7.2.1 Seeking Knowledge

The Honor of Seeking Knowledge

Seeking knowledge in Islam is an act of worship of the heart, mind, and time. It is one of the clearest signs that a person truly wants to strengthen their īmān. Allah raised the status of people who learn and people who teach, and connected knowledge to guidance, humility, and closeness to Him.

Allah says:

“Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees.”
(Qur’an 58:11)

And He linked true knowledge with true fear and awe of Him:

“It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves who truly fear Allah.”
(Qur’an 35:28)

Whoever learns sincerely for Allah walks a path that leads to Paradise. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever travels a path seeking knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise.”
(Muslim)

In this way, seeking knowledge is not only about information, but about a journey of the heart that makes faith stronger, purer, and more stable.

Knowledge as Light and Protection

Ignorance weakens faith, while knowledge by Allah’s permission lights the way. Allah describes revelation and the knowledge that comes from it as light that removes darkness:

“O mankind, there has come to you a conclusive proof from your Lord, and We have sent down to you a clear light.”
(Qur’an 4:174)

And He says:

“Is one who was dead, and We gave him life and made for him a light by which he walks among the people, like one who is in darkness, never to emerge from it?”
(Qur’an 6:122)

Correct knowledge shows what pleases Allah and what angers Him, what brings us closer to Him and what pushes us away. This protects the believer from doubts that confuse the mind and from desires that mislead the heart. The Prophet ﷺ linked knowledge with protection from misguidance when he said:

“Whoever Allah wants good for, He grants him understanding in the religion.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)

So when Allah desires good for a servant, He opens their heart to learn, reflect, and understand the dīn, and this understanding becomes a shield for their īmān.

Knowledge and Sincerity

Seeking knowledge is not a race for status or praise. It is a form of worship that demands a clean intention. A person can learn a lot and still be destroyed if the heart seeks people instead of Allah. The Prophet ﷺ warned clearly:

“Whoever learns knowledge by which the Face of Allah is sought, but does not learn it except to gain some worldly benefit, will not smell the fragrance of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection.”
(Abu Dāwūd)

And he ﷺ said:

“Whoever seeks knowledge to argue with the foolish, or to show off to the scholars, or to turn people’s faces toward him, Allah will enter him into the Fire.”
(Tirmidhi)

Sincere knowledge softens the heart and increases humility. If knowledge increases pride, harshness, or arrogance, then something is wrong with the intention or with the way it is being taken in.

What Kind of Knowledge Is Sought First

Islam encourages all useful knowledge, but not all knowledge is equal in priority. For faith, the most important knowledge is knowledge that every Muslim must have for their own worship and salvation. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.”
(Ibn Mājah)

The scholars explained that the first obligatory knowledge is what you personally need in order to believe correctly and worship correctly. This includes, at a basic level, knowing who Allah is, who His Messenger ﷺ is, and what He has commanded you in your daily life, such as purification and prayer. After that, obligations grow with your responsibilities, for example in family, wealth, or positions of leadership.

Allah criticizes people who know worldly matters but ignore knowledge that would save them in the Hereafter:

“They know what is apparent of the worldly life, but they, of the Hereafter, are unaware.”
(Qur’an 30:7)

Useful knowledge is that which brings you nearer to Allah in belief, worship, character, or service to His creation. The more a kind of knowledge helps your īmān and your obedience, the higher its value.

The Qur’an and Sunnah as the Source

For someone who wants to strengthen īmān, the most important fountain of knowledge is the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ. Allah commands:

“So know that there is no deity except Allah, and seek forgiveness for your sin.”
(Qur’an 47:19)

Notice that Allah begins with “know” before commanding other actions. Knowledge of tawḥīd and correct belief is learned from revelation. He also says:

“And whatever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatever he forbids you, abstain from it.”
(Qur’an 59:7)

The Prophet ﷺ guaranteed that holding firmly to these two sources protects a person from going astray:

“I have left among you two things, you will never go astray as long as you hold fast to them: the Book of Allah and my Sunnah.”
(Mālik in al-Muwaṭṭa’)

Reading the Qur’an with understanding, learning its meanings from reliable explanations, and studying authentic hadith and their explanations, are central acts of seeking knowledge for the believer whose goal is a strong and living īmān.

Learning from People of Knowledge

Islam does not expect every beginner to understand texts alone. Allah commanded those who do not know to ask those who do:

“So ask the people of knowledge if you do not know.”
(Qur’an 16:43)

The Prophet ﷺ explained that scholars take the place of the prophets in guiding people correctly:

“The scholars are the inheritors of the prophets. The prophets do not leave behind dinar or dirham, but they leave behind knowledge. Whoever takes it has taken a great share.”
(Abu Dāwūd and Tirmidhi)

However, learning from scholars requires care and responsibility. One must choose teachers known for sound belief, following the Qur’an and Sunnah, and good character. A person does not simply look for someone eloquent or popular. The early Muslims used to say that this knowledge is religion, so look from whom you take your religion.

