Inspiration from Past & Present

May 29, 2014

Two Types of Knowledge

There are two types of knowledge: knowledge of the tongue, which can be a case against the son of Adam, as is mentioned in the hadith of the Prophet (S): ‘The Qur’an is either a case for you or a case against you’; and knowledge of the heart, which is beneficial knowledge. The second type is the beneficial kind which raises people in rank; it is the inner knowledge which is absorbed by the heart and puts it right. The knowledge that is on the tongue is taken lightly by people: neither those who possess it, nor anyone else, act upon it, and then it vanishes when its owners vanish on the Day of Judgement, when creation will be brought to account.

—Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī [d 110H/728CE]

(Read on pg 13, Ibn Rajab, Ibn al-Qayyim, al-Ghazali, The Purification of the Soul. Al-Firdous Ltd. London:1993.)

May 29, 2014

Recitation Without Internalization

They will recite the Qur’an, but it will not go beyond their throats. The Qur’an is only beneficial when it reaches the heart and is firmly planted in it.

 ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd [d. 32H]

 

(Read on pg 13, Ibn Rajab, Ibn al-Qayyim, al-Ghazali, The Purification of the Soul. Al-Firdous Ltd. London:1993.)

May 29, 2014

Humility: The Highest Knowledge

If you want, I will tell you what the highest knowledge is, which raises people in rank: it is humility.

—’Ubadah ibn as-Samit, when asked about the following hadith

‘Truly, Allah will not take away knowledge by snatching it away from people, but by taking away the lives of the people of knowledge one by one until none of them survive. Then the people will adopt ignorant ones as their leaders. They will be asked to deliver judgements and they will give them without knowledge, with the result that they will go astray and lead others astray.’

—The Prophet Muḥammad

(Read on pg 13, Ibn Rajab, Ibn al-Qayyim, al-Ghazali, The Purification of the Soul. Al-Firdous Ltd. London:1993.)

May 29, 2014

Intentions Greater Than Actions

Learn about intentions, for their importance is greater than the importance of actions.

—Yahya b. Abu Kathir

 

(Read on pg 11, Ibn Rajab, Ibn al-Qayyim, al-Ghazali, The Purification of the Soul. Al-Firdous Ltd. London:1993.)