Knowledge

Faqr without knowledge could be misleading. A big dilemma of the present era is that when an issue related to esoteric knowledge arises, the scholars bypass it by citing it as ambiguous, despite the clear and luminous guidance about the matter in Quranic verses.

Knowledge without mystic observation is useless. Allah Almighty has granted the knowledge of all of His Names to Adam and his progeny since eternity. This knowledge is revealed to those who contemplate and reflect.

The best among various types of knowledge is the one which grants the recognition and gnosis of Allah. Everything other than Allah is mortal and hence the knowledge of mortal is also mortal but Allah is immortal and His knowledge is immortal too.

Knowledge teaches a person to honour others with respect to their level and status. Allah reveals in the Quran, "But in fact, honour belongs to Allah alone and His Messenger and the believer." (Al-Munafiqun:8) The knowledge that does not teach to honour them, is worthless.

There are two fundamental types of knowledge; acquired or exoteric knowledge and inspirational knowledge. Acquired or exoteric knowledge is limited within the boundary of intellect. It is acquired through five senses from one's surroundings or other physical mediums such as books and educational institutions or through research.

Inspirational knowledge is the knowledge directly obtained from Allah and is acquired through Divine love. The spiritual guide imparts this knowledge to the seeker's inward through his spiritual sight and attention.

Ali ibn Abi Talib is the gate of knowledge and the Holy Prophet is the city of knowledge. Whoever enters the city of knowledge through the gate of knowledge, accomplishes entire knowledge.

Mystics have consistently emphasized upon the importance of knowledge in their writings and stress to acquire it. They only condemn the knowledge that makes one oblivious to Allah. Knowledge is light as well as a veil for the intellect.