Say ! Are those who know equal to those who do not know? Nay - Only people of understanding take heed

Acquiring knowledge is one of the biggest virtue a man can strive for - for without knowledge a man is no better than an animal who is heedless of its direction, unless tended to the direction his master wants them to. Thus it can be said that knowledge enriches the individual. It shapes our personalities, our opinions, and how we perceive the world. A knowledgeable person can interact more meaningfully with others, participate in informed discussions, and think critically about issues.

Allah in Al-Qurʾān too emphasises the importance of knowledge and encourages His servants to seek knowledge for it opens door of wisdom and enlightens one's brain to ponder over what lies beneath the surface, which wisdom-less men only see and make erratic decisions.

In one of our earlier posts: Ten most powerful verses of Al Qur'an that challenge how we think, live, and understand reality, seeking knowledge is one of these ten core points, which we will reflect upon through this post with refference to Surah Az-Zumar, the 39th Surah of Al Qur'an, verse 9 given herein under:

The Verse

The verse begins by describing a sincere believer who worships at night, but it ends with this powerful question about knowledge “…Say: Are those who know equal to those who do not know? Only people of understanding take heed.”

Context of the Verse

The verse contrasts two types of people:

• One who is deeply aware of Allah, reflective, sincere, and conscious
• One who is heedless and unaware

Then comes the rhetorical question: Can a person of knowledge be equal to one without it?

Key point: “Knowledge” here is not just information—it is: (1) Insight (basīrah), (2) Discernment, and (3) Awareness of truth and consequences

Scholarly Explanation

Before we move on to segmented explanation of the verse, let us see how eminent Muslim scholar Ibn Kathir unpacks this verse:

• "Those Who Know" vs. "Those Who Know Not": The phrase "Say: Are those who know equal to those who know not?" distinguishes between people of knowledge and faith, and those who do not, highlighting that they are not equal before Allah.
• Worship and Knowledge: Ibn Kathir emphasizes that true knowledge brings someone to sincere worship and understanding of Allah. The verse concludes that only "men of understanding" (people of intellect) truly reflect on this.
• Fear and Hope: The believer is described as being in a state of balance between fearing Allah’s punishment in the Hereafter and hoping for His mercy, particularly in the later part of life, as recorded by At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.
• Qanit (Obedient): The term qanit implies a person who is constantly obedient, humbled, and devoted in prayer. 

In summary, Ibn Kathir highlights the superiority of the knowledgeable, devoted believer over the ignorant disbeliever, urging reflection on the importance of night prayer and sincerity in worship. 

What Kind of Knowledge Does the Qur’an Mean?

Throughout Al Qur'an man is asked to seek knowledge. But this knowledge should not be mere (مجرد ) data or facts, but:

• The ability to distinguish truth from falsehood
• The wisdom to act correctly
• Awareness that leads to responsibility and اخلاق (ethics)

That is a “knowing person” is not one who knows more—but one who understands better.

How to apply this verse to Fake News & AI

There were times when knowledge was contained in books by authentic scholars and writers. There was never an iota of doubt about the authenticity of the contents. But the open ended socail media and tools have changed the complexion of knowledge. Though unlike referring to libraries and finding the requisite book, which was laborious indeed, today access to information is though easy with a few clicks on a  computer keyboard, one is seldom sure of correctness of data. That is we live in an age where:

• Information is abundant
• Truth is confused
• AI can generate: (1) convincing text, (2) deep fakes, and (3) false narratives.

This makes the verse more relevant than ever.

The Real Problem Today

• Information does not equal to Knowledge
• Generally, rather mostly people consume the headlines, excerpts, viral posts or AI-generated content - which lately is gaining momentum and effecting human ability to think - thus closing doors to acquire wisdom.
• That is they don’t verify, reflect, or understand.
• This is exactly what the verse warns against: Being among those who “do not know” despite access to information
• Fake News Thrives on Lack of Discernment
• It should be understood that Emotional reactions spread misinformation faster than truth.
• That is why due to abundance of information available, people share information without checking sources and even questioning authenticity.
• Qur’anic principle: True knowledge requires critical thinking and responsibility.
• AI Amplifies the Challenge
• AI is the easiest tool to acquire and fabricate false information to look like real or reality.
• AI can generate realistic but false content and blurs lines between real vs fake and authentic vs مصنوع (fabricated).
• Therefore today being “knowledgeable” means being more careful, not just more informed

How 39:9 Guides Us in This Era

This verse calls for becoming people of understanding (ulū al-albāb) and cautions us to:

• Verify Before Believing
• Don’t accept everything you see
• Instead ask: Who created this? and What is the source?
• Think, Don’t Just React Pause before sharing - avoid emotional impulsiveness
• Seek Depth, Not Noise
• Move beyond: viral trends and superficial content
• Rather move toward meaningful knowledge and الحقيقة (truth)
• Link Knowledge with Ethics Even if something is interesting, STOP and ponder (1) Is it true? (2) Is sharing it responsible?

