Time Value of Knowledge

Allah is Great and Sublime. And how many a sign there is in the heavens and the earth that we, therefrom, are turning away.

The eyes, the ears, the brain and the ways of expression (al-Bayaan) that Ar-Rahman taught us; the writing with the Qalam that Al-Akram taught us: just amazing. And it was an extremely thoughtful observation of Shah Walliullah in Hujjat-ul-Baaligha along the lines that while the animal's guidance is placed within its instinct, the guidance of man has been placed outside of him; this is compatible with the fact that he has also been bestowed with the abilities to acquire, record, share and apply that knowledge (note that I don't recommed everything in that book be acted on without further investigation).

Given that the summer has now officially begun, much needed recovery from hard work is insha'Allah being acquired. But I'm asking myself, how much time-off can I really afford?

As part of the little effort just to make sure "something" is always happening to continue the learning of Arabic - Allah has allowed me to engage with the famous collection of fatawa of ibn Taymiyah (may Allah be especially merciful to him). The first "book" in this volumnous book is the "Kitab-ul-Uloohiyya" (The Book on Divinity) dedicated to defining worship and its motivations and establishing that it is only for Allah. But as anyone who knows the "ibn Taymiyah academic writing style" (as there is also the non-academic more focused type) there are a lot of tangents taken while addressing the main subject (as a tangent of my own: I actually think this is quite deliberate and may be inspired by the style of the Qur'an which exhibits this in at least in some surahs).

So when I came across his tangent (or elaborate corrollary - to give the benefit of the doubt) taking us onto discussing the importance of knowledge of the religion - especially that which comes through observing the statements and practices of the Prophet (may Allah pray from him and grant peace) - I have begun more to attach a time value to knowledge (yes, my business school education has tinted my glasses - though the anology may not fit perfectly). It may seem straightforward, but I never really attached that level of "opportunity cost" and what gets me going is that thought: what if we really did?

Speaking from personal experience as a full-time student in secular education and not neglecting the great favour of Allah and making mention of it, it has been how Allah guided me to spend my summer vacations and weekends that has allowed me at least to receive with more "involvement" and "itminaan" the message of the Qur'an as well as having more accessiblity to texts such as the above-mentioned fatawa.

For many going through the usual educational route (except perhaps teachers in universities), this time will never return. Never. Hence, I share at the start of the summer these few paragraphs from this scholar whose thought process has stunned so many and I (in my very limited reading) have not seen anything approaching that expanse in grasp of knowledge or subtelty in observation.

As I get to the point where I will insert that text, (ironically) I realise that my time has run out and I will have to wait a while before I share that with you (insha'Allah). So I hope I have said enough to whip up the thirst to know and they say that having to wait for something increases its delight when you actually incur it. I pray that that is the case at the next blog. Wassalamu alaikum.