Ignorance and its People –
While the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was preaching Islam openly in Mecca, 20 learned Christians came to him and questioned him about Islam. After answering their questions and reciting the Holy Quran to them they accepted Islam as they recognized the signs of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, which were recorded in their divine scriptures. When they arose to leave him the non-Muslim leader of Mecca, Abu Jahl, blocked their path and insulted them by claiming that they had abandoned their correct faith. They simply replied that they would not insult him back and instead greeted him with peace and left him. Allah, the Exalted, then revealed chapter 28 Al Qasas, verses 52-55 of the Holy Quran:
“Those to whom We gave the Scripture before it – they are believers in it. And when it is recited to them, they say, “We have believed in it; indeed, it is the truth from our Lord. Indeed we were, [even] before it, Muslims [i.e., submitting to Allah].” Those will be given their reward twice for what they patiently endured and [because] they avert evil through good, and from what We have provided them they spend. And when they hear ill speech, they turn away from it and say, “For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. Peace will be upon you; we seek not the ignorant.””
This incident has been recorded in Imam Ibn Kathir’s, the Life of the Prophet, Volume 2, Pages 24-25.
This incident is connected to chapter 25 Al Furqan, verse 63:
“…and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace.”
Specifically, when people act in a foolish way they do not reply in the same way. Instead, they show patience and treat these people kindly which is shown through their speech and actions. They understand that the best response they can give a foolish person is to leave them in peace as replying to them in an evil way only spurs them on. This does not mean they do not defend themselves as Islam permits this but they have adopted humility without weakness. They do not wish to waste their time on people who are only looking for trouble. Ignorance is a disliked characteristic in Islam and is one of the reasons why seeking knowledge is a duty on all Muslims. This is confirmed in a Hadith found in Sunan Ibn Majah, number 224. The ignorant commit sins without even realising it therefore, the true servants of the Most Merciful avoid its people and this characteristic by dedicating time to studying the Holy Quran and the traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and strive to adopt these teachings into their lives through actions. Chapter 39 Az Zumar, verse 9:
“…Say, “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?”…”
The Holy Quran has made it clear that an ignorant person cannot attain true piety. Chapter 35 Fatir, verse 28:
“…Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge…”
This is because knowledge is required in order to adopt the good characteristics and avoid the evil traits advised in Islamic teachings. If one is unaware of an evil trait how can they avoid or remove it from their character?
One should not only strive to attain and act on Islamic knowledge but they should always maintain respect for those who possess knowledge as this keeps one away from pride.
The Holy Quran advises Muslims to turn away from the company of the ignorant as they can only inspire their friends towards pointless or evil things. Chapter 28 Al Qasas, verse 55:
“And when they hear ill speech, they turn away from it and say, “For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. Peace will be upon you; we seek not the ignorant.””
This does not mean one should not advise or teach the ignorant but this should be left to educated Muslims who have adopted the correct characteristics required to spread the message of Islam correctly.
The truly ignorant is not someone who lacks knowledge. In truth, the ignorant is someone who does not act on their knowledge. Such a person is ignorant even if they possess much knowledge. Acting on knowledge is knowledge which is beneficial. Everything else is only knowledge of the tongue which will not benefit its possessor. In actual fact this knowledge will testify against a person on Judgment Day. So Muslims should strive to learn and act on Islamic knowledge and seek refuge with Allah, the Exalted, from knowledge which does not benefit as the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, advised. This is confirmed in a Hadith found in Sunan Ibn Majah, number 3843.
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