How to Sincerely Pray to Allâh to Bestow Us Beneficial Knowledge
By Dr. Norlain Dindang Mababaya
Knowing the importance of acquiring Islâmic knowledge, it becomes imperative, therefore, for mankind to seek knowledge of Islâm. We must think of our everlasting life by knowing the Truth and adhering to it for our guidance and supreme success. We must sincerely pray to Allâh to bestow us knowledge of Islâm. We should bear in mind that Allâh, the All-Knowing, All-Wise (4:26), the exalted in power, full of Wisdom (31:27), is the One Who grants wisdom to whom He pleases:
He (Allâh) grants wisdom to whom He pleases; and he to whom wisdom is granted receives indeed a benefit overflowing; but none will receive admonition but men of understanding.” (2:269)
We must pray to Allâh the All Knowing, All Wise to bestow upon us knowledge of Islâm. Both the Qur’ân and the Sunnah guide us to seek Allâh’s guidance through prayers or supplication. Let us include in our prayers the following supplications:
“O my Rabb! Increase me in knowledge.” (20:114)
“O my Rabb! Bestow wisdom on me, and join me with the righteous; grant me honorable mention on the tongue of truth among the latest (generations); make me one of the inheritors of the Garden of Bliss.” (26:83-84)
Umm Salamah (Radhiallâhu anha) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) used to say after the dawn prayer, “O Allâh, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, acceptable action, and good provision.” (Tirmidhi 2487, Ahmad and Ibn Majah)
‘Aishah (radhiallâhu anha) narrated that when Allâh’s Messenger (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) awake at night, he said, “There is no god but You, glory be to You, O Allâh, I ask Your pardon for my sin and I ask You for Your mercy. O Allâh! Advance me in knowledge: do not cause my heart to deviate (from guidance) after You have guided me, and grant me mercy from Yourself; verily You are the Grantor.” (Abu Daud 5043)
We must pray to Allâh for knowledge of Islâm and other knowledge that would benefit us not only in this temporary world, but most important is in the eternal world to come. When we pray to Allâh for other knowledge outside of Islâm, we should pray that such knowledge is beneficial for us. The knowledge that we seek outside Islâmic knowledge must strengthen our understanding and application of Islâm. It should make us better Muslims and not to be out of Islâm. We must, therefore, refrain from knowledge that does not benefit us. We should take admonition from the following Ahâdîth:
Abu Hurairah (Radhiallahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “It is part of the excellence of a person’s Islâm that he should discard that which is of no benefit to him either in this world or the Hereafter.” (Tirmidhi 67)
Abu Darda (Radhiallahu anhu) narrated that Allâh’s Messenger (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “The worst of men in the eyes of Allâh on the Day of Resurrection will be the scholar who does not derive benefit from his knowledge.” (Tirmidhi 268)
Abu Hurairah (Radhiallahu anhu) narrated that Allâh’s Messenger (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “The knowledge from which no benefit is derived is like a treasure out of which nothing is spent in the cause of Allâh.” (Tirmidhi 280)
As much as possible, we must seek Allâh’s protection from the knowledge that will just destroy our faith. We must include in our prayers and supplications to Allâh the Almighty that He will protect us from such knowledge that does not benefit. This is a guidance that we must follow from the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) as narrated in the following Ahâdîth:
Sa’id ibn Arkam (Radhiallahu anhu) narrated: “I am not going to say anything but only that which Allâh’s Messenger (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) used to supplicate: ‘O Allâh, I seek refuge in You from incapacity, from sloth, from cowardice, from miserliness, decrepitude and from torment of the grave. O Allâh, grant to my soul the sense of righteousness and purify it, for You are the Best Purifier thereof. You are the Protecting friend thereof, and Guardian thereof. O Allâh, I seek refuge in You from the knowledge which does not benefit, from the heart that does not entertain the fear (of Allâh), from the soul that does not feel contented and the supplication that is not responded.’” (Muslim 6568)
Abu Hurairah (Radhiallahu anhu) narrated that Messenger of Allâh (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) used to say: “O Allâh, I seek refuge in You from four things: knowledge which does not profit, a heart which is not submissive, a soul which has an insatiable appetite, and a supplication which is not heard.” (Abu Dawud 1543)
All the above teachings from the Qur’an and the authentic Ahadith show that, indeed, Islam guides us to success. It teaches us supplications on how to have knowledge of Islam and/or increase our Islamic knowledge.
Source: wefoundorg
Courtesy: www.everymuslim.co.za ?
Courtesy: www.everymuslim.co.za ?
