Amongst the nations before us, Allaah the Most Exalted labelled a part of them as "the people of the book". This, because they were given guidance through revelations made into a book by Allaahs Will. In it were laws, regulations and principles governing their mutual well- being and a mercy from their creator the Most Great. They were enjoined to act upon it in order to become conversant with the Sunnah of Allaah.
They accepted the book as a trust, but betrayed it by their inactions. How? by not acting upon its injunctions and restraining from its restrictions. They became like donkeys bearing huge volume of books but not familiar with its message. Their hearts became hardened and they went astray. Allaah says:
"The likeness of those who were entrusted with the obligation of the Taurah (to obey its commandments and to practice its legal laws), but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is as the likeness of a donkey that carries huge burden of books (but understanding nothing from them). (Q62:5)
Types of knowledge
Broadly, knowledge is of two types. The knowledge needed to attain the convenience of this life - Material knowledge - and the other; knowledge for happiness here and a good life in the hereafter Religious knowledge. Material knowledge is recommended for us because Allaah says:
"And seek the home of the hereafter with what Allaah has endowed upon you and do not forget your share (of the lawful and good things) of this life ... " (Q28: 77)
Material knowledge would become blameworthy when it diverts you from the greater and more beneficial knowledge which is that of the hereafter. Allaah says:
"And be aware that the life of this world is nothing but play, amusement, adornment, mutual boasting and mutual rivalry in piling up of wealth and children ... And what is the life of this world if not deceptive enjoyment." (Q57:20)
Religious knowledge on the hand is compulsory on all of us. Indeed, it is your refuge from the fitnah of this life, and it is our focus. Allaah says:
"and for this, let those who strive, compete." (Q83:26)
The parable of knowledge and action, Knowledge is like a tree while the actions based upon it are its fruits. Thus, you would not be reckoned as learned, as long you do not work based upon your knowledge. Knowledge is akin to the parents while actions are the offspring. Knowledge is desired because of actions, just as actions are required to attain, salvation, action is the purpose of attaining knowledge, and were it not for actions it would not have been sought and were it not for knowledge, acceptable actions would not have been performed.
Knowledge without action is like a tree bereft of sweet and palatable fruits and the knowledge of the hypocrite is in his speech alone while the knowledge of the true believer is in his speech and action. True knowledge is not gauged by your ability to relate several narrations; the truly knowledgeable is the one who acquires knowledge, make use of it and makes the sunnah his example even though his knowledge is little. Those who perform good deeds with what they know will be guided to those things they are ignorant of. Allaah says:
"As for those who strive hard in us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths (that is His accepted Religion - Islam). And verily, Allaah is with those who are good doers."(Q29:69)
Knowledge is like wealth. So spend out of it. Just like wealth is not beneficial except by spending it, likewise knowledge will not be beneficial save for the person who acted upon it and preserved its obligations. Abu Hurairah (RA) related that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing be upon him) said:
"The parable of knowledge not acted upon is like a treasure, not a part of it being spent in the cause of Allaah, the Most Exalted." (Ahmad).
So check yourself and save your soul, make the best use of your time since the stay here is short and the journey to the hereafter is ever-near. The consequences for your inaction will be great because the critic is acutely aware of you and Allaah is ever - watchful. To Him is the final return. "So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it. "(Q99:8-9)
Work and be profitable
Therefore, do not become familiar with performing deeds as long as you have an aversion for seeking knowledge and do not become known with knowledge as long as you fall short in performing actions. Rather, combine the two no matter how little your share is. A portion from here and there will make you attain salvation when Allaah confers His Grace and completes His favours upon His servants. Abu Barzah al - Aslamee (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing be upon him) said:
"A servant will not depart on the day of judgement until he is asked about four matters; about his life, upon what did he expend it; about his knowledge, what did he do with it; about his wealth, where and how did he earn it and upon what did he spend it; and his body, to what use did he put it." (Saheeh Tirmidhee).
True knowledge brings humility. When you desire to attain eminence through knowledge and to be associated with it and be reckoned as one of its people by boasting before you are given your portion of it, its light will be screened from you and what will remain are its traces and remnants; that is the knowledge against you not for you, since true knowledge directs its holders to utilizing it. So, when you do not use knowledge as they come, its blessings will vanish. Indeed, when the servant seeks knowledge in order to perform actions and correct his errors that knowledge will curb him and make him humble.
