ভূমিকা

Moreover, we think that the parsimony he shows regarding those sciences which may be included in this category, does not harmonize with the teachings of the Qur’an and the Prophet's sunnah.13 Our reasons for not accepting such restrictions on learning are as follows: In most of the Qur’anic verses and traditions, the concept of ilm (knowledge) appears in its absolutely general sense, as can be seen from examples given below: قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ Say: Are those who know and those who do not know alike?

(39:9) عَلَّمَ الْإِنسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ (God) taught man what he knew not. (96:5) وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاءِ هَـٰؤُلَاءِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ And He taught Adam all the names; then showed them to the angels, saying: “Tell me the names of these, if you are right.”(2:31) من سلك طريقاً يطلب فيهِ علماً سهَّلَّ الله له طريقاً الى الجنة Anyone who pursues a course of acquisition of knowledge, God will ease his eventual access to paradise.14 Similarly other Qur’anic verses and traditions confirm that knowledge does not mean only learning of the principles and laws of the Shari'ah.

We may note some further examples: وَوَرِثَ سُلَيْمَانُ دَاوُودَ وَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ عُلِّمْنَا مَنطِقَ الطَّيْرِ وَأُوتِينَا مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَهُوَ الْفَضْلُ الْمُبِينُ ﴿١٦﴾ And certainly We gave knowledge to David and Solomon, and both (the apostles) said: All praise is God's who made us to excel many of His believing servants. And Solomon succeeded David and he said: O people!