Education

Education

1986 10 October 5 Education (319) Knowledge is of two distinct kinds: that which we have been blessed with in the Quran and the Hadith and that which we acquire as a. result of our own research and endeavour. The first kind acquaints us with our Lord, and makes plain the issues to be faced in the everlasting world which awaits us after death. More important, it shows us how, in the course of our present life, we may prepare ourselves to meet those issues. The second kind of knowledge provides solution to the social and economic problems which we encounter in everyday life.

It is imperative that Muslims should seek both forms of knowledge, but they should never lose sight of the fact that they vary considerably in importance. Their primary aim in life should be a knowledge of the Quran and Hadith, while the acquisition of a knowledge of the other sciences should come about as a matter of worldly necessity. Without a knowledge of religion, what must be done in this world to earn an everlasting reward, will constantly elude one’s understanding and it, goes without saying that one can never consider oneself a Muslim in the true sense of the word.

The secular sciences guide us only in worldly matters, giving us instruction in the agricultural, industrial and civic practicalities of life, But it is the Quran and Hadith which set our feet on the path to eternal development. Clearly, it is just as important for Muslims as it is for anyone else to study various branches of knowledge, but they must distinguish between ultimate objectives and adventitious necessity. Muslims must not only study the Quran and the Hadith, but must be keenly aware that the real reasons for studying them are very different from those which prompt them to seek worldly knowledge: they must constantly bear in mind also that they take moral priority over all other forms of knowledge.

Kindness to animals

1986 10 October 5 Kindness to animals (108) Abdullah ibn Mas’ood recalls how, when they were with the Prophet on a journey, they pitched camp in a place where there was a bird’s nest, with a mother and two baby birds in it. They caught the baby birds, as a result of which the mother started squawking and fluttering its wings, When the Prophet learnt of this, he told whoever had wronged the bird to return its babies. Once the Prophet saw that an ants’ nest had been incinerated, He asked who had done this. When the people responsible owned up, he told them that no one save the Lord was entitled to punish by fire,