A Powerful Contrast

This verse implies that One who knows Verifies, reflects, thinks critically - but one who does not know and just scrolls reacts and shares blindly

A Deeper Insight

In today’s world, the greatest ignorance is not lack of information… but it is the inability to distinguish truth from falsehood. And that is exactly what this verse is addressing.

Final Reflection

Surah Az-Zumar (39:9) is not just praising knowledge—it is challenging you in a world full of voices, manipulation, and artificial content…: Will you be someone who truly knows—or someone who just consumes?

Remember! The way to true knowledge and enlightened information is devout worship, a sensitive heart, being mindful of the life to come, entertaining strong hopes of benefiting from God’s mercy and of being conscious of God. Those who limit themselves to individual experiences and superficial vision are no more than collectors of information. They will never attain the rank of people with knowledge.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may also refer to our exclusive reference pages: 

• Sürah 39. Az-Zumar 
• Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.
• Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects
• Selected Verses from the Qur'an. 

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Three verses of Qur'an that form a coherent philosophy of ‘ilm "علم" (knowledge) in Islam

Man has always been in the quest of knowing things. For this he collects Information / facts, to broaden his mental base of understanding things through learning, studying or even experience. The process of learning and knowing is what we call knowledge. Another word correlated to knowledge is wisdom, which is the ability to use that knowledge with good judgment, insight, and understanding to make sound decisions, seeing the bigger picture and long-term consequences, making wisdom a deeper application of knowledge. That means merely seeking knowledge and not applying it to one's handling of affair is meaningless. 

Knowledge is "knowing what", while wisdom is knowing "when and why" to use it, often gained through experience, reflection, and empathy, unlike knowledge which comes from books or study. 

 Knowledge encompasses both worldly knowledge and religious knowledge. It’s not about shunning the world and only seeking knowledge of the deen. Neither is it about seeking knowledge of the world without the guidance of faith.

In Islam, knowledge is known as 'ilm (Arabic علم). Seeking knowledge is thus mandatory for every believer, 999rrrrfor without learning, understanding, applying and passing on one's experience so gained to others. the cycle of 'ilm (knowledge) remains incomplete. No other religion or ideological thought emphasises seeking knowledge as an obligatory deed as Islam does. The Prophet of Islam Muhammad ﷺ said: “Seeking Knowledge is an obligation on every Muslim ( طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ فَرِيضَةٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ ).”

The importance of seeking 'good' knowledge that adds to one's wisdom has been stressed upon at man a places in Al Qur'an. Today, we share three verses from three different surahs of Qur'an and will try to know how these form a coherent Qur’anic philosophy of ‘ilm (knowledge). This we would do by asking three questions in sequence which will build a base for selecting three verses that answer our queries. These questions are:

• What does true knowledge do?
• Who truly possesses it?
• What inner state does it produce?

Based on the above three questions, let us see how do the following three verses (side by side) answer our queries:

• Surah Saba 34:6: “Those who have been given knowledge see that what has been sent down to you from your Lord is the Truth, and that it guides to the path of the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.”
• Surah Az-Zumar 39:9: “Say: Are those who know equal to those who do not know?”
• Surah Fatir 35:28: “Only those of His servants who have knowledge truly fear Allah.”

The Qur’an’s three-step definition of knowledge

The above quoted verses mean:

• The intellectual recognition (36:6) which leads to a believer to find and understand the truth
• The verse 39:9 brings about the moral distinctions between a knower and non-knower.
• Finding and knowing the truth has its spiritual outcome in the form of  Reverent awe (khashyah)

Together these show that ‘ilm is not neutral — it necessarily transforms perception, rank, and character.

