Knowledge That Is Ignorance

Tuesday 03-Dec-2019, 10:56PM / 1268

Translation: Ishaaq bn AbdirRaheem Aboo Aamir 

Bismillaah-ir-Rahmaan-ir-Raheem 

Not all knowledge is actually knowledge but ignorance and not all ignorance is knowledge but ignorance therefore a Muslim must prioritize what sort of knowledge he seeks. There is some knowledge, not possessing them is better and safer for one in life and the hereafter than possessing them.

Bishr bn Al-Waleed al-Kindee reported that Abu Yusuf (one of the foremost students of al-Imaam Abu Haneefah) said:

الْعِلْمُ بِالْكَلَامِ جَهْلٌ , وَالْجَهْلُ بِالْكَلَامِ هُوَ الْعِلْمُ

'The knowledge about Kalaam [scholastic theology, philosophy, argumentation, logic, etc.] is ignorance, and the ignorance about Kalaam is knowledge.'’

Recorded by Ibn Battah in al-Ibaanatul Kubraa, 2/526.

In essence a Muslim peasant who knows Tawheed and Sunnah according to the ways of the Salaf and who knows nothing about all this scholastic theology some people belabour themselves with is more knowledgeable than the so-called professors of Islamic philosophy.

Allaah’s aid is sought.