Lesson One Why should we study Islam?

“Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim (males and females)” (reported by Al-Bayhaqi and Ibn `Abdul- Barr)

The first command revealed by Allah in His Glorious Book was: ﴿اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ﴾ [ العلق : 1] {Read: In the Name of your Lord Who created.} (meaning of Surah Al-`Alaq: 1.)

This command to read and seek knowledge was repeatedly revealed in the Qur’an till the message was perfected: ﴿ فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْءَانَهُ * ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُ ﴾ [ القيامة : 18-19]

{So when We have read it, then closely follow its all-evident reading. Thereafter surely upon Us is its evident (exposition).} (meaning of Surah Al-Qiyamah: 18-19)

Then, Allah commanded His last Prophet to teach the people: ﴿وَأَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ﴾ [ النحل : 44]

{…and We have sent down to you (i.e. the Prophet) the Remembrance that you may make evident to mankind what has been sent down (ever since) and that possibly they would meditate.} (meaning of Surah An-Nahl-44).

Allah also commanded us to learn the Glorious Qur'an and to ponder over its meanings: ﴿ كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِيَدَّبَّرُوا ءَايَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الأََلْبَابِ﴾ [ ص : 29]

This means: { A Book We have sent down to you, Blessed, that they may ponder over its ayat (Verses, signs) and that men endowed with intellects would remind themselves.} (Surah Sad: 29).

Not only this, but we have also to teach it to others: ﴿وَأَنْذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الأََقْرَبِينَ﴾ [ الشعراء : 214]

{And warn your kinsmen, the nearest kin.} (meaning of Surah Ash-Shu'araa: 214)

It was said in the Hadith: “Be careful even to teach a verse after me.” (Al-Bukhari) it was also said: (The best among you are those who learn the Qur'an then teach it to others.” (reported by Al-Bukhari)

Furthermore, Allah commanded us to spread the message of Islam among people: ﴿ وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيداًً ﴾ [ البقرة : 143]

{And thus We have made you a middle nation to be witnesses over mankind, and (for) the Messenger to be a witness over you.} (Al-Baqarah: 143).

Allah also severely warned us of neglecting to convey His Message: ﴿ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنْزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالْهُدَى مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّاهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِي الْكِتَابِ أُولَئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ اللاَّعِنُونَ ﴾ [ البقرة : 159]

{Surely (the ones) who keep back whatever supreme evidences and guidance We have sent down even after We have made them evident to mankind in the Book, Allah curses those (people), and the cursers (also) curse them.} (meaning of Surah Al-Baqarah: 159).

Afterwards, Allah made it obligatory upon those who received the message as well as acknowledged the two testimonies (to bear witness that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger) to hold fast to all the rulings and virtues prescribed by Allah and His Messenger; and to apply this comprehensive guidance to all aspects of life:

﴿ يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الأََمْرِ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلاً ﴾ [ النساء : 59]

{O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and the ones endowed with the command (i.e. those in authority) among you. So in case you contend together about anything, then refer it to Allah and the Messenger, in case you believe in Allah and the Last Day; that is most charitable (i.e. most beneficial) and fairest in interpretation.} (meaning of Surah An-Nisa': 59)

And: ﴿ وَأَنَّ هَذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴾ [ الأنعام : 153]

{ And that this is My Path, a straight (one); so follow it closely and do not follow the (other) ways, or then they would make you part away from His way. That (Literally: those “rules”) is what He has enjoined you with, that possibly you would be pious.} ( meaning of Surah Al-An'am: 153)

Also the Prophet (PBUH) said: “I have left two things among you that you will never go astray upon holding fast to them: they are Allah's Nobel Book and my Sunnah (tradition). These two will never get apart till they meet me on the Fountain on the Day of Judgment.” (reported by Al-Hakim)

Only by fulfilling these requirements, Muslims can deserve the attribute of 'charitability' by which Allah (SWT) described the nation of true believers of every gender, color or language worldwide along history:

﴿ كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَر ِوَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ ﴾ [ آل عمران : 110]

{You have been the most charitable nation brought out to mankind: you command beneficence, and forbid maleficence, and believe in Allah.} (meaning of Surah Al-`Imran: 110)

In this way, the whole nation in the past was keen to learn the teachings of Islam, became aware of their true essence, and went on to teach them to all people around the globe.

Along the centuries, the Muslim nation, as well as the message, were subject to intrigues both by human devils inspired by Satan.

They went on showering the nation with fallacies and misconceptions, alluring the masses with void lusts and ephemeral temptations, and spreading among them intrigues and enticements; in order to keep them away from the teachings of their eternal message.

As a result, the whole nation disintegrated and became dominated by the enemies of Islam who imposed their cultural, economic, political and military hegemony upon us.

The Noble Prophet (PBUH) said, "O Thawban, what will you do when the nations call one another to invade you as people call one another to come and eat from one bowl?” (reported by Abu-Dawud and Ahmad)

Ultimately, the Muslim nation became detached from its entire ideology apart from few basic rites.

Moreover, Islam became almost censored one way or another, much the same as it was on the eve of its proclamation in Mecca or even worse.

Such being the case with islam nowadays, whoever holds fast to his religions is likened to “the one who holds fast to a firebrand,” as predicted by the Prophet (SAWS).

Muslims today suffer all symptoms of deviation from the true Muslim model, such as tribal, ethnic and sectarian discord, deviant groups, pagan and idolatrous practices; as well as following the worst of non-Muslims’ traits and habits.

Truly the Prophet (PBUH) foretold, "You will follow the ways of those nations who were before you, span by span and cubit by cubit (i.e., inch by inch) so much so that even if they entered a hole of a mastigure, you would follow them." (reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Summing up, it is concluded that at the core of all setbacks and sufferings afflicting us is misinformation, lack of awareness, and poor knowledge of the message of Islam, i.e. the state of being illiterate of Islam.

The consequences of this kind of illiteracy are much more serious than the reading/writing illiteracy; as it is widespread among the Muslim intellectuals, who play the leading role in all walks of life.

No wonder that this ‘religious illiteracy’ is the main reason for the lagging behind of Muslims and the Islamic world.