Ramadan Day 11: Verses from the Quran
Sat Oct 15, 2005 at 06:55:06 PM PDT
Each day during
Ramadan, I am presenting a verse from the Quran with a few thoughts or comments. An introduction to this series is
here. Inshallah (God willing), I hope that this may be of benefit to any who are interested in learning a bit more about Islam and Muslim belief.
9:122
And the faithful should not go forth altogether, but instead a section from each party should seek to understand the religion and instruct their folk when they return, so that they guard themselves
The "going forth" in this verse refers to going forth for jihad. Which makes it curious that some are instructed to stay behind in order to study the religion and be ready to teach it to the fighters when they return.
A well-known saying attributed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is:
The ink of the scholar is more sacred than the blood of the martyr. (cited here)
This certainly puts a different spin on jihad than we usually see!
Some other well-known sayings about the importance of learning are:
- The acquisition of knowledge is compulsory for every Muslim, whether male or female
- Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave
- God has revealed to me, 'Whoever walks in the pursuit of knowledge I facilitate for him the way to heaven.'
- The best form of worship is the pursuit of knowledge
- Scholars should endeavor to spread knowledge and provide education to people who have been deprived of it. For, where knowledge is hidden it disappears
- Acquire knowledge: it enables its possessor to distinguish right from the wrong, it lights the way to heaven; it is Our friend in the desert, our society in solitude, our companion when friendless- it guides us to happiness; it sustains us in misery; it is an Ornament among friends and an armor against enemies
I'm quite a bookworm, and I'm always reading and seeking to learn something new. So this is one of the aspects of Islam that is particularly appealing to me.
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