The Prophet of God who was the seal of the Prophets is told...
The Prophet of God who was the seal of the Prophets is told to read in the very first instance of receiving divine revelations: اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ "Read! In the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created…” [The Holy Qur’an, al-‘Alaq 96:1] Then the subject of teaching the use of the pen is revealed: الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ عَلَّمَ الْإِنسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ "… He who taught (the use of) the Pen.
Taught man that which he knew not.” [The Holy Qur’an, al-‘Alaq 96:4-5] It is very important to notice that the very first instance of revelation of divine teachings is about reading, teaching, the pen, etc. This shows that it is teaching and knowledge that can elevate man from the lowest ranks to the highest positions, and finally approach the threshold of God.
The Holy Qur’an asks man’s conscience to judge about knowledge: قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُوْلُوا الْأَلْبَابِ “Say: Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know?
It is those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition.” [The Holy Qur’an, al-Zumar 39:9] Consider the following verses: قل لا يَسْتَوي الخَبِيثُ و الطَّيِّبُ “Say: Not equal are things that are bad and things that are good …” [The Holy Qur’an, al-Maida 5:100] وَمَا يَسْتَوِي اْلأَعْمَى وَالْبَصِيرُ وَلا الظُّلُمَاتُ وَلا النُّورُ و لا الظِّلُّ و لا الحَرُورُ “The blind and the seeing are not alike, nor are the depths of Darkness and the Light.
Nor are the (chilly) shade and the (genial) heat of the sun.” [The Holy Qur’an, al-Fatir 35:19-20] The phrases “things that are good”, “the seeing”, “the light”, “the heat of the sun” all represent the results of having knowledge, while “things that are bad”, “the blind”, “depths of Darkness” and “the chilly shade” all represent the results of ignorance.
Consider the following verse: ً قُلْ كَفَى بِاللّهِ شَهِيدًا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَمَنْ عِندَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتَاب Say: Enough for a witness between me and you is God, and such as have knowledge of the book.” [The Holy Qur’an, al-Ra’d 13:43] In this verse, those who have knowledge have been described to be as a witness to Prophethood along with God, and their high rank near God is clarified.
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