By
Arman Neyazi, New Age Islam
14 June
2021
All the
Divine Scriptures and Holy Books of All the Religions, Islam, Hinduism,
Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism Ask Human Beings to Acquire and Impart
Knowledge
Main
Points:
1. Religious
and spiritual leaders and scholars of every hue have advocated in favour of
education to be imparted to all the human being as the most basic right.
2. Those who
are using the ignorance of the people to their momentary advantage are ignorant
that they will be judged hereafter.
3. The Islamic
concept of Jahiliyyah is not ignorance but a state of ignorance created by
ignorant people.
4. The
unawareness of our religious teachings has brought us to the situation where we
have become a toy in the hands of evil.
----
All the
divine scriptures and holy books of all the religions, Islam, Hinduism,
Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism ask a human being to acquire and impart
knowledge, to the best of their ability. The religious and spiritual leaders
and scholars of every hue have advocated in favour of education to be imparted
to all human beings as the most basic right. Literacy brings knowledge and
knowledgeable people understand their rights and social and environmental
responsibilities towards society and nature. In absence of knowledge, people
are left without information that is available at the click of a button.
Once upon a
time, it was said that 'ignorance is bliss. Now the modern time has made this
maxim meaningless and harmful in every sense of its meaning who still take it
as a blessing in disguise. It is because of ignorance that people are
information less and falling prey to social and political evil. Even those who
are using the ignorance of the people to their momentary advantage are ignorant
that they will be adjudged on their deeds hereafter and will be punished by the
ultimate judge on the Day of the Judgement. The category of using the ignorance
of the ignorant to their benefit does not include only the politicians as we
take rather the first position in this department goes to the teachers who use
the ignorance of their students in making them believe that they are imparting
the right lesson to them while not keeping themselves up-to-date with their
subjects.
The Islamic
concept of Jahiliyyah is not ignorance but a state of ignorance created by
ignorant people. The people that are not educated are called ‘Jahil’ in Urdu
and ‘uneducated’ in English. An uneducated can be educated but an ignorant
(unaware) person cannot be transformed into an informed person. Well, education
is related to awareness but only to a certain extent. Our forefathers were not
educated, as such, but were aware of their religious, social and political
rights. Therefore, we have come out of the age of ignorance but have got
trapped in the grip of the age of unawareness.
In the age
of Jahiliya, all were illiterate hence ignorant. In this age of unawareness,
people are literate but unaware of how they are being misused and thrown in the
darkness of ignorance.
The
unawareness of our religious teachings has brought us to the situation where we
have become a toy in the hands of evil. And are destroying the future of our
coming generations. Let us then perform our duty towards our brethren and teach
them what our religious epics tell us about a life that is peaceful and
harmonious. Consider the following teachings of various religious epics and
Holy Books and the saying to the religious leaders.
(Illustration by Joan Wong for The
Washington Post/Images from New York Public Library)
----
Islamic
Disapproval of Ignorance through the Quranic Texts
Musa answered, "I seek the protection of
Allah from being one of the ignorant." (Al-Baqarah: 67)
“O Noah! ...So ask not of Me that of which thou
hast no knowledge! I give thee counsel, lest thou act like the ignorant!” (Q11:46)
Yet surely your Lord, with respect to those who
do an evil in ignorance, then turn after that and make amends, most surely your
Lord after that is Forgiving, Merciful. (Surah An-Nahl: 119)
Nay, their hearts are in overwhelming ignorance
with respect to it and they have besides this other deeds which they do. (Surah Al-Muminoon: 63)
And do
not abuse those whom they call upon besides Allah, lest exceeding the limits
they should abuse Allah out of ignorance.... (Surah Al-An'aam: 108)
….and follow not that of which you have not the
knowledge; surely the hearing and the sight and the heart, all of these, shall
be questioned about that. (Surah Al-'Isra': 36)
O you who believe! if an evil-doer comes to you
with a report, look carefully into it, lest you harm a people in ignorance,
then be sorry for what you have done. (Surah Al-Hujurat: 6)
Prophetic
Traditions Regarding the Ills of Ignorance
Ibrahim ibn
al-Ash’ath reported: Al-Fudayl ibn ‘Iyad, RA, said, “Allah Almighty revealed to
some of His Prophets: When those who know Me disobey Me, I will make them be
ruled by those who do not know Me.” (Al-‘Uqūbāt li-Ibn Abī Dunyā 33)
Abbad ibn
Abdullah reported: Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her said, “How quick are
people to fault what they have no knowledge about!” (Saheeh Muslim 973)
Abdullah
ibn Abbas reported: A man presented a water-skin filled with wine to the
Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. The Prophet said, “Do you
know that Allah has forbidden it?” (Saheeh Muslim 1579)
Ibn Abdul
Barr said, “In this tradition is further evidence that the sin is lifted from
one who does not know.” (Al-Tamhīd 4/145)
Buddhism
and Its Description of Avijja (Lack of Knowledge or Ignorance)
"And
how is there unyoking from ignorance? There is the case where a certain person
discerns, as it actually is present, the origination, the passing away, the
allure, the drawbacks, and the escape from the six sense media. When he
discerns, as it actually is present, the origination, the passing away, the
allure, the drawbacks, and the escape from the six sense media, then — with
regard to ignorance concerning the six sense media — he is not obsessed with
not knowing. This is unyoking from sensuality, unyoking from becoming, unyoking
from views, and unyoking from ignorance." (Buddha)
"Clear
knowing is the leader in the attainment of skilful qualities, followed by
conscience and concern. In a knowledgeable person, immersed in clear knowing,
the right view arises. In one of right view, right resolve arises. In one of
right resolve, right speech... In one of right speech, right action... In one
of right action, right livelihood... In one of right livelihood, right
effort... In one of right effort, right mindfulness... In one of right
mindfulness, right concentration arises." (Buddha)
Ignorance
is like a thick cloud that darkens the sky, blocking the bright light of our
inner wisdom. (Dharma Master Cheng Yen)
"Not
knowing about Dukkha (sorrow), not knowing about the origin of Dukkha, not
knowing about the cessation of Dukkha, not knowing about the way leading to the
cessation of Dukkha - this is called ignorance. Through detachment, ignorance
is overcome and when ignorance is overcome a monk gains true knowledge."