Explanation of each verse

• If knowledge does not clarify truth, it is defective knowledge. The verse 36:6 stresses upon gaining knowledge as recognition (Basīrah) - recognizing the truth by seeing for knowledge here produces clarity, not confusion. The knowledge gained through reading and understanding Al Qur'an leads us to accept it as Al Haqq (The Complete truth) which leads us to following it.
• Knowledge helps us to differentiate between the truth and falsehood. The verse (49:9) thus dismantles the idea that ignorance and knowledge produce the same outcomes.
• Knowledge as reverent fear (Khashyah): This part of the Islamic philosophy of 'ilm needs to be understood in depth, for there is difference between fearing Allah because He will punish those who do not follow His path and reverent fear for more one knows Allah’s signs, power, and order, the more restrained and humble one becomes. Khashyah, thus, is not panic; it is awe grounded in understanding.

* Note: Scroll down to have an in depth explanation of "reverent fear / Khashah) and panic driven fear,

How the three verses complete each other

If we follow the logical flow , we would come to know that:

• Knowledge allows you to recognize truth (36:6) - Knowledge of Qur'an leads us to know Qur’an is not anti-intellect — it is anti-arrogant intellect.
• That recognition sets you apart (39:9)
• That distinction produces humility and obedience (35:28)

That is if any step is missing, the Qur’anic definition of knowledge collapses.

What the wise deduce from the comparison

The Qur’anic axiom: Knowledge that does not lead to truth-recognition, moral distinction, and reverent humility is not ‘ilm in the Qur’anic sense.

This explains: (1) Why advanced civilizations can still collapse (Surah Saba), (2) Why worship without understanding is shallow (39:9 context) and (3) Why information without humility breeds arrogance (35:28)

One-line synthesis

True knowledge sees the truth (34:6), elevates the knower (39:9), and humbles the heart (35:28).

How khashyah differs from fear in the Qur’an

We made a mention of reverent awe (Khashyah) above and herein under is its detailed explanation and comparison with panic driven fear /khawf خوف.

The Qur’an uses multiple words for fear, but they are not interchangeable. Among them, khashyah (خشية) occupies a unique and elevated position. Understanding this difference is essential to understanding Qur’anic spirituality and knowledge.

• Basic distinction
• Fear خَوف (khawf) - The basic form for "fear" meaning fear or apprehension. It also mean being dreaded or terrorized. Fear stems from a threat, danger or harm and is instinctive and emotional state of a person. It is generally because of one's weakness or uncertainty which makes one flee or hide to evade the chances of being harmed. Fear in Islam may mean fear of being thrown into the hell fire on the day of Judgement for one's sins and wrong doings committed in the worldly life.
• khashyah (خشية) - This form of fear stems from the awareness of greatness of the Lord of the World which one learns through knowledge and recognition. When one understand the awe of the Divine fear based on one's intellect and understanding, it draws one closer to one's Creator rather than running away for then one knows that in reverent fear is hidden the mercy of Allah. Such form of fear is restricted to people of knowledge (35:28).
• Linguistic root difference
• Fear (khawf – خوف): The root meaning is to be afraid of loss or harm. It is shared by humans, animals, even children. It can be be irrational, impulsive, or temporary.
• Khashyah (خشية): The root meaning is to fear due to awareness of magnitude. It is always connected to recognition, not instinct. It cannot exist without understanding who Allah is. This is why the Qur’an says: "إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ Only those of His servants who have knowledge truly fear Allah" 
• Psychological difference
  • Fear (khawf) Produces panic or avoidance and can paralyze action - but may disappear when danger seems gone
  • Khashyah on the other hand produces moral vigilance, deepens obedience and increases consistency, not anxiety
  • Psychological Difference: When one is fraught with fear of danger, the impulsive action tells the man, or even other living beings, to run, Khashyah says: “Be careful; you are before the Majestic.”

Knowledge as the condition of khashyah

This verse (35:28) does not say: (1) The most emotional fear Allah, or (2) The most anxious fear Allah. Rather it says: "The most knowledgeable fear Allah — with khashyah"

This implies that the more deeply one understands Allah’s power, justice, mercy, and order, the more careful, restrained, and humble one becomes.

Qur’anic usage pattern

• Fear (khawf) can be attributed to: Believers and disbelievers related to Worldly dangers and Shayṭān’s whispers (3:175)
• Khashyah is almost always linked to Allah, praised, never condemned and induces into man as a fruit of knowledge

Why the Qur’an prefers khashyah

It is because Allah does not want: (1) Terror without understanding, (2) Obedience born of panic. Instead it is expected of believer Submission rooted in recognition of truth and that hearts that are softened, not shattered

This aligns with: knowledge sees the truth (34:6), knowledge distinguishes (39:9) and knowledge produces khashyah (35:28) - that is Fear reacts to danger; khashyah responds to greatness.

