Seeking Knowledge & Believing in the Signs of Allah
Life is very temporary; like waves that gently reach a shore or any coastline, before they quietly pull away and return to the vast ocean. The universe, designed in an extraordinary and marvellous way, reflects the greatness of Allah’s creation.
When you study the stars – thousands of them,
too many to count – and see them hanging in the sky; when you observe the world
around you, even the fine veins in leaves, all these details point to the
wisdom of Allah. Yet, despite all this beauty, this world is only a passage; a
temporary stage before eternal life.
The Holy Qur’an speaks of belief in the unseen:
“Those who believe in the unseen, who establish
prayer and give from what We have provided for them.” (Al-Baqara 2: 4)
This belief is not blind faith; it is a truth
confirmed by revelation and reflection. As human beings, we are always in a
state of learning. This process never stops. As long as we are alive, we
continue to learn. Day by day, people make new and fascinating discoveries in
science and nature. What we understood yesterday, we understand even better
today. Still, knowledge – no matter how vast – remains incomplete. Theories try
to explain reality, but they can never replace absolute truth. Only Allah holds
all knowledge, and He will reveal it when the time is right; there is a fixed
moment for that.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Whoever sets out in search of knowledge is on the path of Allah until he returns.” (Tirmidhi)
This means a Muslim believer should always be
ready to increase their knowledge (i.e., be it a girl/woman or boy/man); to
seek what will benefit them, their family, and their faith, i.e. Islam. From
the moment they leave their home in search of learning, whether it is spiritual
knowledge (Islamic) or academic (mathematics, science, nature, the sea, living
creatures), all knowledge that brings them closer to Allah and helps them
understand His signs is encouraged by Allah and His Messenger, the Holy Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh).
Seeking knowledge keeps the mind active and
open to new understanding. But what matters most is that a believer should use
the good knowledge they have gained to serve Islam and the society they live
in. They should help others benefit from what they know; improve lives; inspire
others to learn, to research, to study and raise their intellectual level. In
doing so, they help humanity and, more importantly, they help the religion of
Allah benefit from that knowledge.
Keep in mind that a person must always seek
knowledge. From birth until death, we are meant to be in constant search of
understanding; to improve ourselves first, to become better human beings, and
to recognise the signs of Allah that surround us.
When we reflect on this, it reminds us that the
journey to discover truth lasts a lifetime. But the real truth belongs only to
Allah. A person, a researcher, may make discoveries or propose theories, but
eventually those theories may fall and be replaced by others. What never falls
is the truth that comes from Allah. Only Allah is the Truth, knows the truth,
and can reveal the truth – and this happens through Divine Revelation.
Allah has given each of us a mind to analyse,
explore, study and understand His signs. Take the depths of the ocean as an
example: much of it remains unexplored, hiding wonders beyond human perception.
In the same way, our senses are limited in understanding the unseen world. The Holy
Qur’an reminds us that those who reject belief in the Hereafter truly stray
from the right path: “And those who do not
believe in the Hereafter truly stray from the (right) path.”
(Al-Mu'minun 23: 75)
We must remember that the world is not as solid
as it seems. The skies appear like a vast roof, yet beyond what we can see,
there are thousands of galaxies. Scientists once believed atoms were the
smallest units of matter, until they discovered subatomic particles. Even time
is relative, shaped by the limits of our earthly existence. These discoveries
should not distance us from faith; they should bring us closer to it – true
faith, the faith perfected by Allah in Islam.
Just as energy turns into matter and light
vibrates beyond what we can see, the transition from this life to the next is
very real. Death is not the end; it is a doorway to an unseen realm – more
alive and lasting than anything in this temporary world. In His infinite
wisdom, Allah has kept the wonders of the Hereafter hidden: “No soul knows what delights are kept hidden for them as
a reward for what they used to do.” (As-Sajda
32: 18)
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) described
the Hereafter by saying: “There are things in Paradise that no eye has ever
seen, no ear has ever heard, and no human heart has ever imagined.”
(Bukhari)
Just as the colours of light stretch beyond our
visual perception, the reality of life after death goes beyond our
understanding. What truly matters is not how much knowledge we gather, but the
truth that guides us; the truth that leads us to wisdom. And that absolute
truth can only be revealed by Allah, and He reveals it to whomever He wills.
So bear in mind: Life on this earth is very
temporary. Do not waste time on things that do not help you grow in
intelligence or in your ability to understand Allah’s creation and recognize
His greatness. Look around you; reflect on Allah’s greatness; recognize Him
alone as the Creator; and lose yourself in thinking about Him. When you think
of Allah, think only of Him, and recognize His signs everywhere; even within
yourselves. And remember: Death has no age. What Allah has promised in the
Qur’an is true. Do good, and you will reap a reward far better in the Hereafter.
If you do wrong, then reflect on the warnings Allah and His prophets have
given, and reform yourselves before it is too late.
Will you let a life spent doing good and sincerely recognising Allah’s signs end in emptiness? I invite all my followers and all Muslims around the world to reflect on this. Ponder over this carefully: The older you grow and the closer you come to death, the more you must pay attention – not to slip from the right path and lose divine love and mercy. May Allah protect you from the evil of Satan, and may you remain firm, no matter what, on the Siratwal-Mustaqeem (the straight path) that leads to a blessed destination, not a cursed one. Insha-Allah, Ameen.
All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds, Who grants knowledge to whom He wills and reveals the truth at the time He has appointed.
----Friday Sermon of 30 May 2025~01 Dhul-Hijjah 1446 AH delivered by Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius.