The Quran Does Not Differentiate Knowledge as Worldly and Religious
By S.
Arshad, New Age Islam
31 December
2022
Knowledge Leads
Man To Salvation
Main
Points:
1. The Quran
asks man to ponder on scientific facts.
2. God gave
prophet Noah a.s. the knowledge of building a huge ship.
3. The Quran
asks man to ponder over the phases of foetus in the womb.
4. The Quran
asks man on history of mankind.
5. The Quran
also gives knowledge on religious issues.
-----
Islam has
always stressed on the importance of education and knowledge. The very first
verse revealed to the prophet pbuh stressed on reading as a means of acquiring
knowledge. Knowledge leads one towards realisation of truth and ignorance keeps
one wandering in darkness.
The Quran
time and again asks man to acquire knowledge and should travel for that purpose
if it is necessary. While stressing the need to acquire knowledge, it does not
categorised knowledge as religious and worldly. Knowledge cannot be religious
or non-religious. God has created the universe and everything between the earth
and sky. So exploring the truth of the creation is appreciating the wisdom and
artistry of the Creator. That is why the Quran does not divide knowledge
between worldly and religious.
This was
the understanding of the scholars of the early periods of Islam that led them
to seek knowledge of sciences. They studied biology, astronomy, medicine,
surgery, physics, chemistry etc. along with the Quran, hadith, Islamic
jurisprudence, mathematics, algebra etc.
However,
due to the narrow interpretations and explanations of the Quran in later
periods by the Islamic scholars, the Quran was presented as a religious
scripture that only spoke of moral and religious issues. They ignored the
verses on scientific facts. Later age madrasas excluded sciences and taught
only religious subjects.
This was
also in reaction to the rise of Christians who promoted science and technology.
Since Islam and Christianity were two major religions of the world in the
medieval era, Muslims considered science and technology as a tool of
Christianity and abandoned it as an antithesis to Islam. In the later periods,
when the British expanded their empire in the East and opened schools that
included sciences, the schools were seen as the centres of worldly knowledge
leading people to the hell.
Therefore,
madrasas were opened in Muslim countries to spread the 'true knowledge' of Islam.
In addition, to prevent Muslims from the ill effects of science. One major flaw
of the religious education system of Muslims was that the Quran, the basic
source of knowledge, was excluded from the curriculum of madrasas. The Quran
was only memorised. It was not taught in detail with meanings and
interpretations. All the other subjects like Islamic jurisprudence; Arabic,
Hadith, Islamic history etc. were taught. In later periods, sectarian ideology
was also included in the curriculum. Therefore, madrasas became affiliated to
one or the other sect.
Since
Muslims were not aware of the contents of the Quran, they were not aware of the
scientific approach of the Quran. The students of Islam did not know that the
Quran also discusses scientific facts in many verses and encourages Muslims to
do scientific topics.
Here are
some of the verses that discuss scientific facts.
"And
We certainly gave David from Us bounty. (We said) O mountains, repeat (Our)
praises for him, and the birds (as Astik well). And We made pliable for Him
iron, (commanding him), "Make full coats mail and calculate (precisely)the
links and work righteousness."(Saba:10)
God gave
prophet David a.s. the knowledge of making weapons from iron. And this fact was
mentioned in the Quran. If the scientific knowledge was of no value to God, He
would not have mentioned it in the Quran."
God gave
prophet Noah the knowledge of building a huge ship. The Quran says:
"And
We inspired him, "Construct the ship under Our observation and Our
inspiration."(Al
Muminun:27)
Prophet
Noah a.s. was given the knowledge of making a gigantic ship that was a marvel
of technology. God could have given the knowledge of making the ship to any
engineer of that time and prophet Noah could have used it. But that the prophet
was given the knowledge of science and technology of making a ship reiterates
the fact that a Muslim should also acquire the knowledge of science and
technology apart from fulfilling his religious obligations.
There are
other prophets whom God gave wisdom and knowledge. For example, God gave
prophet Khizir a particular knowledge.
"And
they found a servant from Our servants to whom We had given mercy from Us and
had taught him from Us a (certain) knowledge." ( Al Kahf:65)
The Quran
narrates the incident of the visit of the Queen of Saba to the palace of King
Sulaiman a.s. who was also a prophet. The queen entered the palace and
perceived water on the floor. She pulled up her clothes and exposed her legs.
The courtiers were bemused and told that there was no water on the floor but
the glass floor created the illusion of water. Such a phenomenon could be found
in the modern age but King Suleman a.s. employed scientists and engineers of
his kingdom to build the palace. He must have promoted science and technology
in his kingdom.
God also
mentions the phases in the evolution of foetus in the womb till its birth. It
also mentions other scientific facts in the Quran and asks Muslims to reflect
and ponder over them.
In the
Quran two words, Ilm (knowledge) and Hikmah (wisdom) are used frequently
meaning religious sciences, occult sciences, science and technology, knowledge
of archaeology, astronomy etc. God is called Omniscient, the seat of all
knowledge and wisdom, arts and sciences. The two words --- Aleem and Hakeem
--- denote God 's monopoly over all knowledge. God bestows a part of knowledge
to a man according to his spiritual or intellectual capabilities and passion
for knowledge.
God says in
the Quran that He gives knowledge to any one who does research or ponders
deeply over His creations irrespective of religion. God blesses with knowledge
and wisdom who does research on His creations. That is why there are many
non-Muslim scientists who have made important discoveries and inventions.
Muslims have ignored research and observation and have concentrated only on religious
issues. Therefore, scientific knowledge has not been bestowed on them by God.
Therefore,
it can be concluded that knowledge is knowledge. It is not religious or
scientific. Muslims have categorised knowledge as religious and scientific.
They have declared scientific knowledge as un-Islamic and therefore have barred
sciences frim their madrasa curriculum. This is the reason behind their
educational, scientific and industrial backwardness.
-----
S.
Arshad is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com.
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/quran-knowledge-worldly-religious/d/128757
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