Is ignorance "Bliss" for a Muslim?

Lastupdate on : Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:30:00 Greater kashmir . > IS IGNORANCE A BLISS? No, it’s darkness and it can’t be held as an excuse against our misdeeds, writes Dr. Fiaz Fazili People say that ignorance is bliss because it's easier to support something blindly than exploring all the options so one can act on instinct and learned behaviours. Some argue, what you don't know can't hurt you, but for a believer living with diversity can lead him always to conflicting beliefs, wrong practices, and even disobedience. Anyone who disobeys Allah and his messenger and violates His limits, He will cause him to enter the fire abiding there forever, that is a humiliating, punishment. (Quran.ch 4; That Ignorance is bliss is only a portion of the entire statement made by Thomas Gray in his poem. Today when we are talking about an ignorant, it doesn't mean that you are a complete dumb (well, being dumb can be considered as a general ignorance), it means that you don't have any knowledge in a certain field of life especially about the faith you follow. Allah the Almighty has prescribed ordinances, which should not be neglected. He has outlined some limits which should not be contravened and has forbidden some things which he deemed inviolable. If a believer doesn't have a correct religious knowledge, the probability that his steps may wander aside is high, and he easily can be deviated by Satan towards the unlawful things. But if we are blessed with the light of knowledge we will not stray from the righteous path. We shall also be able to identify and avoid the dangerous paths of Kufr, Shirk and immorality, which may cross our lives. And, whenever a deceptive guide meets us, a few moments of small interaction with him will quickly establish that he is not a guide to be followed. In the very first verse of Quran revealed to the Prophet of Islam (SAW) the importance of acquiring knowledge was expounded clearly. Allah (SWT) says:Iqra…"Read! In the Name of your Lord Who has created ,all that exists,, (Quran 96;1-5).Allah (SWT) created man and bestowed him with the tools for acquiring knowledge, namely hearing, sight and wisdom, and everyone after the death will be asked about their utilization .The one who points the way to something good is like the one who does it .The Prophet (SAW) said: "When a man dies, all his deeds come to an end except for three – an ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge or a righteous son who will pray for him." (Muslim).Islam calls us to seek all kinds of beneficial knowledge. Branches of knowledge vary in status, the highest of which is knowledge of sharee'ah(through which man comes to know his Lord, and his Prophet and religion), then knowledge of medicine, then the other fields of knowledge. The Prophet (pbuh) made seeking knowledge an obligation upon every Muslim, and he explained that, "Whoever follows a path in the pursuit of knowledge, Allah (SWT) will make a path to Paradise easy for him." (al-Bukhaari). How sad it is, many Muslims today do not live in accord with the principles and values of their faith, even in presence of many mosques, Islamic schools, organizations, webs sites and interactive Islamic blogs, and above all beautiful teachings of the Holy Qur’an and Prophetic Sunnah, which hold knowledgeable person in high esteem. Saying"-When you pass by the meadows of Paradise indulge freely in it!". They said:" O Messenger of Allah! What are the meadows of Paradise"? He said: "The circles of 'Ilm; "May Allah brighten (the face of) a person who hears a hadith from us, and reports it as he heard it, because many people which the hadith is reported to, perceive it better than the one who reported it to them". Safwan Ibn 'Assal came to the Prophet (SAW) to seek knowledge, The Prophet (SAW) said," Welcome. knowledge seeker! Indeed, the angles surround the knowledge seeker with their wings, then they pile on top of each other until they reach the lower heaven out of their love of what he is seeking. He who leaves his home in order to seek knowledge, he is in Allah's path until he returns to his home." (At-Tirmidhi). How sad it is. Many Muslims today do not live in accord with the principles and values of their faith, even in presence of many mosques, Islamic schools, organizations, webs sites and interactive Islamic blogs, and above all beautiful teachings of the Holy Qur'an and Prophetic Sunnah, which hold knowledgeable person in high esteem. Saying"-When you pass by the meadows of Paradise indulge freely in it!". They said:" O Messenger of Allah! What are the meadows of Paradise"? He said: "The circles of 'Ilm; "May Allah brighten (the face of) a person who hears a hadith from us, and reports it as he heard it, because many people which the hadith is reported to, perceive it better than the one who reported it to them". Safwan Ibn 'Assal came to the Prophet (SAW) to seek knowledge, The Prophet (SAW) said," Welcome knowledge seeker! Indeed, the angles surround the knowledge seeker with their wings, then they pile on top of each other until they reach the lower heaven out of their love of what he is seeking. He who leaves his home in order to seek knowledge, he is in Allah's path until he returns to his home." (At-Tirmidhi). Muslim world is facing intimidation due to misunderstanding, misrepresentation created by some hostile western media. Accusing Islam of being incompatible with an age and its values is not a new phenomenon, west continued to portray Islam in negative images, explicitly and implicitly, as an enemy of modern good values such as democracy, liberty, and tolerance. Islam is derived from the Arabic root "Salama": peace, purity, submission, and obedience. How can a religion which literally means peace be accused of anything, but it is the ignorance of the reality of Islam in the west that has created unfounded phobia of this great religion. Islam has never opposed modernity, but only cautions its followers about the evil effects of westernization. Islamic society is founded on the principles of belief and righteous conduct. This connection between values and practice lies at the very heart of the Islamic way of life. To be a Muslim requires that one's faith be reflected in one's practice and daily moral conduct with other people. Muslims, especially living in multi-faith society have great responsibility to proceed on the path of the Prophet (SAW) and his Companions; and demonstrate to the community at large that Islam is the way out of the spiritual, social, economic, and political misery that people face today as individuals, as a community and as a nation, simultaneously we must all work to ensure that they hold the correct concepts about Islam.If we are Muslims in name yet almost totally ignorant of our religion, then our Unislamic practices and actions will contribute to the painting of the distorted image of Islam. There is a misperception prevalent in society that deep thought is not good. People warn one another saying "don't think so much, you will lose your mind". In this world they might be able to evade religious responsibilities by avoiding thinking and this misbelieve of success in holding themselves aloof from many contentious issues is definitely temporary. This is surely nothing, but a myth invented by people who are remote from religious knowledge. How can a believer? defend himself on the day, when Allah clearly says," We have recorded the fate of every human being; it is tied to his neck. On the Day of Resurrection, we will hand him a record that is accessible. Read your own record. Today, you suffice as your own reckoner".( Quran17;13-14]. Although the main purpose of acquiring knowledge is to bring us closer to Allah. It is not simply for the gratification of the mind or the senses. Do not acquire knowledge in order to vie with scholars, and to wrangle with the foolish, and to sit in the best seats: whoever does that his abode will be the Fire (hadith) Read carefully, brothers/sisters, to the point I am making. It is essential to understand that to remain in possession of, or to be deprived of, the greatest bounty of Allah-for which you are so overwhelmed with gratitude-depends primarily on knowledge. Without knowledge, you cannot truly receive His gift of Islam. I am not asking you to become scholars, read voluminous books or spend a large part of your time in the pursuit of knowledge but it is necessary to study religion to stay righteous in Islam for your socio economic, personal life, and life after. May Allah give us fortitude to admit our shortcomings, and courage to seek true knowledge.