THE CREATION OF NABI ADAM (A.S)
When Hazrat Adam (A.S.) was created, Allah S.W.T. said to the angels to
bow down. Everybody bowed down except Iblis. The reason Iblis refused to bow down was
because he said that Nabi Adam (A.S.) was made of clay and he was made from fire. How can
fire bow down to clay? The angels looked at it in a different way. They looked at the
inside of Nabi Adam (A.S.) because Allah S.W.T. gave knowledge to Nabi Adam (A.S.)
In the Holy Qur’an, Allah S.W.T. says in Sura 2, verses 31-34:
"And he taught Adam all the names, then presented them to the
angels; then He said: Tell me the names of those if you are right. They said: Glory be to
thee! We have no knowledge but that which Thou hast taught us; surely Thou art the
knowing, the wise. He said: O Adam! Inform them of their names. Then when he had informed
them of their names, He said: Did I not say to you that I surely know what is ghaib in the
heavens and the earth and (that) I know what you manifest and what you hide? And when We
said to the angels: Make obeisance to Adam they did obeisance but Iblis (did it not). He
refused and he was proud and he was one of the unbelievers."
THE DUTY AND COMPULSION OF ATTAINING OF KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge is the most important thing in one’s life. There are two
kinds of knowledge: Religious knowledge and Secular knowledge..
These two kinds of knowledge’s are very important for a human being.
Secular for this day to day dwelling and religious for his smooth life on earth and
hereafter.
The Holy Prophet of Allah (S.A.W.) has said: "Atta libul ilm
faridhatol kuli muslim." This Hadith means: "Attainment of knowledge is
a must for every Muslim."
Imam Jaffer as-Sadiq (A.S.) has said: "Acquire knowledge of
religious jurisprudence. Any one among you who does not become efficient in religious
jurisprudence is a rustic."
Allah S.W.T. says in the Qur’an in Sura 9, Verse 121:
"..........let them devote themselves to studies in religion and
admonish their comrades when they return to them so that they may guard themselves against
evil."
Imam Jaffer as-Sadiq (A.S.) has said in this same subject: "I
would rather like my companions to be flogged on their heads so that they may (be
compelled to) acquire religious knowledge."
Allah S.W.T. says in the Holy Qur’an in Sura 107, Verse 1-7:
"Didn’t you see the one who denies religion (din)? Such is
the one who repulses the orphan and does not encourage the feeding of the poor. So woe to
the worshippers, who are neglectful to their prayers; those who (want but) to be seen (of
men) but refuse (to supply even) the neighborly needs."
THE ACADEMY FOUNDED BY IMAM JAFFER AS-SADIQ (A.S.)
If we talk about knowledge, we can not forget Imam Jaffer as-Sadiq (A.S.).
Imam Jaffer as-Sadiq (A.S.) was born on 17 Rabul-ul-awwal 83 A.H. Imam Jaffer as-Sadiq
(A.S.) has the same birth date as that of our Holy Prophet (S.A.W.). The Imam became the
Imam of the time when he was 31 years old. Imam Jaffer as-Sadiq (A.S.) has three titles;
they are As-Sadiq, Al-Fadil and At-Tahir.
It was during the time of our sixth Imam (A.S.) that the Khalifah
transferred from the Ummayids to the Abbasids. It was because of this transfer and the
fights that took place, that Imam Jaffer as-Sadiq (A.S.) had plenty of time to spread
Islam. Many foreigners, other than Arabs, came to visit Imam Jaffer as-Sadiq (A.S.) and
Islam spread further.
Imam Jaffer as-Sadiq (A.S.)’s knowledge of all branches attracted
many students from far places until his students numbered four thousand. Apart from fiqh,
hadith, tafsir, etc. Imam Jaffer as-Sadiq (A.S.) also taught science, and other arts e.g.
mathematics, and chemistry. One of the famous students of Imam Jaffer as-Sadiq (A.S.) was
Jabir Ibn Hayyan who was a mathematician and a chemist. Jabir benefited so much from the
Imam’s knowledge and guidance that he was able to write 400 books on different
subjects. Wasil Ibn’Ata - founder of the Mutazlites, Abu Hanifah, the founder of the
Hanafi sect and Malik Ibn Anas, the founder of the Maliki sect were all students of Imam
Jaffer as-Sadiq (A.S.).
KNOWLEDGE OF THE IMAMS
We believe that the Imam, like the Prophet, must be the best among mankind
and that he must excel in all human qualities, such as bravery, generosity, chasteness,
truthfulness, justice, prudence, reason, wisdom, and morality. The reason for this is the
same as that of which we gave for the Prophet’s superiority. He derives his
education, the Divine commandments and all his knowledge from the Prophet or from the
previous Imam. When a new question arises, he knows the answer from the divine inspiration
through the pure mind that Allah has given him. If he gives attention to some matter in
order to know it, he will obtain a perfect understanding with no error, for the Imams do
not derive their knowledge from the methodological reasoning or from the teachings of men
of knowledge although it is possible for their knowledge to be increased and strengthened.
For the Prophet of Allah (S.A.W.) has said:
"O Lord, increase my knowledge!"
It has been narrated that Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (A.S) was passing along
with his companions and saw a group of people waiting for a Christian priest who was to
come out from a cave after his meditation of one whole year. Imam Baqir (A.S.) also waited
with other people; as soon as the priest came out he addressed everybody present there and
addressed the Imam ‘you are not among these people’; the priest then asked
‘Are you among the educated or illiterate?’ The Imam replied ‘I am not
amongst the illiterate.’ The Imam was the treasure of knowledge (Bakir al-Uloom). The
Imam was carrying the same torch from Imam Ali (A.S.) of (Salooni) ASK ME? I HAVE
KNOWLEDGE OF SKIES MORE THAN KNOWLEDGE OF EARTH. We as the followers of the Ahlul-Bait
should acquire knowledge and part with knowledge whatever we can.
LEARNED MEN ARE OF MANY KINDS
Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) is quoted to have said:
"He who learns for the sake of haughtiness, dies ignorant. He who
learns only to talk, rather than to act, dies a hyprocite. He who learns for the mere sake
of debating, dies irreligious. He who learns only to accumulate wealth, dies an atheist.
And he who learns for the sake of action, dies a mystic."
Imam Jaffer as-Sadiq (A.S.) has said about acting with knowledge:
"Accept not deed without knowledge, and there is not knowledge
except with action. So, whoever knows, his knowledge leads him to action, and whoever acts
not has no knowledge."
DEATH OF A RELIGIOUS SCHOLAR
Imam Musa al-Kazim (A.S.) has said: "When a believer dies, the
angels weep over him and so do the portions of the earth on which he used to worship Allah
and also the doors of heaven through which his good deeds ascended. His death causes such
a void in Islam that nothing can fill up because the learned believers are fortresses of
Islam like the protecting wall built around the city."
The above hadith is trying to tell us that if we have knowledge we will
succeed in the hereafter and if you have knowledge, don’t be proud of it. All the
Imams and the Prophets were never proud of their knowledge and we should follow our Imams
and the Prophets.
To end this essay, I will caught the Prophet: "O Lord, increase
my knowledge!"
This above saying is trying to tell us that knowledge can never end, you
can increase knowledge everyday.
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