HADITH THIRTY FIVE: LOVING KNOWLEDGE
Safwan ibn ‘Assal I said, “I came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم while he was reclining in the masjid on his red cloak and said to him, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I came to seek knowledge.’ He said, «Welcome, O seeker of knowledge! The angels surround the seeker of knowledge and shade him with their wings, and they will pack on top of each other until they reach the lowest sky out of love for what he is seeking.»”
Reported by al-Tabarani in al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir (73477) and Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr in Jami‘ Bayan al-‘Ilm wa Fadlihi (162). Al-Albani declared it sahih (al-Silsilah al-Sahihah, 3397)
Commentary
Islamic knowledge reveals who Allah is and leads to His love. Its seekers are distinctly close to Allah, the angels revere them, and they receive the prayers of all living creatures.
Spread cheer
Note the enthusiasm in the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم welcome. His words were full of joy. He warmly received Safwan and delighted him with the good news of Allah’s reward. Pleasant and kind words inject love in the heart of the listener and encourage them to continue doing what Allah loves. When we motivate others to do good, we all come closer to Allah. And we have to do it especially with seeking knowledge. He صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
There will come to you people who will be seeking knowledge. When you see them, say to them, “Welcome, welcome O whom the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked us to take care of,” and teach them.
Reported by Ibn Majah (247) and al-Albani declared it hasan (Sahih Sunan Ibn Majah, 247)
Why such a heartwarming reception? Well, it speaks to the virtue of seeking knowledge, which we will see shortly. But it also stresses an attitude that we should develop: motivating and nurturing righteousness.
Doing the right thing in life is not easy. It requires sacrifice, and it often makes us unpopular. The truth is heavy. Allah described the Quran and said:
We will send down to you heavy words.
Al-Muzzammil (Q73:5)
They are heavy in multiple ways. They are deep, they are rich in meaning, they change anything they come in contact with, and they require sacrifice. Following the Quran is not easy, but it is the best thing for you. Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud said:
The truth is heavy but healthful, and falsehood is light but diseased. And perhaps an hour’s enjoyment leads to long sorrow.
Al-Zuhd by Hannad ibn al-Sarriyy (p. 287)
Everything worthwhile in life requires effort and sacrifice, and it is typically not as enticing as the trivial (think even of wholesome food vs. junk food). But there is a vast difference in the consequences. Humans, unfortunately, are superficial and keen to look for quick gratification. And this makes the truth heavy to adopt, heavy to carry, and heavy to defend. And so the followers of the truth may find themselves burdened and
exhausted because of the weight they carry. Knowing this, we should not add to their burden. We must not complicate their lives and sadden them with frowns, harsh words, and mistreatment. We want to unburden them with smiles, encouraging words, and kindness. We should not become the straw that breaks the back of a righteous camel. Assist the righteous to spread righteousness. If you cannot assist them, at least do not
harm them.
The Hadith has a profound lesson for us if we are trying to follow the truth and feel exhausted. There was no one with greater responsibility and burden than the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. Yet, we saw how cheerful he was when he received Safwan I. This, by the way, was his disposition: he always had a smile on his face. He was cordial all the time. How could one with so much responsibility and worry be so cheerful and kind? The secret is his connection to Allah. Read the sixth ayah in Surah al-Muzzammil, the one right after the fifth ayah (quoted above). After Allah explained that He will send down heavy words to His Prophet, He spoke about worship, specifically night prayer. Go and read it. It is important. I mean it. Please go and read it. If you do, you will realize that the way to cope with the difficulty of carrying the truth is the worship of Allah. And the heavier the burden, the more worship we need.
I say this because many of us get stuck in the middle phase of carrying the truth. There are three main phases of this journey. The first one is excitement. At this stage, we are eager to spread the truth, teach, call people to Islam, and work on Islamic projects. We have ideas, plans, and are ready to change the world. This phase is beautiful but does not last for long. The second phase begins when we encounter the challenges that accompany what Allah loves, and we lose our enthusiasm, kindness, and patience. The burden makes it harder to smile or find joy in what we are doing. Exhausted, we become harsh, cynical, and disappointed. And it is a dangerous combination to carry the mantle of Islam and yet fail to represent it well. This misrepresentation chases people away and tarnishes the image of Islam itself. So, we have three options if we are at this stage. We can retreat and forget what Allah loves because it is too costly, we can be stuck and miserable, or we can advance to the third phase. In the last stage, we intensify our worship to come closer to Allah. We then uncover the joy of “working for
Allah.” The difficulties do not disappear, but Allah assists us in overcoming them. And when we feel how close Allah is, it becomes easier to smile and be kind no matter the hardship and worry. So, push until you reach this last stage. And whenever life pushes you back, resist it by marching forward. Fight the burdens of life with heartfelt worship.
Seeking knowledge
Right after obligatory worship, nothing is more beloved to Allah than seeking knowledge. The famous Tabi‘i Mutarrif ibn Abdullah al-Shikhir said:
Extra knowledge is better than Extra worship.
Al-Madhkal ila al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi (p. 304)
Al-Bayhaqi made this saying the title of one of the chapters in the book above. Under it, he added the saying of Ibn ‘Abbas:
Discussing matters of knowledge for part of the night is more beloved to me than praying the whole night.
Al-Madhkal ila al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi (p. 304)
This is so because seeking knowledge is an act of worship. Al-Zuhri made it clear when he said:
Allah is not worshipped with anything like fiqh [i.e. knowledge].
