Character (Akhlaq). When we study the life and times of our beloved
Ahlul Bayt (as), we notice that the main weapon they used in carrying
out their mission of spreading the message of Allah (SWT), was
knowledge on one hand and Noble Character on the other.
Our 6th Imam, Imam JafarSadiq (as) narrates that,"Anyone who is devoid
of knowledge (Ilm) and Noble Character (Akhlaq)is like an orphan who
has lost both his parents."
Our Fuqaha (scholars) areapt examples of the height of character one
can attain. It has been narrated about the spiritual station of our
great Marja, Ayatullah Muhammad Husein Burujerdi (d.1961), that he had
made a vow (Nadhr)that if he ever uttered inappropriate words when
angry, he would fast for a whole year (to train his soul). Indeed, he
had a very lofty station because of his excellent character. He
himself has said,"Before I came to Qom, I used to hear the voices
ofangels." He was a Marja whose credentials as a supreme authority had
been endorsed by Amir al-Mu'mineen, Imam Ali (pbuh) himself.
Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: I seek refuge in Allah (SWT) from
knowledge that brings no wisdom, from a heart that lacks kindness,
from desires that bring discontent, and from supplications that go
unanswered.
Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: "Teachers andstudents both share in
rewards but other peopleare deprived of them."
Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: "He who searches for knowledge is
similar to a person whofasts during the day and keeps vigil at night
and isbusy worshipping. If a person acquires a branchof knowledge, it
is betterfor him than possessing as much gold as the height of Abu
Qubais Mount which he would distribute in the way of Allah (SWT)."
Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: "The virtue ofknowledge is more
beloved with Allah (SWT) than the virtue of worship."
Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: "The Noble Qur'anis Allah's (SWT)
university; so, learn as much as you can in this university."
Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: "Fie upon that Muslim who does not
allocate (at least) oneday a week to the study of the details of his
religion and to explore (the affairs) of his religion."
Imam Hassan (as) said:"Teach your knowledge to others and (try to)
learn yourself the knowledge of others."
Imam Baqir (as) said: "Tryto learn knowledge because learning it is a
good action and study is itself a worship."
Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said: "Be careful of your knowledge and see from
whom you get it."
Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said: "Try to obtain knowledge and ornament it
with patience and dignity; andbe humble for the one who learns
knowledge from you."
Knowledge (Ilm) and Wealth in the eyes of Imam Ali (pbuh):
It is related that once ten learned men approached Imam Ali (pbuh),
and wanted to know how knowledge was better than wealth. They
requested that each one of them be given a separate answer. Imam Ali
(pbuh) answered them as follows:
01. Knowledge is the legacy of the Prophets; wealth is the inheritance
of the Pharaohs. As the Prophets are superior to the Pharaohs, so
knowledge is better thanwealth.
02. You have to guard your wealth, but knowledge guards you.
Therefore, knowledge is better than wealth.
03. When knowledge is distributed it increases. When wealth is
distributed it decreases. As such knowledge is better than wealth.
04. A man of wealth has many enemies, while a man of knowledge has
many friends. Therefore knowledge is better thanwealth.
05. A learned man because of his wider outlook is apt to be generous
while a rich man because of his love for money is apt to be miserly.
As such knowledge is better thanwealth.
06. Knowledge cannot bestolen, while wealth is constantly exposed to
thedanger of being stolen. Accordingly knowledge isbetter than wealth.
07. With the lapse of time, knowledge gains indepth and dimensions.
Hoarded coins get rusty, or cease to be legal tender. Therefore
knowledge is better thanwealth.
08. You can keep accountof wealth because it is limited, but you
cannot keep account of knowledge because it is boundless. That is why
knowledge is better thanwealth.
09. Knowledge illuminates the mind, while wealth is apt to blacken it.
Therefore knowledge is better thanwealth.
10. Knowledge is better than wealth, because knowledge induced the
humanity in the Holy Prophet to say to God"We worship Thee as we are
Thine servants", while wealth engendered in Pharaoh and Nimrod the
vanity which made them claim Godhead.
Imam Ali (pbuh) was the only one who declared 'Saluni, Saluni Kabla an
Tafkiduni' - 'ask me, ask me, before you do not find me amongst you.'
Imam Ali (pbuh) says regarding knowledge and acting on it:
O you who carry knowledge around with you; are you only carrying it
around with you? For surely knowledge belongs to who ever know and
thenacts accordingly, so that his action corresponds to his knowledge.
There willbe a people who will carry knowledge around with them, but
it will not pass beyond their shoulders. Their inner most thoughts
will contradict what they display in public and their actions will
contradict what they know.
Imam Ali (pbuh) says regarding the purity and nobility of knowledge:
When a dead person is placed in his grave, four kinds of fire will
cover him, but then the prayer will come and put one of them out, and
the fast will come and put another one of them out,and then charity
will come and put another one out, and knowledge will come and put the
forth one out, and it will say: 'If I had come sooner, I would a have
put all of them out, and given you delight for I am with you now, and
you'll not see anything else distressing.'
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