And Knowledge that Harms

And Knowledge that Harms

1987 3 March 25 And Knowledge that Harms (230) The Prophet Mohammad said: “Even more than the Great Deceiver, (Dajjal) it is from others that I fear for you.” The Prophet was asked. Who they were and he replied: “Wicked men of learning.” On another occasion, the Prophet said: “He who increases his learning, but does not increase in guidance, will only become further away from God.” Likewise, the Prophet said: “The one who will receive the severest punishment on the Day of Resurrection is a man of learning whom God has not benefited through his learning.” “On the night when I was taken to the heavens,” recalled the Prophet Mohammad, “I passed some people whose lips were being cut with scissors of fire. ‘Who are you?” I asked, and they replied: ‘We are the ones who used to command good, but we ourselves did not practice it; and we used to forbid evil, while ourselves practicing it.” This prayer was often on the Prophet’s lips: “Lord, I seek refuge with You from knowledge which does not benefit, from a heart which has no fear; from actions which are not lifted up to heaven and from a prayer which is not heard” (113:7).

Dajjal literally means “fake, lying.” The name given in the traditions (sayings of the Prophet) to certain religious impostors who shall appear in the world; a term somewhat similar to the word Anti Christ (in Christianity).

Hardness of heart comes from using religion for worldly ends

1987 3 March 25 Hardness of heart comes from using religion for worldly ends (52) “The punishment of a learned man is for his heart to die,” said Hasan al-Basri. He was asked what was meant by the death of the heart, and he answered that it came from seeking the world by means of actions which should be gauged towards eternity.

(Jami’ bayan al-’ilm wa fadhlihi)

Rejoicing in the Muslims’ prosperity

1987 3 March 25 Rejoicing in the Muslims’ prosperity (29) ‘Abdullah Ibn’ Abbas once said: “Whenever I hear that rain has fallen on a Muslim town I am happy; even though I myself have no cattle grazing there.”

(Tabrani)