However, if the knowledge was sought for other than that, it will increase him in transgression, false pride and boasting, as was the case with the people of the book. Awf bin Maalik (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing be upon him) looked to the sky one day and said: "There is a time when knowledge will be raised." A man from the Ansaar by the name Ziyaad bin Labeed then said: "O Messenger of Allaah! Knowledge will be raised while it has been well established in the heart and it has memorized and retained it? He (peace and blessing be upon him) said: "(Are you saying this) though I used to reckon you amongst the most knowledgeable of the people of Madeenah (who should know better)? Then he mentioned the misguidance of the Jews and Christians despite what is in their hands of the book of Allaah." The narrator said: "I met Shaddaad bin Aws (RA) and narrated the words of Awf bin Maalik to him and he said: "Awf has spoken the truth. Shall I not inform you of the first part of knowledge that shall be raised?" I said: "Yes." He said: "Humility, until you will not find a humble person." (Ahmad)
The consequences of not acting upon your knowledge, it is Allaah proof against you. The ruined on the day of Judgement is the one whose knowledge would dispute with him, his tongue who be his opponent and whose intellect is cut off due to his excuses. Ataa (RAH) narrated that after the demise of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him), a youth used to frequent the abode of Aaisha (RA) (in order to learn from her). So he would ask her and she would narrate the proofs to him. Thus, he came one day asking her and she said: "O my son! Have you worked with the ones you know after hearing from me?" The boy said: "No! By Allaah, 0 mother." Then she said: "O my son! Then why are you increasing the evidence of Allaah against us and upon yourself" (AI - Khateeb) It is a sign of Allaahs displeasure.
One of the pious scholars Maruf bin Fayruz al - Karkhaa (RAH) said: "When Allaah intends good for a servant, He opens for him the door to acting upon his knowledge and closes the door of arguments and controversies and when Allaah intends otherwise for a servant, he opens for him the door to arguments, quarrels and controversies and shuts the doing of action against him." (AI- Khateeb) AI - Hassan (RAH) said: "Faith does not come by mere adornment or by wishful thoughts. Rather, it is what is established in the heart and the actions of the limbs attest to.
Whoever says good words and performs bad deeds, Allaah will reject him and his deeds based on his words and whoever says good words and acts righteously, then Allaah will raise his action to the heavens. Thus Allaah says:
"Whosoever desires honour, power and glory then to Allaah belongs all honour, power and glory. To Him ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it, but those who plot evils, theirs will be severe torment .And the plotting of such will perish." (Q35:10)
(AI- Khateeb) It is self-destructive. Not acting upon what you know is an act of self mockery. Allaah says:
"Do you enjoin piety and righteousness and each and every act of obedience to Allaah on the people and you forget to practice it yourselves, while you recite the Book have you then no sense? "(Q2:44)
Jundub bin Abdullaah (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing be upon him) said: "The parable of the knowledgeable one who teaches the people about good things while neglecting his own soul is like the parable of the lamp; it lightens the way for people while it burns itself out." (Tabraanee)
Maalik bin Deenaar (RAH) said: "There is no good in your seeking knowledge as long as you learn and do not put it into use. Certainly, the example of that kind of a person is like the parable of the man who gathered firewood and made it into a bundle. Then he sought to lift it and was unable to do so. (Rather than shed the load) he proceeded to add more to it."
(AI - Khateeb) It leads to punishment in the hereafter. Anas bin Maalik (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing be upon him) said: "On the night of my miraculous journey to the heavens; I was brought upon a people whose lips were being cut with scissors from the hell-fire.
As often as the lips were being severed, it is renewed and cut again. So I said: O Jibreel! Who are these people? He said: "They are the preachers, speakers and all those who give sermon from your people. Those who talk and do nothing; they read the book of Allaah and do not act upon it." (Saheeh Ibn Hibban)
Shaqeeq bin Salamah (RA) reported that Usaamah bin Zaid (RA) said: "".And I will never say to a man: "you are the best of the people" even if he was an ameer appointed over me after I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing be upon him) say what he had said." He (Shaqeeq) said: "and what did you hear him say?" He (RA) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing be upon him) said: "A man will be brought on the day of Judgement and flung into the fire making his hump to be spilled, then he would be moving in circles with it similar to the donkey rotating with the hand mill. The people of Hell fire would gather round him and say: "O so and so! What went wrong with you? Are you not the one that enjoined good and forbade us from evil? He would say: "I used to command you to do good while I did not do so myself and I forbade you from evil and indecent acts while I used to do it. "(Ahmad)
Remedies
Avoid procrastination. Surely procrastination is one of the soldiers of Iblees, so beware of him. So make use of your spare time effectively before it becomes unavailable. Abdullaah bin Abbaas (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing be upon him) said:
"The leisure or spare time and good health are two favours concerning which many amongst the people are deceived (about their availability)." (Haakim)
Use five before five
Amr bin Maymuuna (RA) related that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing be upon him) said to a man while admonishing him: "Make use of five before five: your youth before your old age, your good health before your illness, your wealth before your poverty, your spare time before you become busy and your life before your death." (Saheeh Ibn Abee Dunya)
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited