Knowledge Revolves Around 5 Things:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Allaah تعالى said:

﴿يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ كُلُوا مِمَّا فِي الْأَرْضِ حَلَالًا طَيِّبًا وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ ۚ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ﴾

{O mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and good on the earth, and follow not the footsteps of Shaitaan (Satan). Verily, he is to you an open enemy.} [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 168]

Abu `Abdullaah al-Saajeey – Sa`eed bin Yazeed said:

“There are 5 traits by which `Ilm is completed:

1) Knowing about Allaah عز وجل ^[1].

2) Knowing the Truth (i.e. Islaam) ^[2].

3) Sincerity in doing things for Allaah (alone) ^[3].

4) Implementing the Sunnah ^[4].

5) Eating the Halaal ^[5].

If anyone of these is missing, the Deeds are not raised up (i.e. they are not rewarded).”

[Tafseer al-Qurtobee (2/208)]

=====

[1] Before establishing worship it is important to know who to worship. Only Allaah, the One Who created us, provides for us, gives us protection and is the Owner of the Day of Judgment is worthy of all worship. There is none in the heavens and the earth but must come to al-Rahmaan as a humbled slave.

To believe in Allaah تعالى as the way He has described Himself as well as what the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has mentioned about Him تعالى. It is to accept all the Names and Attributes of Allaah تعالى without Tahreef (distortion), Ta`teel (denial), Takiyeef (description) and Tamtheel (comparison/resemblance).

***

[2] Allaah تعالى said:

﴿هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ﴾

{He it is Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad) with guidance and the religion of truth to make it victorious over all (other) religions even though the Mushrikoon hate (it).} [Surah al-Tawbah (9): 33 and Surah al-Saff (61): 9]

***

[3] Knowing Allaah تعالى is not sufficient if it is not accompanied by worship and obedience to Him. The main purpose of Human creation is to establish worship for Allaah alone. And worship is not correct if the intention is not correct. There are many Aayaat and Ahaadeeth asserting the importance of sincerity and correct intention:

﴿إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ فَاعْبُدِ اللَّـهَ مُخْلِصًا لَّهُ الدِّينَ﴾

{Verily, We have sent down the Book to you (O Muhammad) in truth: So worship Allaah (Alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allaah’s sake only, (and not to show-off, and not to set up rivals with Him in worship).} [Surah al-Zumar (39): 2]

And the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The reward of deeds depends upon the intention.” [Saheehain]

***

[4] And worship is not correct when it opposes the Sunnah or is not based upon it.

Allaah تعالى says:

﴿فَلْيَحْذَرِ الَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ عَنْ أَمْرِهِ أَن تُصِيبَهُمْ فِتْنَةٌ أَوْ يُصِيبَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ﴾

{And let those who oppose the Messenger's (Muhammad’s) commandment beware, lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, earthquakes, killing, overpowered by a tyrant) should befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them.} [Surah al-Noor (24): 63]

In this regard the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "I warn you of the newly invented matters (in the religion),and every newly invented matter is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Hellfire" [an-Nasaa'ee]

And he صلى الله عليه وسلم used to say at the beginning of his lectures, "and the best speech is the Speech of Allaah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, and the worst of all affairs are the newly invented matters (in the religion)" [Saheeh Muslim]

And he صلى الله عليه وسلم commanded us, "whosoever does an action which we have not commanded then it will be rejected." [Saheeh Muslim]

And again, "whosoever introduces into this religion of ours that which is not part of it then it must be rejected" [Saheeh Muslim]

***

[5] Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Verily Allaah the Exalted is pure. He does not accept but that which is pure. Allaah commands the believers with what He commanded the Messengers. Allaah the Almighty has said: {O you Messengers! Eat of the good things and act righteously} [Surah al-Mu’minoon (23):51-53]. And Allaah تعالى also said: {O you who believe! Eat of the good things that We have provided you with} [Surah al-Baqarah (2):167-172]. Then he (the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم) mentioned (the case of) the man who, having journeyed far, is disheveled and dusty and who stretches out his hands to the sky (saying): “O Lord! O Lord!” (while) his food was unlawful, his drink was unlawful, his clothing was unlawful, and he is nourished with unlawful things, so how can he be answered?” [Saheeh Muslim (1692)]