Tuesday, December 4, 2007

The Evils Of Ignorance

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The Evils Of Ignorance
By Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah
From "The Book of Knowledge"
Taken from al-Muntaqaa Newsletter [al-Manhaj]

Allaah says: "And they will say: 'Had we but listened or used our intellects, we would not have been amongst the dwellers of the blazing Fire!' Then they will confess their sin. So away with the dwellers of the blazing Fire!" [Surat-ul-Mulk: 10-11]

Ibn Al-Qayyim (rahimullah) said: "Allaah describes the inhabitants of the Hellfire with ignorance and He informs us that He prevented them from embarking on the path to knowledge. Allaah says, relating to us what they will say: 'Had we but listened or used our intellects, we would not have been amongst the dwellers of the blazing Fire.' Thus He informs us that they did not used to listen or comprehend, and listening and comprehending are from the foundations of knowledge and it is through them, that it can be attained." [Miftaah Daar-us-Sa'aadah (1/59)]

Allaah says: "And surely We have created many of the jinn and mankind for the Hellfire. They have hearts, with which they understand not, and they have eyes with which they see not, and they have ears with which they hear not. They are like cattle! Nay, even lower than that. These are the heedless ones!" [Suratul- A'araaf: 179]

Ibn Al-Qayyim (rahimullah) said: "Allaah is informing us that these beings did not obtain knowledge for themselves through any of the channels by which knowledge is attained, such as comprehending, hearing, and seeing. Thus Allaah describes these wretched people as bearing a lack of knowledge and He likens them at times to cattle, and at times to donkeys carrying books. Sometimes He places them lower than cattle and at other times, He describes them as being dead and without life. At times, He informs us that they are in the darkness of ignorance and misguidance. And sometimes He informs us that there are screens enveloping their hearts, deafness in their ears and a veil cast over their eyes. All of these attributes indicate the detestability of ignorance, the dishonour of its adherents and Allaah's hatred for them. On the other hand, He loves the people of knowledge and He praises and commends them." [Miftaah Daar-us-Sa'aadah (1/59)]

Allaah says: "Then what is wrong with them (disbelievers) that they turn away from (receiving) the admonition? As if they were frightened wild donkeys, fleeing from a hunter or a lion or a beast at prey. Nay every one of them desires that he should be given pages spread out (with writing from Allaah telling them that Islaam is the truth). Nay, but they fear not the Hereafter!" [Surat-ul-Mudaththir: 49-53]

Ibn Al-Qayyim (rahimullah) said: "Allaah says in this example of those who turn away from His words and from reflecting upon their meaning: 'Then what is wrong with them that they turn away from (receiving) the admonition? As if they were frightened wild donkeys, fleeing from a hunter or a lion or a beast at prey'. Thus, He compares them, in their turning away and their fleeing from the Qur'aan, to donkeys that run away at the sight of a lion or hunters. This is one of the most marvellous of comparisons and beautiful of representations, since those who are ignorant of what Allaah has sent His Messenger with, are like donkeys, for these animals do not comprehend anything. Thus, when they hear the sounds of a lion or a hunter, they run away from it in intense flight. This shows the extent of dispraise for these ignorant people, for they run away from the guidance, in which lies their success and livelihood, just as donkeys run away from that which has the ability to wound or destroy them." [I'alaam-ul-Muwaqqi'een (1/164)]

And Allaah says: "Is he who knows that what has been revealed unto you from your Lord is the truth, like him who is blind? Rather, it is only the men of understanding that pay heed!" [Surat-ur-Ra'ad: 19]

Ibn Al-Qayyim (rahimullah) said: "What is being presented here, except for one who has knowledge and one who is blind? Allaah has described the people of ignorance in many places in His Book as being deaf, dumb and blind." [Miftaah Daar-us-Sa'aadah (1/49)]

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