Sheikh Wasim Kempson delivered this beautiful lecture during the 2015 second annual Islamic conference that was held at Nairobi.
Wasim Kempson – Knowledge
AI: Summary ©
The importance of learning and studying to become a scholar is emphasized, along with the need to pursue knowledge and actions to build up one's knowledge. The success of knowing one's knowledge and actions is highlighted, along with the importance of physical and mental awareness in achieving goals. The key to success is knowing one's knowledge and actions, protecting individuals from harms and loss of generality, and asking for information to show one's actions.
AI: Transcript ©
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Bismillah R Rahman r Rahim al hamdu Lillahi Rabbil alameen
wa Salatu was Sarah mahadasha Phil MBA, he will say that mursalin wa ala alihi wa sahbihi Marine, a Salam Alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh
Indeed, it is an honor and it is a privilege for me to be here once again,
to be in front of my esteemed guests, and my beloved brothers and sisters here.
I assume most of you
are from Nairobi, maybe you have traveled from other cities. But all of you are from Kenya, I guess. So I asked Allah subhana wa tada to reward us all. And all of those who have participated in making this conference a possibility.
Now, I've been requested to talk about an important topic.
And as with all the topics of this particular conference, which will be over the next three days, each topic was chosen specifically because of the importance that it is all it has. For every single one of us.
The topic is knowledge.
And it being the key to success.
Now if I was just to ask just very quickly,
who wants to become a scholar?
A scholar in Islam who would like to become a scholar, raise your hand if you would like to become an
A scholar in Islam. Now scholar is not something strictly don't put your hands down, keep them up. Bismillah
I'm finished. This is not something strictly for men only because there were many scholars, scholar rats in Islam, women. So from the sisters who would like to be a scholar in Islam, raise your hand.
Okay, the buttons are a bit tired. Most of you martial arts about a color you would like Thank you, sisters, thank you brothers about a colloquium. You would like to become a scholar.
I should have raised my hand as well actually. Because I would like to become a scholar as well.
The reality
and it is a reality.
Does everybody become a scholar?
Does everybody become a scholar? No, they don't. That's the reality. In fact, the majority of us, the vast majority of us,
we won't become great scholars.
Now we know the status of the scholars. We know that Allah penalty Allah chooses certain individuals to be scholars. Indeed, our Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam told us
if Allah subhanaw taala wants good for a person,
if they have a dean, he will give that person an understanding of the religion
in Nehemiah kushala him in a bird he allama
it is only truly the scholars the people have knowledge that they will fear Allah subhanho wa Taala truly.
So, if it is the case, the vast majority of us we will not become these great scholars. So, what will we become?
What will become of me as a Muslim
is a very important question.
Because to become a scholar, it means I need to acquire lots of knowledge.
I need to go I need to study I need to sit with people, I need to spend a lot of my years striving and struggling to acquire this knowledge.
So,
with my lectures and when I give advice to people,
I try the best that I can not only just to give a general advice, general advice is very important for us. But general advice, but included with that is an advice which is something which is
realistic and something pertinent and important to me that I can implement then it becomes that much more beneficial to me.
So if I give a lecture upon the importance of seeking knowledge
I'm sure that you have heard lectures about the importance of seeking knowledge.
I'm sure you have heard many stories you heard in many lectures about the status of the people of knowledge, which are general things which are very important for us to learn and to study.
However, the reality is that when I go home this evening,
when I go back to university or go back to college, or go back to work, go back to my family, how is that knowledge of benefit to me in my daily life,
and this is the point that I want to make.
This is what I want to join together,
there is knowledge, and that there are 1000s of types of knowledge.
But for that knowledge, to be of benefit to me,
what do I need to do, so that when I face Allah subhanaw, taala, that knowledge that I acquired, now becomes beneficial.
So it is not just a seek of knowledge, it is just not merely the fact that I want to become an island,
that I want to become a scholar.
But it is more than that.
Because if you ask yourselves, all of you that raised your hand, why do I want to become a scholar?
Is it for just acquiring knowledge sake.
Because if that is the case,
then you will find that the computer
a laptop is the biggest island in the world.
Because you can put a CD, you can put a program on that particular computer or laptop, which has every Hadees that we know on that
every I all the toughest year, it is always there at the tap of a button.
So the greatest alum is a computer, if it is that we are restricting a scholar being someone who just acquires knowledge and can memorize knowledge.
But the truth is
the true scholar or the one who desires and wants to be the scholar doesn't want just to acquire knowledge, just because they can say, I know
and I can give you the answer.
But knowledge becomes beneficial to every single one of us.
It becomes the Elmo nerfed beneficial knowledge. When that knowledge becomes part of me that now becomes part of my actions.
And you must join the
knowledge on its own.
Without any actions won't benefit you.
Actions without any knowledge won't benefit you.
In fact, in an authentic hadith, our beloved Nabi sallallahu alayhi wa sallam,
he told told us that from the first people to be thrown into the Hellfire, one of them is
a scholar and
that person that we all want to be.
So wait a minute, do I still want to be a scholar?
Yes, I do. But I don't want to be that type of scholar. What is that type of scholar, that is the scholar
who learned who memorized who acquired but he did not act upon what he knew. And he acquired that knowledge, so that people would say about him, he has a scholar, he or she is a scholar.
So the responsibility of knowing
the responsibility of acquiring knowledge is a great responsibility.
That knowledge, yes is the key to success, but how is it the key to success only if it becomes beneficial to you? Only if you start acting upon that knowledge that you have acquired that a lot of penalty has allowed you to learn.
So the path that you take
is a is a path which is very heavy, has a great responsibility.
Because the more you know,
the more responsibility and the more you will be asked about.
If you don't know you don't know.
We make dua to Allah subhana wa tada a banner led to him in nesina our for Anna oh my lord, don't
Take me to account if I miss if I forget, or if I made a mistake due to my ignorance for example,
but the more you know, the more you will be responsible for that knowledge that you have acquired.
Let me give you a couple of examples about it is not about how much you know,
but it is how much you know, and how much you act upon that. So, it becomes a benefit and a help to you in this life in the hereafter.
The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was sitting in the masjid and the story I guess is well known to us all.
He was sitting in the masjid with the Sahaba of the Allahu anhu
the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, the next man to enter the masjid will be from the people of gentlemen.
The Sahaba the Allahu anhu.
Not a people existed
with any profit, or any messenger
to the level of love that they had for a messenger, like the Sahaba, the Allahu anhu their endeavor, their love and their desire to seek good and to do good, was like nobody else.
So when they heard, the next person to enter, the masjid, is going to be pulled from the people agenda. Every single one was waiting to see who walked in.
When that person walked in, with his shoes underneath his arm, pray to rock and sat down.
Who's he?
We don't see him sitting in the circles of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam every day.
He's not from the allameh or the great, knowledgeable Sahaba
but he's from the people of gentlemen.
The second day, the same thing happened. That the Prophet sallallahu it said the next person tends to the masjid. He will be from the people of gentlemen, the same man. On the third day, the next person to enter the masjid will be from the people of gentlemen.
The same man
Abdullah nonmalignant, also the Allahu anhu.
He saw I have to know what this person is doing.
So he followed him.
He followed him and he made an excuse to stay with him. He stayed with him for three days.
He didn't see him praying every night. He didn't see him fasting every day. What is this person doing?
The I'm not. I didn't receive this guarantee. He got it.
At the end, he said the three days Well, he said I have to leave.
But the Prophet sallallahu Sallam told us a man is going to enter the masjid.
And he's from the people of gentlemen. So I followed you. And I want to know what you do.
He replied, whatever you see, this is what I do. I don't know what it is. Abdullah and I'm not going to begin walking away. Except this one thing.
He said the one thing What is it? He said that when I sleep every night,
this is a beneficial notice that he took
this was an element that he implemented every day.
That before I go to sleep every night they make sure that Michael from my heart is pure, it is clean. I have no hazard no jealousy, no hatred, no enmity towards any Muslim.
Simple is that easy. Abdullah have an AMA although he said woman equals Eric who can do that?
Who can go to bed every night and ensure that their their heart is pure clean. I have not done an atom's wait of hatred, jealousy, enmity, anything towards my brother or sister every day.
This the heartbeat of the Allahu anhu was given this promise because a piece of knowledge that he had, and he implemented it every day.
This is when the knowledge became beneficial to him.
And another incident, a Bedouin man he came into the masjid of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam aina, Mohammed,
Mohammed, the Bedouin people, they will be of course they're a bit harsh. They spoke like this.
The Sahaba the Allahu and were taken aback because they didn't address Mohammed sallallahu. Either somebody is named like this. They would call him Nabil, Allah Rasool Allah, they would give him his title. There are lots of panels Allah gave to him. Allah he started to set up.
He came to the Prophet sallallahu wasallam this Bedouin men
and he said,
What has Allah obligated upon me? Regarding the follow up the prayers are need to know.
The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, he said,
five daily prayers, that is what is obligatory upon you, except if you want to do some voluntary, some powerful.
Then he asked, what has Allah obliged upon me regarding the care, my money?
The purpose of the law, I just said him said, This is what is do upon you, except if you want to give some sadaqa something extra.
And he said, thirdly, what does Allah obligated upon me regarding fasting,
he said, the month of Ramadan, except if you want to do something extra,
the man is stood.
He said, Well is the academic, by Allah, the One who honored you, Mohammed salallahu alayhi wa sallam, I will not do any photo work, I will not do anything extra.
But I will not do anything less than what you have just told me.
This knowledge that it came to him
to establish the Pillars of Islam.
And he made a custom he swore by Allah, I will not do anything extra than you have told me. But at the same time, I will not fall short of any of those obligations, and he walked away.
The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said concerning this individual, a flower be in sadhak.
He will be successful, if he is true to his statement
for knowledge, he came to him.
And then he acted upon that knowledge.
This is when that knowledge came to him and it was of benefit to him. So how many lectures?
How many conferences? How many lessons that we attend, that we may even write notes for?
When does that become part of my daily actions?
Because, for example,
in the application that we make, Oh Allah,
make the Quran a how genuine Lana, Elena, make the Quran as a proof for me, as an evidence that will support me on the Day of Judgment, not a proof against me.
And then you may ask you may question because I believe in no
formal first to unece I believe it, I read it, I accept it. How can it be a proof against me?
And how can it be a proof for me? It is a proof for you. That every piece of knowledge, every every verse that you read, and that you learn something, that you implement it, that it becomes part of your life. Now the Quran is become an evidence for you, that it will help you.
But it will become an evidence against you
that you learn to this hokum that you learn this ruling that you took the advice of Allah subhanaw taala however you turned away from it, and that you didn't listen to it.
That when you face Allah subhanaw taala that knowledge came to you.
And then you turned away from it.
Allah subhanho wa Taala talks about people
talks about a people who know who have knowledge of matters. They're telling people to do this, to do that. To do this, stay away from this stay away from that, but they themselves that they don't do it.
They don't do those actions.
These are from the most hated people in the sight of Allah subhanaw taala these people who know
but they don't act upon that what Allah subhana wa tada that he gave to them
every day that you read enough Serato Mr. Team, Oh Allah guide me to the straight path Serato lady in an empty alley him the path which you have bestowed your blessings upon.
Ya del Mercado de la him, not the path of those who earned your anger. Who are they? Those whom the knowledge has come to them.
But they didn't act upon it. They turned away from it
while a ball lien all those people
have no knowledge at all. And they act upon that ignorance. Every day you're asking Allah subhanaw taala not to make you from those people.
But you want to be from those people who when they acquire the knowledge that they act upon it immediately that they do it straight away without any delay.
Do you know when the idea of hijab
when they were revealed in Surah, two No.
And that versus online, sort of, and also in sort of that asset?
When the verses came down commanding to commanding the believing women to cover themselves? Do you know what they did?
They fled, and they rented their homes.
And they pulled down the curtains from their doors.
And they covered themselves
when the knowledge came to them,
immediately empty suddenly amarilla historypin alterra. They wanted to fulfill the commands of Allah subhanaw taala immediately
when the idea came down, prohibited Hama prohibiting alcohol with the Sahaba the Allahu anhu, what did they do? their vessels immediately turned them upside down.
until some duration said, many rivers of alcohol were through the streets of Medina, because they pulled the alcohol away. Because now it has become hot, um,
it is not permissible for us anymore.
This is how the greatest of generations are the Allahu anhu May Allah be pleased with them all, how they took this knowledge, and that knowledge was a key to success to them how? Because they acted upon it, that big a became part of their lives. When the command of Allah subhanaw taala came,
there was no asking, Where did you get the?
Or where did you get that Hadith? Or has it been abrogated? Has it been canceled? Or who did you hear that from?
Although at certain times, in our time
coolamon have Baba dub, whoever has the desire to and walks that they can speak how
and with what would they like, at times, of course, it is important for us to ask,
but we are talking about the time
with the Prophet sallallahu it was and when there was no need to ask.
So if you know that the knowledge has come to you, and it is authentic, it is so high
that you are from the first people to implement that I have Allah subhana wa Tada.
So on a practical level now, on a real level now, because I've spoken about just to quickly recap, that knowledge is successful or this is an aid for us and will help us when
question mark when
that when I acquire that knowledge, I will immediately act upon that.
And that will become a proof and evidence against you that when the knowledge comes to you, that you don't act upon it.
What I have said to you right now, if you have understood what I have said to you now
you will have no excuse.
I have to say to you, that you will have no excuse that every single one of you you are told when knowledge comes to you that you are to act upon it.
You can't say when knowledge came to me, I didn't know that I had to act upon it. I just thought it was nice information that it made me feel good for a little while. You know that little Eman boost and then you go back home and you go back to the life that you were in before? I didn't know now you know
if you didn't know before, you know now that when authentic knowledge comes to you
that you are to act upon it.
So this knowledge now is what
is it the end? Is it the end game? Is it the achievement or not?
I'm gonna ask a question now.
I hope you're still with me.
Physically and mentally. You still with me? I know it's quite early.
Raise your hand
and there's no obscenities you know you can't abstain from this by the way.
There's no no votes, you have to vote in Holloway.
Raise your hand if you think knowledge is the gold
Raise your hand if you think knowledge is the gold is the endgame. That's what I need to achieve is the knowledge.
Okay.
My next question now,
raise your hand if you think knowledge is a means.
Raise your hand if you think knowledge is a means for you to reach the end, which is what?
unexplained the what in a minute. But Raise your hand if you think now knowledge is a means for you. It is
okay, I think they are more than the first. Raise your hand if you didn't raise your hand.
Come on, please raise your hand if you didn't raise your hand.
Muslims don't lie, Muslims honest. If I didn't raise my hand, raise your hand is okay.
Our respect and love for you will increase. Raise your hand if you didn't put your hand up. I didn't.
I'll be the first
humbleness and shyness is from Amen. Masha Allah
as I understand, and Allah knows best, that knowledge is a means.
Knowledge is a means for you to achieve
the end result.
Because knowledge alone, if it was the end goal, the end objective,
then actions wouldn't be part of it. Just to acquire knowledge would be the end game. That's it. know who we are what I have tried to say.
And I think those brothers and sisters who raised their hand, to say that knowledge is the end game, maybe we can have a little chat later.
Maybe we need to go through a few things. Or you can speak to those people who raised their hands, who said that knowledge is a means for us.
So what is the end achievement that we want to do?
That this knowledge becomes is a means for us to achieve what this beneficial knowledge to achieve what to do what
you can say in a number of different ways. And the previous lectures are located mentioned, to achieve and understand the essence of a tawheed
How to worship Allah
to love Allah and to love his messenger.
