The Prophet (s.a.w) says, “The search of knowledge is obligatory for all Muslim men and women.” He also says, “Seek knowledge even if it is in China.”
We should know that knowledge is boundless and life is short. It is therefore not incumbent on man to perfect all branches of learning such as astronomy, mathematics and other sciences except to the extent necessitated by shariat.
For instance man has to learn that much of astronomy which enables him to determine the time (of prayer) by stars in the night; of medicine to preserve health, and of mathematics to calculate share of inheritance and iddat (duration of the period of divorce and menstruation).
The conditions of knowledge are determined by their utility to act rightly. God Almighty has deprecated the sort of knowledge which is harmful and useless. Says He: “They teach what is harmful and useless” [2:102]. The Prophet (s.a.w) has said: “I seek God’s protection against useless knowledge.”
We should know that one can achieve great success through a little knowledge. But knowledge should always be followed by practice. For the Prophet (s.a.w) has condemned knowledge without good deeds in the following words, “The worshipper without the knowledge of fiqh (Islamic law) is like the donkey driving a flour mill, which is at the same place in the evening where it started work in the morning.”
One of the signs of the ignorant is that they seek knowledge for worldly fame. This is not knowledge. It is ignorance. In short, the greatest virtue of knowledge is Truth of God and all the stages and states of nearness of God can be attained only through knowledge.
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