Prophetic insight

The Prophet ﷺ said: “I am the one who knows Allah most among you, and I am the one who has the most khashyah of Him.”

This directly ties Knowledge with khashyah and Ignorance with fear.

Final reflection

• A person ruled by fear asks: “How do I escape punishment?”
• A person shaped by khashyah asks: “How do I remain worthy before the One who sees me?”

That is why the Qur’an elevates khashyah — and reserves it for those who truly know.

Thus Khashyah is the ultimate of knowledge with stems from acquiring knowledge, reflecting over Qur'an and understanding what and why Allah is saying something. Those who finally understand the end result are the ones who will finally succeed both in this world and the hereafter.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Photo | Resource References: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

For more Q&A about Understanding Islam, please refer to our reference page: Understanding Islam - Frequently asked Q&A. You may also refer to our refference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on important issue related to Islam to know more about Islam.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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The virtue of spreading knowledge (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

Knowledge is a form of awareness or familiarity. It embodies facts, information, and skills acquired through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject. Once one obtains knowledge, it becomes incumbent upon him to share the same with others so that the chain of sharing continues and benefits many others who have been gifted to receive knowledge, understand it and then share with others.

And when it comes to Qur'an and Sunnah, how blessed are those who can read and understand Qur'an, especially in Arabic, and then teach others who cannot read. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has on many a occasion emphasized the need to seek knowledge and spread it.

Of the many a Hadith on seeking and spreading knowledge, we share the following hadith as mentioned in Sunan Abi Dawud (Book # 26 Knowledge (Kitab Al-Ilm)/ كتاب العلم / Chapter # 10 The virtue of spreading knowledge / باب فَضْلِ نَشْرِ الْعِلْمِ ) as Hadith number # 3660:

Narrated by Zayd ibn Thabit:

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: May Allah brighten a man who hears a tradition from us, gets it by heart and passes it on to others. Many a bearer of knowledge conveys it to one who is more versed than he is; and many a bearer of knowledge is not versed in it.

Arabic Text:

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنِي عُمَرُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، - مِنْ وَلَدِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ - عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبَانَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ نَضَّرَ اللَّهُ امْرَأً سَمِعَ مِنَّا حَدِيثًا فَحَفِظَهُ حَتَّى يُبَلِّغَهُ فَرُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَفْقَهُ مِنْهُ وَرُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ لَيْسَ بِفَقِيهٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Grade: Sahih (Al-Albani)

The sole purpose of our sharing Hadiths and verses from Qur'an daily is that our readers would retain at least 10% of what has been shared, retain it in their memory, and then also share the acquired knowledge with others. However, care must be taken to acquire knowledge from authentic sources and while sharing the same, it is better to share knowledge by giving an authentic reference to the source and should not share knowledge based on mere heresy or based on sources that are not authentic.

While sharing Hadiths, care be taken to only share the Sahi / Authentic Hadiths. Hadiths that are Hassan / Fair or Daif /weak should not be shared, for as per scholars there exists a doubt to their authenticity or correctness. 

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may refer to our exclusive page: Collection of Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to read posts written on general matters.

Please also refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about sunnah / Hadith of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

Photo | Source of Hadith

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Whom did Prophet ﷺ prayed for: "May Allah cause his face to shine"

Seeking knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim, the revered Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once remarked (Sunan Ibn Mājah 224). But that knowledge is of no use if one conceals it and does not share it with others so that they should also get benefitted from it. And when it comes to the Divine wisdom contained in the Qur'an and in Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, one should disseminate it to as many people around as possible for may be the some of the listeners are receptive and act upon the wisdom of knowledge so received and can better shape their lives. 

Therefore, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ prayed for those who share knowledge, specially of Qur;ana dn his sayings. What did the prophet pray, this is recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah (The Book of the Sunnah كتاب المقدمة / Chapter # 18 He who conveys knowledge بابباب مَنْ بَلَّغَ عِلْمًا ) as Hadith number # 232 as under:

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ سِمَاكٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ ‏ "‏ نَضَّرَ اللَّهُ امْرَأً سَمِعَ مِنَّا حَدِيثًا فَبَلَّغَهُ فَرُبَّ مُبَلَّغٍ أَحْفَظُ مِنْ سَامِعٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Abdullah narrated from his father that: The Prophet said: "May Allah cause his face to shine, the man who hears a Hadith from us and conveys it, for perhaps the one to whom it is conveyed may remember it better than the one who (first) hears it."