This is when it becomes of benefit to you
that this knowledge becomes some tools for you that you can then go beyond and then you can start acting upon this knowledge. So knowledge is a means for you to worship. Submit to love, Allah subhana wa Tada.
I've said many things.
And if all that you can remember in a week's time,
because bear in mind
what I say to you now, most of it, Allahu Allah, Allah knows best, you will have different capacities and your memories, most of what I have said to you, you'll forget it.
But it's no blame on you. This is the nature of a conference. You're here to sit down. And if I use the phrase, you're here to be entertained.
You're here, you're sitting here, because you want the speaker by Allah's permission to give you an A man boost.
I'm not judging everybody. But essentially, that's this is how it works, right? Because this is not a lesson where we have brought our books, and we hate to memorize and to explain complicated concepts of Islam. We didn't come here for that. The nature of this particular conference, and it is the way it is the majority of what I said to you allow Adam, you'll forget.
Maybe in a week's time in a month time, even in a year's time.
I'm the same. Do you remember that conference? I remember that conference. Do you remember the individual? Yeah, remember the individual? Remember his talk? Do you remember the title of his talk? No. Do you remember one thing from it? That thing I'm going to tell you now try to remember this.
That knowledge
will only be beneficial to you. If you act upon it.
The knowledge is yes the key to success. But it will be the key to success if it becomes part of you.
I shadow the law her and her was this was asked to describe the manner the personality of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam
How did she answer the Allahu anhu? Many of us we know what was his manner, can a hula hoop What?
What you find in the Quran,
the individual that the person or the person that Allah subhanaw taala wants us to be.
That was never your law. That was our beloved Nabi sallallahu, alayhi wasallam any command any prohibition any recommendation and in dislike that he sallallahu it was it was an embodiment of that.
That that knowledge will be of benefit to you, only when you act upon it.
And I ask Allah subhana wa tada to protect us from acquiring knowledge
and that we never act upon that knowledge. So May Allah azza wa jal protect us from being such a people.
I asked Allah subhanaw taala to increase us in knowledge of Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, that if you don't become an Adam, if you don't become a scholar,
if you don't become that great, well known for not for the sake of being well known, but having the ability to have an impression, in fact, many people if you don't become that person,
if you don't become that person, that at the very least at the very bare minimum, that you understand the
fact that law Mr. Tata,
that fear Allah subhanaw taala to the best of your ability,
even if you have a small amount of knowledge,
but you act upon all of that.
Maybe it is the case, that you are far greater in the sight of Allah subhanho wa Taala than a person who has extensive knowledge and acts upon only a small amount of that.
Because as we are sitting here, it is very easy for us
to look at each other
and maybe judging each other. Just because I am standing here
just because I am on this podium, doesn't make me any greater than any one of you.
Because an abuse of the law, how are you silom told us at toccoa hoonah that fearing and fearing Allah and piety is in here.
When Allah subhanaw taala looks at you look at
the history penalty doesn't look how you your features and how you look. While I can young guru mother, ala Kuru Baku mmamoloko
para la so panel looks at your hearts, the purity of your hearts, the sincerity of your hearts and your actions. In a kurama komenda la he at
the most honored in the sight of Allah subhanaw taala. All those who have the most taqwa
may be a person who sits in front of 1000s of people and addresses them the responsibility that Allah gave to them when they didn't fulfill it may be punished biological panatela and the way that we could never imagine. May Allah subhanaw taala protect us from being such people.
May Allah subhanaw taala allow us to remain and increase us upon steadfastness upon this beautiful Deen of Allah Islam.
May Allah subhanaw taala protect each and every single one of us
because we are in need of Allah subhana wa tada more than you can ever imagine.
You wouldn't want for the blinking of an eye. For a loss of generality leave you alone on your own for your own devices.
You are in need of a loss of penalty for everything.
May Allah subhanaw taala bring about a realization within our own selves to know that
And may Allah subhanaw taala gather us as we have come here to remember Allah subhana wa tada as we have