The student of knowledge respects their teachers, but worships only Allah. They accept what is supported by evidence from the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah and do not allow personal attachment to overcome truth. The more correct the guide, the safer the path for one’s īmān.

Adab: Manners of the Seeker

Seeking knowledge in Islam is never just about intellect. It is also about adab, the manners and character that surround the process of learning. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The believer is not one who insults, curses, is indecent, or foul.”
(Tirmidhi)

This applies even more when learning and teaching. The manners of the seeker include humility, patience, respect, and truthfulness. A person who truly wants guidance listens carefully, asks respectfully, and avoids arguing and debating for victory of the self.

Allah praises the attitude of those who say “We hear and we obey” when guidance reaches them:

“The only statement of the believers when they are called to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them is that they say, ‘We hear and we obey.’ And those are the successful.”
(Qur’an 24:51)

The seeker also avoids mocking other Muslims for what they do not yet know, and instead helps them learn. Knowledge joined with bad manners weakens its benefit and may even harm one’s īmān through arrogance and contempt.

Consistency and Gradual Progress

Brains and hearts both learn best through steadiness, not through sudden bursts that quickly fade. Revelation itself came down step by step. Allah says:

“And it is a Qur’an which We have separated [by intervals] that you might recite it to the people over a prolonged period, and We have sent it down gradually.”
(Qur’an 17:106)

When the Prophet ﷺ was asked about which deeds are most beloved to Allah, he replied:

“The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are consistent, even if they are few.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)

This applies strongly to seeking knowledge. A short, daily connection with learning, such as reading a few verses with explanation or a small authentic book with understanding, builds a strong foundation over time. Sharp but irregular efforts often leave a person confused or drained, while gentle consistency nourishes the heart and strengthens īmān.

The seeker should not rush to advanced topics or complex debates before building a clear base of basic belief, worship, and character, because skipping steps often creates doubt or misguidance instead of strength.

Acting Upon Knowledge

Knowledge in Islam is not complete until it leads to action. The Qur’an repeatedly criticizes those who know but do not practice. Allah says:

“O you who have believed, why do you say what you do not do? Greatly hateful in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do.”
(Qur’an 61:2–3)

And He gives the example of someone who carries knowledge but does not live by it:

“The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah then did not take it on, is like that of a donkey who carries volumes [of books].”
(Qur’an 62:5)

The Prophet ﷺ also used to seek refuge from knowledge that does not benefit:

“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit, from a heart that does not humble, from a soul that is never satisfied, and from a supplication that is not answered.”
(Muslim)

Every time a person learns something new about what Allah loves, they should try to act on it. Every time they learn that something is forbidden, they should try to leave it. This link between knowing and doing is one of the strongest ways to deepen īmān.

Protecting the Heart While Seeking Knowledge

While knowledge strengthens faith, the path is not free of dangers. There are three common risks: arrogance, argument, and seeking fame. The Prophet ﷺ warned his community about the first people to be judged on the Day of Judgment, including a man who learned and taught, but for the wrong reason:

“A man who learned knowledge and taught it, and recited the Qur’an. He will be brought and reminded of Allah’s favors and he will acknowledge them. Allah will say: ‘What did you do with them?’ He will say: ‘I learned knowledge and taught it, and I recited the Qur’an for Your sake.’ Allah will say: ‘You have lied. Rather you learned so it would be said: He is a scholar, and you recited the Qur’an so it would be said: He is a reciter. And it was said.’ Then it will be ordered that he be dragged on his face into the Fire.”
(Muslim)

The seeker must therefore constantly renew their intention and ask Allah for protection. They should avoid using knowledge to quarrel or to belittle others. Allah says:

“And do not argue on behalf of those who deceive themselves.”
(Qur’an 4:107)

Instead, they seek knowledge to heal their own weaknesses, not to search for the faults of others. Regular duʿā for sincerity, guidance, and beneficial knowledge is part of protecting the heart. The Prophet ﷺ used to say:

“O Allah, benefit me with what You have taught me, teach me what will benefit me, and increase me in knowledge.”
(Tirmidhi)

Fruit of Knowledge: Increased Īmān

The final sign that knowledge is being sought correctly is that īmān grows. The Qur’an tells us that revelation itself causes the believers’ faith to rise:

“And whenever a surah is revealed, some of them say, ‘Which of you has this increased in faith?’ As for those who believe, it has increased them in faith while they rejoice.”
(Qur’an 9:124)

When a Muslim learns about Allah’s Names and Attributes, His mercy and justice, His promises and warnings, their heart becomes more attached to Him. When they understand the wisdom of His commands, their obedience becomes more willing and content. When they learn the stories of the prophets, their patience and hope increase.

This is the fruit of seeking knowledge for the sake of strengthening īmān: more certainty, more love, more fear, more hope, and more surrender to Allah in both ease and hardship.