What is the importance of seeking knowledge?

In the past decade, the number of Muslims in the United States of America has increased by 50%. What is the importance of seeking knowledge? Likewise, the number of people leaving Islām has also been on the rise. Alarmingly, the Pew Research Center reports that 23% of people raised in Muslim families have left Islām. This rate indicates that this faith is in dangerous waters. In today’s day and age, not only do statistics show that Islām is in jeopardy of being lost, but the society Muslims live in also misinterprets the religion.

Young people in America are increasingly turning away from Islām because of two reasons: society’s standardized perceptions of Islām and an inadequate access to knowledge. Generally, people are prone to believe and take part in what their environment exposes them to. For instance, after constantly being told hijab is a form of oppression or Islām is a religion of violence from an early age, it becomes difficult to be confident within one’s own identity, which is reminiscent of the challenges faced during Sayyīdah Khadījah ‘s life. Furthermore, there is a growing number of questions that are left unanswered as a consequence of a lack of channels to reach people who are qualified to rectify these misunderstandings. To confront this issue, it needs to be addressed at its core.

 

As a Muslim, Islām expects you to learn about certain matters; this is known as farḍ al-‘ayn, individual obligations. The intent of farḍ al-‘ayn knowledge is to strengthen an individual’s faith, which includes belief in Allāh ﷻ, His angels, His books, His Messengers, The Last Day, Qadr (decree of good and evil), understanding one’s religious duties, and knowing that which is prohibited. A specific example of this would be fiqh, Islāmic jurisprudence, of how to pray, fast, perform hajj or pilgrimage, etc. Without a formal process, it is impossible to understand, interpret, and most importantly apply these teachings to one’s life. Although it may seem as simple as looking through an instruction manual, when it comes to recognizing the derivation of these guidelines from the Qur’ān—the Islāmic scripture, and authentic ḥadīth—narrations of the last Messenger ﷺ, it is more complex than it appears. The Qur’ān contains raw information with multiple layers of understanding, including the ongoing discourse of Salafi Versus Sufi Thought.

Through a guided process students can gain training, including through Islamic Studies Short Courses, to decode these layers to what the message of Islām is all about. Outside of reading an English interpreted Qur’ān, there are dimensions such as context of revelation, linguistics, and clarity of verses that still must be studied to understand to the best of our human capacity. The Qur’ān is a Muslim’s companion in this life and the next, therefore it is only right to take it seriously. It is essential for people of all age ranges to seek Islāmic knowledge. An academic setting can provide the tools a student of knowledge needs when approaching matters of Islām.

An academic setting differs from a traditional environment in the sense that it equips students with modern resources and utilizes progressive learning. By attending classes in an academic setting, the source of the information becomes far more credible. Solely seeking for information on the internet may put you at high risk for running into sites that are completely inauthentic. This could potentially leave you with faulty beliefs, whereas a classroom can provide you with trusted, classical texts. Over the web, anybody who is unqualified can easily record their own videos and give themselves the title of an Ustādh, Shaykh, and even Mufti. Accredited online Islamic studies courses can be a solution. Too many times, without admitting to not having sound knowledge about a topic, people have falsified answers and forged evidence.

This process makes it burdensome to determine whether or not the given information is coming from a well-educated and qualified individual. When you immerse yourself into a formal setting, such as Islamic studies summer programs, you can be assured that the scholars teaching you are experienced, have reached a certain level of expertise, and can bring agreed upon knowledge that is of utmost authenticity.

Additionally, for those exploring the importance of seeking knowledge, delving into formal teaching environments offers structured guidance. Here, instructors delineate a methodology of learning, ensuring a systematic approach. Whether pondering the significance of education or contemplating the best Islamic studies graduate programs, such environments foster a progressive journey. Without this structured framework, navigating through educational materials independently can prove challenging, leading to a haphazard exploration of content. In educational institutes, students are required to commence with core subjects before delving into more intricate matters.

An academic setting, enriched with Islamic education on human life, also encourages you to be punctual, otherwise there is no sense of accountability. Something that can be completed within a week, might be done within a month on your own. Ultimately, the benefit of an academic setting allows teachers to be able to assess a student’s comprehension and verify that their students are fully grasping the concepts being taught.