Well i need alittle advice in regards to knowledge seeking. Alhamduliah, i am very interested in this, however, i am a little unconfortable with my intention amoungst other things.
In regards to my intention: I read this piece of info:
"One of the pitfalls that a student can fall into is to seek knowledge for its own sake. Knowledge is a desire like any other human desire. It can be sought for the pure pleasure of acquiring it and not for the sake of Allah. People love to discover new things. It is a natural human inclination. When a person strives long and hard to find something out, then comes upon the answer, it can be quite exhilarating. This encourages him to study further."
i am one of the above people. I just want to know how does one acheive the right intention, because to be honest, i think im gaining knowledge to learn, as opposed to doing i for the sake of allah. so yeah, how does one change the intention?? sometimes my intention is genuine. sometimes i feel that i need to gain knowledge because there has been so many fatwas that i have misunderstood due to to my lack of knowledge. I also feel that i need to gain knowledge to increase my khusoo in prayer.
In regards to other the things: one thing that makes me reluctant to seek knowledge is that i may not practice it. so im scared of finding out something that i will not practise. or even being reluctant not to give dawah because some people are so arrogant. so in other words im scared that i will be called to account fr all the knowledge i may have gained, but not practiced or passed it on, etc.
Walakum Asalaam
I really like your question. I had this similar question. I may have a long response and I do apologize in advance sister.
We must gain knowledge for the sake of Allah (swt) just like we should argue/debate with people not for the sake of debating but for the sake of speaking the truth to others who are still blind to see it. One job we have is to help guide others and their help them see the purpose of their existence. We give the message and it is up to the Creator to open their hearts to that truth. I think if you take knowledge as a way to benefit yourself, your family, and hopefully the ummah you have correct intention when seeking knowledge. Couple hadith Qudsi (Allah said this to Prophet (saw) but not in Quran) comes to mind main one goes along doing something for the sake of Allah (swt).
"O son of Adam, I fell ill and you visited Me not. He will say: O Lord, and how should I visit You when You are the Lord of the worlds? He will say: Did you not know that My servant So-and-so had fallen ill and you visited him not? Did you not know that had you visited him you would have found Me with him? O son of Adam, I asked you for food and you fed Me not. He will say: O Lord, and how should I feed You when You are the Lord of the worlds? He will say: Did you not know that My servant So-and-so asked you for food and you fed him not? Did you not know that had you fed him you would surely have found that (the reward for doing so) with Me? O son of Adam, I asked you to give Me to drink and you gave Me not to drink. He will say: O Lord, how should I give You to drink whin You are the Lord of the worlds? He will say: My servant So-and-so asked you to give him to drink and you gave him not to drink. Had you given him to drink you would have surely found that with Me." (Related by Muslim Saheeh)
This hadith tells us that to perform deeds to help others is gaining the pleasure of our Creator. How is Allah (swt) harmed or benefitted from what we do in this world?
Doing it for the sake of Allah does not cause any benefit nor harm to Allah (swt). It is in the end benefit to us, our temporary existency in this world, and our judgement in the hereafter. As stated in hadith Allah says (Qudsi hadith)
"O My servants, you sin by night and by day, and I forgive all sins, so seek forgiveness of Me and I shall forgive you. O My servants, you will not attain harming Me so as to harm Me, and will not attain benefitting Me so as to benefit Me." (That is not the whole hadith only part Saheeh related by Muslim)
So when you are gaining knowledge inshaAllah have the correct intention and gain the knowledge to attain the pleasure of your Creator. The way we Muslims attain Allah's pleasure is to do what benefits us and His creation. Take fasting as an example. Does not Allah say in the Quran that "Fasting has been prescribed for you as it has been prescribed for those before you so that you may attain taqwa." Taqwa means protecting yourself from the wrath of Allah by doing good deeds with correct intention, and avoiding all bad deeds that may harm you. Does not Allah say in the Quran "Establish prayer for my rememberence." and "In the rememberence of Allah do hearts find peace/tranquilty and "Indeed prayer helps you refrain from evil and shameful deeds." These are all prescribed to us for our benefit and we can gain success in this world and the hereafter.
Just read the Quran and look at the countless ayah that encourage contemplation of the creations of Allah. Allah says "Indeed these are ayateen (signs, proofs, evidence) of people of understand." Read begining of sura Mulk and what people of hell-fire regret doing they say ""Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we should not (now) be among the Companions of the Blazing Fire!" So people of learning, people of knowledge, people of intellect are people who are saved and get a broader understanding of the world around them. They are the saved individuals who get the knowledge and put it to good use.
This Hadith Qudsi is long I will only give a part of it to explain my point.
....Another man who has studied [religious] knowledge and has taught it and who used to recite the Quran. He will be brought and Allah will make known to his His favours and he will recognize them. [The Almighty] will say: And what did you do about them? He will say: I studied [religious] knowledge and I taught it and I recited the Quran for Your sake. He will say: You have lied - you did but study [religious] knowledge that it might be said [of you]: He is learned. And you recited the Quran that it might be said [of you]: He is a reciter. And so it was said. Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire. (Related by Muslim, Tirmidhi, and others Saheeh)
We learn from this that he did not gain the knowledge to please his Creator and spread essential knowledge. He did it to please the Creation and impress them. Very dangerous and considered minor shirk. (major sin).
Now your last point about being scared of gaining knowledge because you might not share it with others or use it yourself... Personally, I feel that is no excuse for not gaining knowledge. If you are talking about religious knowledge....that is obligatory and needs to be done by every sane person. They say ignorance is bliss but ignorance is also a way to waste the precious life and time that Allah (swt) has given you. Make good use of that time and gain knowledge, practice in moderation, and teach it to your offspring. That is the best and I will stop here since this is longer than expected. Hope that helps sister
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