My dear brothers
Let us look at the existing understanding or belief on the knowledge culture prevalent in our society. We would notice some thoughts that need to be redefined. It is crucial to redefine these attitudes and understandings as these as pertinent factors in our aim for excellence.

Among others, my brothers, there are still some quarters who believe that seeking knowledge is only confined to school children, during their school years. To these people, the process of learning and seeking knowledge is restricted only to children and youths, while they are still attending school. Learning and going to school, to them, at the end of the day, is only to get a certificate, which will enable a person to get a well-paying job. Once a person finishes school and enters the work force, his quest for knowledge ends. There is no further need to read books. There is even no further need to attend enrichment courses. The existing knowledge that they have, is enough to see them through life and their old age.

Do you realize, my dear brothers, the repercussions of these attitudes? Verily, they will become members of the community, who are static and unprogressive, their knowledge will not expand, their view on life and living is not dynamic, they become stagnant in the face of rapid changes both within and abroad and eventually will lose out in the competition to become a relevant and excellent member of the community.

Have Rasulullah not emphasized:
” اُطْلُبِ الْعِلْمَ مِنَ الْمَهْدِ إِلَى اللَّحْدِ”
Which means: “Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave”

Other than those mentioned above, there are certain sections of society that when Islamic knowledge is discussed, viewed it in a very narrow perspective. To them Islamic knowledge is only about Tawhid, Fiqh, Tafsir Qur’an, Tasauf and so forth. In fact, there are some members of the community who perceive subjects such as Mathematics, Science, Geography, Economics, Psychology, Medicine etc as having no place in Islam. They thought that these subjects are worldly in nature and since the world is nothing but amusement and play, Muslims are to prepare only for the hereafter. Their basis for such a stand is on the verse:

وَلَلآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لَّكَ مِنَ الأُولَى
which means “ And indeed the Hereafter is better for you than the present life of this world” (ad-Dhuha : 4)

My dear respected brothers,
It is very important that when we are making a stance on religion, we have to avoid making a stance based only on one or two particular verses of the Qur’an. We have to look at the holistic picture, taking into account all the available verses of the Qur’an and hadith of Rasulullah saw. The verse,

وَلَلآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لَّكَ مِنَ الأُولَى

mentioned earlier on, does not indicate that this life is not important, or as Muslims, we should just concentrate on doing ibadah while waiting for death to invite us.

Actually, this world is an trust upon us. To administer and maintain the peace of this world is our responsibility as vicegerents. The world is a stop-over, while we make adequate preparations for our journey towards eternal bliss in the hereafter. The world is a bridge to the hereafter. Our failure to administer this world, will result in our failure to attain success in the hereafter.

Therefore, my brothers, whatever is needed to enable us to fulfill our roles efficiently as vicegerents, should be done together as a force. This includes acquiring knowledge and skills. If not, I am afraid that all our dreams and desires to become a community of excellence, will only remain as dreams.

Back to our earlier discussion on the other fields of knowledge. Actually, the basis for all knowledge is mentioned in the Qur’an. In fact, the verse on ulama as mentioned in Surah al-Fathir verse 28,

“إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاء إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ ”
which means : “ It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah.”

This verse is first preceded by another verse that commands men to ponder and contemplate on how Allah sends down rain from the sky, how He produces fruits of various colours, among the mountains, are streaks white and red, or varying colours, and animals of various shapes and sizes. Doesn’t that go to show that research on the existence of this universe, be it in the field of sciences or geography, is also a religious injunction?

Therefore, my dear respected brothers, let us together increase our understanding on knowledge. Do not let a day pass by without us learning something new, or without reading at least a page of a book. Let us together make reading and learning part of our Islamic identity. Start with our respective families, by providing beneficial books to be read as a family, including for ourselves. Sit with our children while they revise their school work or doing their homework. Insya’Allah with Allah’s Grace, these are the small steps towards inculcating self-confidence, and hence excellence in this world and the hereafter.

Coming to a point after reading this surmon to myself, Islam has been very supportive in seeking of knowledge. It is begin way, right when Prophet Adam steps his foot to this earth. Evolved through Rasul, and follow on to Ibnu Kaldun and today us, librarians. The keeper of knowledge respository. The works of God in spreading the knowledge to all mankind. It doesn’t matter age, colours, genders and anything else. As a knowledge keeper, we are heard to share and ensure the dissemination process is continued. That is also means the presservation of it.

To read more about knowledge and Islam, here are some libraries that you would like to visits:

My Academic Library:
Hrmm, very say. My university has a Master of Knowledge Managment, but we do not have a single book on Knowledge and Islam. Or even Knowledge and Religion. I am not to sure why. anyway, let’s move on to the National Library.