(Majjima Nikaya)
Following
are the three steps of the twelve steps that are taken as the links in the
development of life, according to Buddhism.
1. In the
beginning the existence was blind. There was no knowledge. All of it was a
great sea of ignorance.
2. In that
great sea of ignorance there were some stirrings that were formative and
organizing.
3. From
these stirrings arose the awareness of feelings.
Description
of the Negativities of Ignorance in Hinduism
O son of
Bharata, the mode of ignorance causes the delusion of all living entities. The
result of this mode is madness, indolence and sleep, which bind the conditioned
soul. (Bhagavad Gita (14.13)
The Blessed
Lord said: Again I shall declare to you this supreme wisdom, the best of all
knowledge, knowing which all the sages have attained to supreme perfection.
(Bhagavad Gita 14, Verse 1)
By becoming
fixed in this knowledge, one can attain transcendental nature, which is like My
own nature. Thus established, one is not born at the time of creation nor
disturbed at the time of dissolution. (Bhagavad Gita 14, Verse 2)
O sinless
one, the mode of goodness, being purer than the others, is illuminating, and it
frees one from all sinful reactions. Those situated in that mode develop
knowledge, but they become conditioned by the concept of happiness. (Bhagavad
Gita 14, Verse 6)
The
manifestations of the mode of goodness can be experienced when all the gates of
the body are illuminated by knowledge. (Bhagavad Gita 14, Verse 11)
O son of
Kuru, when there is an increase in the mode of ignorance madness, illusion,
inertia and darkness are manifested. (Bhagavad Gita 14, Verse 13)
By acting
in the mode of goodness, one becomes purified. Works done in the mode of
passion result in distress, and actions performed in the mode of ignorance
result in foolishness. (Bhagavad Gita 14, Verse 16)
From the
mode of goodness, real knowledge develops; from the mode of passion, grief
develops; and from the mode of ignorance, foolishness, madness and illusion
develop. (Bhagavad Gita 14, Verse 17)
Bible
and Its Lessons on the Ills of Ignorance
They are
darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the
ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. (Ephesians 4:18)
My people
are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I
reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of
your God, I also will forget your children. (Hosea 4:6)
The times
of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to
repent, (Acts 17:30)
Desire
without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his
way. (Proverbs 19:2)
And Jesus
said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast
lots to divide his garments. (Luke 23:34)
“And now,
brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. (Acts
3:17 )
If any of
you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without
reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5)
O simple
ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. (Proverbs 8:5)
Beloved, do
not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God,
for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)
The prudent
sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.
(Proverbs 22:3)
Seek
knowledge from the Cradle to the Grave
Allah, the
Most Gracious sent His Prophets to all the regions of the world and revealed
His Holy Books with the guidance for the people to take to the right path. All
other religious texts too have the guidance for the people to understand their
duties and responsibilities to live a life full of light and tranquillity. The
verses of various religions stated above campaign the same message and that is
to acquire knowledge as your first duty towards your Creator.
Prophet
Muhammad Pbuh says, “Seek knowledge from the Cradle to the Grave” and “‘Seeking
knowledge is obligatory”. Being a universal religion by having its Prophets in
every region of the world from Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) to Hazrat Prophet Muhammad
Pbuh, the message of the Abrahamic religions are universal.
Allah, the
All-Knower knows the future of the universe and the times to come are all open
to Him hence His command to acquire knowledge need to be followed. Life without
knowledge is being tough for both the educated and the uneducated as the
illiterate are sympathising with the people of greed and dishonesty and are
thus unknowingly helping the world getting hellish.
The world
organisations like UNESCO must get to work and spread the message of
‘education’ and ‘no to Jahiliya’ at the earliest. The world society is on the
brink of societal collapse because of the ignorance spread and spreading like
forest fire even into the so-called highly educated class of the society. The
ignorance of religion and casteism is spreading its wings, thanks to the higher
strata of the society in the lust for political power, the most and the
materialistic gain in general.
The world
must teach its population religion, spiritualism and pluralism in quest of
peace and brotherhood along with science and technology for the sake of
luxuries for all.
Let us not
forget the first Ayat revealed on the ‘peace for the world’, Rahmat ul Lil
Alameen. Prophet Muhammad Pbuh: Read, ˹O Prophet, ˺ in the Name of your Lord Who
created— (Surah Al-'Alaq - 1) and strive to get knowledge to the best of our
ability. And say: O my Lord! Increase me in knowledge! (Ta Ha: 114)
And
Allah Knows the Best.
----
Arman
Neyazi is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com.
URL: https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/ignorance-religion-hinduism-christianity/d/124972
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