Ilm-e-Deen – Knowledge of the Deen- A Lifetime Occupation – Part 1

Ilm-e-Deen – Knowledge of the Deen – requires endurance. The reason for this is that it is an endless chain. It is a lifetime occupation. In this path there are ups and downs. You have to occupy yourself till your last breath. A time will most definitely come when the Favour of Allah accompanies you.

One light-hearted Buzrug (saintly-person) asked the father of a lad what he (the lad) was studying. The father replied: “Hazrat, he is doing Hifz (memorizing the Qur’aan Shareef).” The Buzrug replied: “Bhai, why have you put him on a lifetime occupation?”

The Buzrug called Hifz “a lifetime occupation” because, truly, memorizing the Qur’aan Shareef is a matter of one or two years’ work, but maintaining it is a lifetime’s work. A little negligence and it leaves the memory. Hence, daily revision and annual recitation in Taraaweeh are necessary for retaining the Qur’aan in memory. For this reason it is a lifetime occupation. But blessed is this occupation for it brings the Pleasure of Allah.

Ilm is a Lifetime Occupation

In like manner, understand that Ilm is a lifetime occupation. Its study should be kept up a lifetime. It comes in the Hadeeth: “Two cravings are never fulfilled; craving for worldly comforts and craving for Ilm.” One who gets the taste of Ilm never finds his stomach filled; he desires more and more. The reason for this is that Ilm is infinite and hence searching for it; studying Ilm is also infinite. Brother! This Road never ends. When you reach a station, don’t stop, continue ahead.

If you comment that this lifetime chain is not possible for you; you can only manage a day or two of work, then why don’t you do away with eating? Say, “This endless eating, day in and day out, is unbearable.” Why have you put up with this lifetime routine of eating? You will say that this is food without which a person cannot live. Then just as that food is necessary for the body, similarly, Ilm is food for Imaan. Life as a Mu-min is dependent on Ilm. Just as eating food daily is easy for you, engross yourself in Ilm and you will see how easy it is to remain occupied with Ilm. Once you get the taste of Ilm you will find no peace without it.

Another Benefit of Studying Ilm-e-Deen

There is furthermore another benefit to it. The Pleasure of Allah Ta’ala is attained by virtue of it. A person who passes away whilst studying knowledge of the Deen receives the thawaab (reward) of a Shaheed (martyr).

Dear Friends! Allah Ta’ala seeks excuses to be happy with His servants. Someone saw Imam Muhammad (Rahmatullahi alaih) in a dream. He was asked about his condition. He replied: “I was brought before Allah Ta’ala. Allah Ta’ala declared: ‘O Muhammad! Ask for what you want.’ I replied: ‘I ask for forgiveness.’ Allah Ta’ala said: ‘If We wanted to punish you We would not have given you Ilm. We gave you Ilm to forgive you. So, your forgiveness is assured; ask for something else.”

(Ta’meemut Ta’leem by Hazrat Moulana Thanwi Rahmatullahi Alaih)

Part 2 to follow Insha-Allah