The Muslim community that bases its religious life on profound principles and strong values will be able to thrive in all circumstances. Such adaptation to contextual needs does not necessarily mean that each Muslim will forsake Islamic values and principles. Instead, adaptation means that a Muslim can live according to his/her religion, and in harmony with society, because everyone is guided by a set of shared principles and values. This concurs with the Prophet saying: And let none of you be those who follow the crowd, saying,” My opinion or stand depends on what the masses say. If everyone is good, I shall be good. If everyone acts otherwise, I too shall follow them.” But you have to stay true to yourself. If other people are good, you will be good, and should they not be, so make them good.” (Tirmidhi)
Knowledge is the cornerstone of faith and values. If every Muslim continuously deepens his understanding of the religion, it is indeed possible for him to exercise sufficient flexibility to adapt to his surroundings without compromising his faith. To this end, a profound and correct understanding of the religion is key. This can be seen in the first revelation to the Prophet (SAW), which links the process of learning (encapsulated by the phrase ‘Iqra’ meaning ‘read’) to the beginning of life. A Muslim who truly understands the significance and import of this message will spend his life seeking to further examine and study the creations of Allah (SWT), while at the same time sharing his insights with the rest of humanity.
The first revelation crystallizes the importance for a Muslim society to produce, discover, and apply knowledge. Through wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, mankind can acquaint themselves with Allah (SWT). Knowledge leads to the truth, and consequently, leads to the right path towards Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) says:” We shall show them Our signs in every region of the earth and in themselves, until it becomes clear to them that this is the truth. Is it not enough that your Lord witnesses everything?” (Fussilat: 53)
Allah (SWT) also raises the status of the learned in this verse:” God will raise, by many degrees, those of you who believe and those who have been given knowledge.” (Al-Mujadalah: 11). In the Holy Qur’an, there are many verses that call on mankind to upgrade their knowledge and skills continuously.
Knowledge can be obtained from observation (al-nadhar), reflection (al-fikr), and questioning (al-su’al). The process is based on the following Qur’anic precepts:
1. Freedom of thought. Allah (SWT) says: “But when it is said to them, Follow the message that God has sent down, they answer, we follow the ways of our fathers’. What! Even though their fathers understood nothing and were not guided?” (Al-Baqarah: 170)
2. Elimination of prejudices and unfounded assumptions when faced with convincing counterarguments. Allah (SWT) says:” Most of them follow nothing but assumptions, but assumptions can be of no value at all against the truth. God is well aware of what they do.” (Al-Anbiya’: 30)
3. Use of reason and reflection of emotion and sentiments. Allah (SWT) says:” These are nothing but names you have invented yourselves, you and your forefathers. God has sent no authority for them. These people merely follow guesswork and the whims of their souls, even though guidance has come to them from their Lord.” (An-Najm: 23)
4. Dependence on rational evidence. Allah (SWT) says:” Are the disbelievers unaware that the heavens and the earth used to be joined together and that We ripped them apart, that We made every living thing from water? Will they not believe?” (Al-Anbiya’: 30)
Learning is an act of worship (ibadah) and is meritorious in the sight of Allah. Therefore, each Muslim must expand the breadth and depth of his knowledge. A way to ensure that is to embark on a journey of continuous learning, and not feel satisfied with the level of understanding that one has already attained.
The unceasing quest for knowledge should not be confined to the area of religion. Muslim professionals should not be content with the qualifications they possess, as new knowledge is being accumulated at an astonishing speed. To truly be a community of excellence, we need to upgrade our skills and specialize in new fields. It is our responsibility to ensure that there are Muslim professionals in every field so that the benefits accruing from their knowledge will diffuse to the society at large. Indeed, if we truly hold to Islamic principles, we should be at the forefront of initiatives and efforts towards lifelong learning.
The Muslim community needs to cultivate a culture of excellence that involves passion and commitment to learning, reading and discovering. The pursuit of knowledge should be part of our daily activities and not merely confined to formal classes or religious institutions such as madrasahs and mosques. We can start with our own families by inculcating practices such as reading together on a daily or weekly basis.
MUIS
