Greedy in Knowledge
The Prophet (saw) said:
“Knowledge from which no benefit is derived is like a treasure out of which nothing is spent in the cause of Allah.” – Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 108
We can look at this Hadith from two perspectives:
Islamic Knowledge:
If we, as Muslims are aware of our obligations, as well as the boundaries and limitations to what is halal and haram, yet fail to act upon it – our knowledge is not benefiting us. Benefiting does not only mean imparting on others, it also means applying it to ourselves. If our habits, treatment of others, work ethic, and daily routines do not reflect the Islamic knowledge we have, it clearly is not benefitting us.
Secular Knowledge:
Allah has blessed us with Islam and the ability to acquire secular knowledge. One of the most important reasons for acquiring secular knowledge is being aware of our surroundings locally and globally. If we are acquiring knowledge about different topics but are not challenging our mindset and the biases that are ingrained in us, then our knowledge is not benefiting us. Secular knowledge exposes us to current events, people from different backgrounds, and other phenomena but if we still fail to contemplate and apply, then our knowledge is of no use.
Recognizing Allah is not limited to praying five times a day, nor is a college degree limited to just an impressive resume. As a Muslim, it comes with the responsibility of applying it on ourselves first and then imparting it on others. Otherwise, it is like having treasures but not sharing it with the needy. Just as we consider that person stingy in wealth, not benefitting from knowledge would be considered stingy in ‘ilm.
