Difference between knowledge and the blessings of knowledge – By Hazrat Mufti Inaayatullah Saheb Daamat Barakatuhum

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Short advice to young students:

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الْرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم

 

Difference between knowledge and the blessings of knowledge:

The blessing of knowledge is the ‘Tawfeeq’ (Divine Inspiration) to practice upon that knowledge and propagate that knowledge. That is the Barkat of knowledge.

1. The first thing is to acquire knowledge
2. Secondly, the blessings of knowledge is divided into two categories: 1. Being able to practice on that knowledge 2. Propagate that knowledge

Only then can it be said that there is Barkat in such knowledge.

If someone has gained knowledge, but he is not practicing upon that knowledge and is not propagating that knowledge, it will be said that there is no Barkat in such a person’s knowledge.

Whilst studying, we should practice on whatever we learn, and when we become older, more mature, then we should propagate that knowledge.

How is knowledge acquired?

Knowledge is acquired by making an effort. You attend the Madressah, you do your ‘Motalah’ (study ahead), learn your ‘Sabaq’ (study the current lesson), and do ‘Takraar’ (revise what has been taught). Whoever does these three things consistently and regularly, InshaAllah, he will acquire knowledge

The ‘Barkat’ of knowledge is acquired by respect:

The ‘Barkat’ of knowledge is acquired by respect. We respect all the items which are a means of acquiring knowledge, respect the ‘Ustaadh’ (teacher), respect the Qur’an Shareef and the ‘Kitaabs’ we study, respect the classroom, and respect the Madressah. The more respect we give, the greater blessings we will achieve.

The meaning of respect is to behave in such a way that we do not trouble the Ustaadh. We do not trouble the Kitaab. How do we know we are respecting the Kitaab? Just imagine what we are doing with the Kitaab. For example, writing on the Kitaab. Writing names and such things on the Kitaab. If the Kitaab had a tongue, what would the Kitaab say? Am I for this purpose?

So one is knowledge, and one is Barkat of Knowledge. Knowledge is acquired by making effort and systematic effort according to the system of Madressah. The blessing of knowledge is being given ‘Tawfeeq’ to practice upon that knowledge and propagate that knowledge. That is the Barkat of knowledge. That is acquired by being respectful and honouring.

Good habits ought to be instilled in our youth:

MashaAllah, you are all young. Our example is like a plant. When a plant is coming out, it is soft and delicate. You can mould the plant in any way you want. The gardener ties the plant to a stick whilst it is growing so the plant grows straight. Also, the age of youth is a very delicate age. One can mould himself in a good way, or one can mould himself in a bad way. Whatever good habits we acquire in our youth, hopefully, they can stay with us for the rest of our lives. Whatever bad habits we pick up in our heart, it is very difficult to remove them in our old age

Just like a plant. The gardener is careful and mindful that he places a stick to support the plant so that it may grow straight. If he does not do so, the plant will tilt, left, and right. If the gardener thinks, ‘Oh, it’s fine. Let the plant tilt. Let it grow as it is, then when it will grow into a tree, I will put it straight’, will he manage to do so? Do you understand what I am saying? When the plant is still growing, it is very soft and delicate, so it can be moulded very easily, but when it grows into a trunk and a tree as we see outside and it is tilted, now it is very difficult. Will the gardener be able to correct it? No. Exactly the same is with us. Good habits and bad habits.

While we are young, we must uproot our bad habits and acquire good habits, and InshaAllah, they will stay with us. If we have bad habits and think, ‘When I grow older and mature, I will change my ways and correct my habits’, this is like correcting a tree trunk which has tilted to the side. This is a very, very important age.

The four stages in life:

We pass through four stages in life:

1. First is our childhood, which is from time of birth until we become ‘Baaligh’ (reach puberty). From birth to the age of 15, that is our childhood.
2. From 15 until the age of 33, that is the age of youth
3. 33-55 is middle-aged
4. From 55 onwards is old age

We pass through these 4 stages in life:

1. Childhood 0-15
2. Youth: 15-33
3. Middle age: 33-55
4. Old age: 55+

Bad habits are according to our Nafs, but good habits are against our Nafs:

The most important time is the youth and childhood. MashaAllah, most of you are 15-16 onwards, still in youth, so whatever we make of ourselves in this age, it will stay with us. It is a very crucial point in life so one should look after it. Habits are acquired in youth. You can acquire knowledge at a later age, but the habits that are acquired in the youth are very difficult to change later on because good habits are against the Nafs. We have to fight against our Nafs to keep control over ourselves and keep good habits.

Bad habits are according to the Nafs. They creep in very quickly because the Nafs is inclined towards it, so bad habits come in very quickly.

You have friends, and they smoke, but you do not smoke. If you intermingle which such friends, then what will eventually happen? A good, pious boy who stayed away from wrong and evil things, but he got mixed up with wrong friends who smoke, go to the cinema, so in 1 week, 2 weeks, what do you think will happen to this boy? He will also start smoking and indulging in bad habits.

As for the one who has bad habits, such as smoking, and he wishes to get away from such bad habits, it is easy or difficult? It is difficult. Do you understand? So the bad habit creep in quickly because it is according to the Nafs, so they creep in very easily. Good habits are against the Nafs, so they are difficult to acquire. For example, eating. We know the Sunnahs of eating:

1. Wash our hands up to the wrist
2. Sit in the Sunnah position
3. Say Bismillah
4. Eat with your right hand, etc.

We will learn these Sunnahs in Madressah, but if one does not practice upon these Sunnah, at the time of eating, he will not do so. He won’t wash his hands because his Nafs will not allow him.

Nevertheless, MashaAllah, it is very good that all of you are very young, Alhamdulillah. May Allah Ta’ala keep us all on the path of Deen. You are engaged in acquiring knowledge of Deen. This is the first stage. The second stage is 6.

مَنْ عَمِلَ بِمَا عَلِمَ اَوْرَثَهْ الله مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ

Rasoolullah Sallalaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam has said: The person who practices upon the knowledge which he has acquired, Allah Ta’ala will bless him with such a knowledge which he had not learnt.

Automatically, Allah Ta’ala will open his heart and InshaAllah, the knowledge will come upon his heart of that occasion, so the knowledge we have, we practice.

Obedience to parents:

وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَٰنًاۚ

Treat your parents well, treat them in a good way, treat them with respect. Do not disrespect and dishonour them. We practice that in the house and we will get the Barkat of it.

MashaAllah, Allah Ta’ala keep us on the right path, give us value of our youth, give us value of the chance Allah Ta’ala has given to us, and we acquire such a knowledge which is beneficial for ourselves, our family, and the community also.

May Allah Ta’ala grant us the ability to value and practice upon the advices given. Ameen thumma Ameen.