That is blessed are those who keep spreading knowledge, specially of Prophetic sayings and that of Qur'an, For spreading knowledge is not only holy, it can shape the life of others according to our faith and may help others to e better than before. Sodo not conceal knowledge and let it be shared, even if no one islistening.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Please refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

Photo | Source of Hadith

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Short Stories from the Holy Quran: Prophet Moses and Khidr

A lot many stories appear in the Holy Qur'an which teach us many lessons for living our lives as per the dictates of Allah to be blessed. In the on going series of Short Stories from the Holy Qur'an, today we are sharing the story about the interaction of Prophets Muse (Moses) and Khidr (may Allah's blessings be on both).

Before relating the story, let us quote averse from Holy Qur'an which gives an insight for all of us to understand the wisdom of very word that is contained therein for us:

"It is He who has sent down to you, [O Muhammad], the Book; in it are verses [that are] precise - they are the foundation of the Book - and others unspecific. As for those in whose hearts is deviation [from truth], they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation [suitable to them]. And no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allah . But those firm in knowledge say, "We believe in it. All [of it] is from our Lord." And no one will be reminded except those of understanding." [Surah Aale'Imran 3:7]

While many of us know Prophet Musa very well, some may not have listened about Khidr, a mention of whom is made not only in the Holy Qur'an but in other scriptures and history books as well. The majority of Islamic scholars are of the opinion that Khidr was a Prophet.  The Quran refers to him as one of Allah’s servants who was granted knowledge, comprehension and mercy.

“Then they found one from among Our servants to whom We had granted mercy from Us and whom We had taught knowledge from Ourselves.” (Quran 18: 65)

Many scholars believe that since Khiḍr was Moses’s guide and teacher so he must be superior to Moses; only a prophet can be superior to another prophet; therefore Khiḍr was a prophet.  The name Khidr is taken to mean “the green one” colloquially associated with the Arabic word for green, al-akhdar.  Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) has been quoted as saying: “He was named Khidr because he sat on a dry, barren piece of land and it suddenly became green under him.”

Now coming to the stories of meeting of Moses and Khidr in the Holy Qur'an. However, as a prelude, it would be pertinent to quote a passage from Hadith in which Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) described the circumstances which led Moses to embark upon the journey to meet Khidr.:

‘Moses got up to deliver a sermon before Bani Israel and he was asked, 'Who is the most learned person among the people?' Moses replied, 'I (am the most learned).' Allah then admonished Moses for he did not ascribe all knowledge to Allah only (Then) came the Divine Inspiration:-- 'Yes, one of Our slaves at the junction of the two seas is more learned than you.'

Thus Moses embarked upon the journey along with his companion. Moses was asked to carry a fish in a container and where the fish leaves the container would be the place where he would meet a man wiser than him. The details appear as below in the Holy Qur'an [Surah Al Kahf 18:60-82]:

(v. 60) And when Moses said unto his servant, “I shall continue on till I reach the junction of the two seas, even if I journey for a long time. (v. 61) Then when they reached the junction of the two, they forgot their fish, and it made its way to the sea, burrowing away. (v. 62) Then when they had passed beyond, he said to his servant, “Bring us our meal. We have certainly met with weariness on this journey of ours.” (v. 63) He said, “Didst thou see? When we took refuge at the rock, indeed I forgot the fish—and naught made me neglect to mention it, save Satan—and it made its way to the sea in a wondrous manner!” (v. 64) He said, “That is what we were seeking.” So they turned back, retracing their steps. (v. 

Tired of the long journey, Prophet  Moses decided to stop and take rest. However while Moses was taking a nap, his companion saw the fish wriggle out of the container and slipped into the water. But the companion did not make a mention of this to Moses when the commenced their journey. It was only after when they had already traveled quite far ahead that Prophet Moses realized he had moved much past the destined point. So retraced his steps to the place where the fish had entered the water. 

Now here is a lesson for us to learn: Prophet Moses did not scold his companion nor lament about having gone off course, or wasting time and effort.  What had happened had happened; it was the will of God.  Prophet Moses’ behaviour is that of a person satisfied with God’s decree.  Once he learned that he had stepped away from the correct path he took the necessary action to return to the right way.  This is a lesson for all of us.  In this life, so many of us choose the wrong path but are afraid or too embarrassed to rectify their mistakes!  Once a person realizes that he has committed a mistake, they should immediately set about to head in the right direction. This should never be considered a defeat; rather, it is a victory.