Al-Madhkal ila al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi (p. 308)
Many may not realise that seeking knowledge is valuable worship of Allah. But studying Islam teaches us what many other acts cannot. The superiority of this worship is what prompted a great scholar like al-Shafi‘i to say:
Seeking knowledge is better than voluntary Salah.
Al-Madhkal ila al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi (p. 310)
He even went as far as saying:
“After the performance of the obligations, there is nothing better than seeking knowledge.” He was asked, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?” He replied, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah.”
Al-Madhkal ila al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi (p. 310)
It is an honour to be connected to Islamic knowledge as a student or a teacher. When you do, you are engaged in one of the most superior acts in life.
Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak was asked, “If you were informed that you have only one day to live, what would you do?” He replied, “I would teach people.”
Al-Madhkal ila al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi (p. 309)
Many when asked about their bucket lists—things they want to do before their death—would list travel, adventure, exotic food, and new experiences. Few would say teaching people or learning something new. But our pious predecessors understood the value of knowledge and spreading it. Therefore, they would choose it for their last days on earth.
Why does seeking knowledge have such a high distinction? Because it is how we get to love Allah and attain His love. We cannot love what we do not know. We need revealed knowledge to understand who our Creator is. When we know Him in-depth, our love for Him increases. And the more we know Him, the stronger our love will be. Allah said:
Only the learned are in awe of Allah.
Fatir (Q35:28)
Khashyah in the ayah is more than fear (khawf). It is fear coupled with veneration, and it is based on knowledge. Allah praised the truly learned who venerate Allah and fear Him, and they do so because they understand His Majesty and Power more than anyone else. This deep knowledge increases their love for Allah. And their love grows as their knowledge does.
Revealed knowledge also details what Allah loves. It tells us how to live the best life on earth, securing all benefits and avoiding all harm. It connects this life to the next, and what we love to what Allah loves. Making these informed choices guides us to Allah’s love. And it is not possible to know all this unless Allah teaches us. Allah said:
And they will say, “Alhamdulillah who guided us to this, and we would not have been guided if Allah did not guide us.”
Al-A‘raf (Q7:43)
Learning is the means to Allah’s love. And knowledge coupled with application is true guidance. There is nothing better than this on earth. And if one finds themselves on the path of learning and teaching, they have received the best favour and honour from Allah. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
«When Allah desires good for someone, He gives them faith in religion.»
Reported by al-Bukhari (71) and Muslim (1037)
It is a sign of Allah’s love and selection when He guides you to what He loves. If you are a seeker of knowledge—you can adopt this intention when reading this book—then appreciate this great gift which Allah chose for you. It is a sign of Allah’s love.
On top of all of this, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
«When one pursues a path to seek knowledge, Allah will lead them to a path of the paths of Jannah. The angels lower their wings for the seeker of knowledge out of pleasure for what he is doing. And the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth and
the fish in the water ask for forgiveness for the knowledgeable. The superiority of the knowledgeable over the worshipper [without knowledge] is like that of the full moon over the rest of the stars. The learned are the heirs of the Prophets. The Prophets did
not bequeath a dinar or dirham but bequeathed knowledge. So, the one who attains it receives plenty of good fortune.»
Reported by Abu Dawud (3641) and al-Albani declared it sahih (Sahih Abi Dawud, 3641)
The impact of teaching Islam is so far-reaching that it is almost unimaginable. All creatures sense and receive its blessings. How can one fathom that everyone in the heavens and on earth is making du‘a for teachers of Islam? Even the animals and the
fish at sea? Even ants in their anthills, according to another authentic hadith? And the reaction of the angels is something else. They lower their wings for the seeker of knowledge to symbolise respect, love, and admiration.
Royalty is celebrated with salutes and gunfire. But there is nothing more prestigious than receiving the tribute of the angels. In the Hadith of the chapter, they throng the seeker of knowledge until they reach the sky. It is important to keep these images in mind. You may be teaching Islam and be completely anonymous. You may do a lot of good work but receive little to zero recognition. Then when you see what the seekers of
the world receives, you become sad and deflated. Where is our motivation going to come from? If you see people flocking to a celebrity, remember that the angels of Allah will surround the seeker of knowledge. This is what being a real celebrity is, to have the best of Allah’s creation admire you and want to be close to you. When you learn Islam and teach it, you are benefiting everyone on earth, and all living creatures will pray for you. Remembering this blessing is our motivation to keep learning and teaching, even if the world does not reward us for it.
A sign of Allah’s love
Some physical signs foretell Allah’s love for a person. When one follows Allah’s will on earth, it is a sign of Allah’s pleasure with Him up above. Ibn Taymiyyah wrote:
When Allah loves someone, He employs them in what He loves.
Al-‘Ubudiyyah (p. 113)
Allah reserves His highest honours for the people He loves. He likes them to be close to Him, so he employs them in doing His work. This is an excellent formula to detect Allah’s love. If we want to know if Allah loves us, consider if we are doing what He loves. This is not limited to Islamic knowledge but extends to everything pleasing to Allah. If you are helping others or taking care of your family for Allah’s sake, then you
are pleasing Allah. If we find, however, that we are not doing what Allah loves, we should change our ways and rush back to Him. We cannot claim Allah’s love by doing what He hates.
One of the features of Allah’s beloveds is their constant pursuit to come closer to Allah. They seek what Allah loves and do it whenever they can. Their pursuit is endless as Allah’s love is endless. And the more of it they have, the more they want. Allah’s love is more intense than any other.
DR. ALI ALBARGHOUTHI
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