THE rise of Muslims to the zenith of civilisation in a period of four decades wasbased on Al-lslam’s emphasis on learning.This is obvious when one takes a look at the Qur’an and the traditions of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) which are filled with references to learning, education, observation, and the use of reason. The very first verse of the Qur’an revealed to the Prophet Muhammad on the night of 27th of Ramadan in 611 AD reads: “Read: In the name of thy Lord who created man from a clot. Read: And thy Lord is the Most Generous Who taught by the pen, taught man that which he knew not.” (Quran, 96:1-5)

The pursuit of knowledge and the use of reason, based on sense observation is made obligatory on every Muslim, man and woman.

The following traditions of the Prophet (SAW) supplement the foregoing teachings of the Qur’an in the following way:•“The acquisition of knowledge is compulsory for every Muslim, whether male or female.”

•“The ink of the scholar is more sacred than the blood of the martyr.”•“Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave.”
•“God has revealed to me, ‘Whoever walks in the pursuit of knowledge I facilitate for him the way to heaven.”

•“The best form of worship is the pursuit of knowledge.”

•“Scholars should endeavour to spread knowledge and provide education to people who have been deprived of it. For, where knowledge is hidden it disappears.”•“Someone asked the Prophet (SAW): “Whois the biggest scholar?” He replied: “He who is constantly trying to learn from others, for a scholar is ever hungry for more knowledge.”

“Acquire knowledge: it enables its possessor to distinguish right from the wrong, it lights the way to heaven; it is Our friend in the desert, our society in solitude, our companion when friendless- it guides us to happiness; it sustains us in misery; it is an Ornament among friends and an armour against enemies.”

The Islamic Empire, for more than 1,000 years, remained the most advanced and civilised nation in the world. This is because Al-Islam stressed the importance and respect of learning, forbade destruction and developed in Muslims, the respect for authority, discipline and tolerance for other religions. The teachingsof the Qur’an and Sunnah drove many Muslims to their accomplishments in science and medicine.

By the 10th century, their zeal and enthusiasms for learning resulted in all essential Greek medical and scientific writings being translated into Arabic in Damascus, Cairo and Baghdad. Arabic became the international language of learning and diplomacy. The centre of scientific knowledge and activity shifted eastward and Baghdad emerged as the capital of the scientific world. The Muslimsbecame scientific innovators with originality and productivity.

For example, Islamic medicine is one of the most famous and best known facets ofIslamic civilisation and in which the Muslims most excelled. The Muslims were the great torchbearers of international scientific research. Some of the best and most eloquent praises of science ever written came from the pens of Muslim scientists who considered their work to be acts of worship.

One of the secrets of success in any profession is to be the most learned or best-informed person. Learning is a pleasure. It is not, then one should cultivate the enjoyment associated with learning. Although the pleasure of learningis universal, there are many dull incurious people in the world. There are several reasons for this. Some people are made dull by bad teaching, isolation and following a routine lifestyle. For some people, it is the pressure of hard work and poverty. For those who are rich, their ephemeral and trivial delights come in the way of the pleasures of learning. The human mind can survive not only poverty but also even wealth with luck, determination and guidance.Learning is a natural pleasure. This pleasure is inborn and instinctive. The pleasure of learning is one of the essential pleasures of the human race. Without learning, survival itself is threatened. It is said that the propagation of the human race might be endangered if the knowledgeof sex through seeing, reading or hearing is withheld from everyone.

The process of learning starts right after birth. It is true that babies who can barely talk investigate problems with all the zeal and excitement of explorers, make discoveries with the passion and absorption of dedicated scientists. At the end of each successful investigation, one can see on the tiny face, an expression of innocent and pure heartfelt pleasure. The process of physical growth stops when a boy or girl reaches puberty, that is, with theonset of menarche in the girls and with thechange in the voice and growth of moustache and beard in boys. After puberty, it is impossible to increase the height both in boys and girls. It is only possible to increase their widths by fattening. On the other hand, the mental faculties grow from birth until death. At some point in our lifetime, the physical body becomes sick or ill and gradually dies; even the emotions become duller. Butthe mind continues to live, and even grows more lively and active, enjoys itself more, works and plays with more expansion and delight.

There are many examples in the history of Art, Music and Science, of both men and women who significantly contributed and lead mentally productive lives at their ripe old ages. Learning extends our lives into new dimensions. It is cumulative.Instead of diminishing in time, like health and strength, its dividends go on increasing, provided one continues to learnthroughout life and integrate the thoughts and make learning harmonious. One should make it a point to learn at least onenew information each day. Now, one can learn even during sleep. This is accomplished with headphones attached to the ears and repeats playing of phonographs or taped cassettes. This method of sleep-learning is found most useful in linguistics- to learn new languages.

The pleasure of learning is not confined to learning from textbooks, which are too often tedious. But it does include learning from book magazines (periodicals), newspapers and movies. When you stand in a big library in front of thousands of books, do not think they are lumps of lifeless paper, but minds alive on the shelves.

Each has its own voice, which is as inaudible as the radiobroadcast waves falling directly on the ears.

Just as one switches on the radio to hear, so does one just need to open a book to hear the voice far distant in time and space. One can hear the voice speaking, mind to mind and heart to heart. Reading of books gives you two different delights. One is the pleasure of understanding the unknown and the unexpected. The other pleasure is of deepening one’s knowledge of a specified field.

The Prophet Mohammad told Muslims to be active in their search for learning, crossing oceans and continents if necessary. The more learned you are the more money you can earn.

It is fitting here to tell you the story of Diogenes, the great Greek philosopher wholived during the time of Alexander the Great.

Diogenes was a very learned man and he shunned both power and wealth. Hence he was called a cynic. He was known to have wandered searching for an honest man carrying a lantern during day and night. He gave up everything he possessed, except a coconut shell for drinking water.

One day he saw a man drinking water forming a cup with his hand. After seeing this Diogenes threw away his last possession, “the coconut shell. The name of Diogenes spread throughout Greece. Alexander the Great heard about Diogenes and one day decided to see him.

Mounted on horseback, Alexander the Great went to Diogenes who was sitting onthe ground. Alexander said “Oh Diogenes, Ihave heard a great deal about you and your life. I am very much impressed by your life and it is my earnest desire to help you in whatever way I can. Please let me know your desires so that I can fulfil them,” to which Diogenes replied “Your Excellency, my only request is that you get aside and allow the sun’s rays to fall on my body.”

Alexander the Great was deeply moved by Diogenes’s reply and said “If I were not Alexander the Great, I would be Diogenes.” Now, the point here is that Diogenes never went to Alexander the Great, but that Alexander the Great came to Diogenes for he was such a learned philosopher.There are many people in this world who have played themselves to death, or eaten and drunk themselves to death. Nobody ever died because of thinking or learning. People who avoid learning or abandon it find no joy in life. They find that life is drained dry. No learner has ever run short of subjects to explore.

The pleasures of learning lead to happiness. One can live longest and best and most rewardingly by attaining and preserving the happiness of learning. Learning is everyone’s birthright. Everyone— young or old, rich or poor, male or female — has access to learning. Exercise your birthright. Remember, what you have learned cannot be stolen by others.
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