Once back to the point where the fish had slipped into the water, Prophet Moses found the man he was looking for: Read as described in the Qur'an:

65) There they found a servant from among Our servants whom We [End Page 209] had granted a mercy from Us and whom We had taught knowledge from Our Presence. (v. 66) Moses said unto him, “Shall I follow thee, that thou mightest teach me some of that what thou hast been taught of sound judgment?” (v. 67) He said, “Truly thou wilt not be able to bear patiently with me. (v. 68) And how canst thou bear patiently that which thou dost not encompass in awareness?” (v. 68) He said, “Thou wilt find me patient, if God wills, and I shall not disobey thee in any matter.” (v. 70) He said, “If thou wouldst follow me, then question me not about anything, till I make mention of it to thee.” (v. 71) So they went on till, when they had embarked upon a ship, he made a hole therein. He said, “Didst thou make a hole in it in order to drown its people? Thou hast done a monstrous thing!” (v. 72) He said, “Did I not say unto thee that thou wouldst not be able to bear patiently with me?” (v. 73) He said, “Take me not to task for having forgotten, not make me suffer much hardship on account of what I have done.” (v. 74) So they went on till they met a young boy, and he slew him. He said, “Didst thou slay a pure soul who had slain no other soul? Thou hast certainly done a terrible thing!” (v. 75) He said, “Did I not say unto thee that thou wouldst not be able to bear patiently with me?” (v. 76) [Moses] said, "If I should ask you about anything after this, then do not keep me as a companion. You have obtained from me an excuse." (v. 77) So they set out, until when they came to the people of a town, they asked its people for food, but they refused to offer them hospitality. And they found therein a wall about to collapse, so Khidr restored it. [Moses] said, "If you wished, you could have taken for it a payment." (v. 78) [Khidr] said, "This is parting between me and you. I will inform you of the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience. (v 79) As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working at sea. So I intended to cause defect in it as there was after them a king who seized every [good] ship by force. (v. 80) And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared that he would overburden them by transgression and disbelief. (v. 81) So we intended that their Lord should substitute for them one better than him in purity and nearer to mercy. (v. 82) And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure for them, and their father had been righteous. So your Lord intended that they reach maturity and extract their treasure, as a mercy from your Lord. And I did it not of my own accord. That is the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience."

This story has been mentioned in Qur'an not only to please us who are more interested in listening to stories at bed time or otherwise to amuse ourselves and our children. After telling a story, we never try to invoke questions in our minds as to the why to such events and how we should relate our lives to the lessons contained in a story or an incident that happens in our lives.

Concluding the Prophet Moses and Khidr story, we would see that:

• Whatever Khidr did was in accordance with the instructions from Allah. He was to show three lesson-able incidents to Prophet Moses and he did not go beyond. This shows complete obedience to Allah, for Khidr acted exactly he was told to. 
• Khidr was given knowledge of the incidents to show Moses how to have firm and unquestionable belief in Allah. The prophets do not question Allah when they are given a commandment, for it is Allah alone who knows the outcome and the philosophy behind. It is thus incumbent upon us all to have a firm belief in Allah, His book and the Messengers including the last of the Messengers Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). And we should never be found questioning our beliefs.
•  The story of Moses and Khidr tells us to be patient and trust in the mercy and wisdom of Allah, for Allah’s decree stems from His supreme and absolute wisdom. It tells us that Allah does not treat anyone unfairly and that His decree for us is most just and inherently generous. Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) once said: “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer.  If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him.  If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him.” 
• While following the commandments of Allah, our personal judgment should never ever overtake the commandment of Allah and the way how a particular commandment is to implemented as explained and even practically manifested by the the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
• It is important to understand that Allah does not create evil for its own sake, but rather it is often the forerunner of good.  These three events illustrate this point.  When we understand this we will never feel victimized or treated unfairly.  Sometimes the good in a difficult situation does not become clear until a long time afterwards, at other times it is apparent immediately.  

Always remember that The life of a human being is sometimes beset by trials, tragedies or calamities that appear to make no sense but in retrospect we see them for what they really are, lessons from the Most Wise designed to take us closer to the supreme reward, Al-Jannah, or Paradise. 

May Allah grant us wisdom to obey His commandments without hesitation and grant us patience to await the outcome from a situation which may seemingly be to our loss. For Ever loss, there awaits a big reward, if not in this world but surely in the hereafter when we would most hard pressed for Allah's blessing. Aameen.

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

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