Imam Sadiq (AS) has been reported as saying...

Imam Sadiq (AS) has been reported as saying: “I have found all knowledge in four things; to get to know your Lord, to know what He has given to you, to know what He wants from you, and to know what takes you out of your religion.” [^2] Commenting on this narration, Allamah Majlisi says: “First, you should get to know your Lord through attributes of perfection, Divine act, and essence of God.

Secondly, you should realize His glory through intellect, senses, His Grace of revealing the Book and other blessings. Thirdly, you should get to know His will by self-restraint, obedience and acknowledgment of Him through intellect and narration.

Fourthly, you should know that following the leaders of misguidance and sin will take you out of your faith.” [^3] Sadr al-Mota’aliheen Molla Sadra, has reported how the Imam has classified knowledge or science into three groups while rejecting the rest, though knowing everything is better than not knowing it. Then he says: “If knowledge, like that of sorcery, is reproached, it is because of its result which is aimed at creating separation between wife and husband.

It seems that the Imam wishes to bring up a kind of knowledge which can save human beings in the hereafter. Hence, if astronomy is related to faith, ethics and religious orders, it is considered as part of them.

Imam Ali (AS) has been reported as having said: “knowledge is for religion, medicine for body, syntax for language and astrology for knowing the time.” [^4] The Holy Prophet (SAW) has been reported as having said: “Science is of two categories: science in the heart which is beneficial and science on the tongue which is a proof for God’s servants.” [^5] Nevertheless, if they (two kinds of science) are used solely for worldly gain or if they are detrimental to human beings, they are blameworthy.

Hence, the story of the man around whom people had gathered and he was blamed by the Holy Prophet might be of a political nature. So the Holy Prophet (SAW) did not really mean to condemn knowledge of lineage. God knows it better. One of the branches of knowledge, about which human beings should be careful, is theology, that is the rectification and perfection of faith, for thoughts run into different directions and there are different viewpoints and books in that area.

Hence, many individuals have gone astray in this path and are entangled with amazement and bewilderment.