For this reason...

For this reason, God has mentioned the word ‘Taqwa’ by saying: “Most surely in the variation of the night and the day, and what Allah has created in the heavens and the earth, there are signs for a people who guard (against evil)” .[^6] Those who have studied the states of theologians, philosophers and those who have worked in this field know how God has mentioned the word ‘Taqwa’. Hence, it is incumbent upon all human beings to rectify their belief and faith.

It is faith which benefits or harms a human being. If he has a good faith, he will achieve success, but if he has no faith, he will suffer loss. Knowledge and science can serve as a great factor in correcting one’s belief. On the contrary, ignorance makes human belief corrupt. In this relation, God says: “Are those who know and those who do not know alike?

Only the men of understanding are mindful.” [^7] Elsewhere God says: “Is he then who knows that what has been revealed to you from your Lord is the truth like him who is blind? Only those possessed of understanding will mind.” [^8] The use of ‘men of understanding’ and ‘those possessed of understanding’ are meaningful. The Holy prophet’s companions have related that a man from the Ansar came to the Holy prophet (SAW) asking: “O Messenger of Allah!

Which one do you like better; to attend a funeral or to meet a scholar?” The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “If there is anyone to attend the funeral, to go to the presence of a scholar is better than attending a funeral, visiting a thousand patients, rising up at night for prayer, fasting for a thousand days, giving a charity of a thousand Dirhams to the poor, performing the minor hajj a thousand times, and a thousand non-obligatory wars against the enemy in the way of Allah with your life and property.

Do you not you know that God has been obeyed with knowledge and worshipped with knowledge and all the good of the world and the hereafter is with knowledge and all the evil of the world and the hereafter is with ignorance?” [^9] Imam Ali (AS) has been reported as saying: “Sitting in the presence of scholars for an hour is better to God than a thousand years of worshipping. Looking at a scholar is better than seclusion of one year in the House of God.

Visiting scholars is better than seventy circumambulations around the Ka’ba and is better than seventy minor Hajj.