(Mohammad Masood Ahmed (2025), Would You Like To Know Something About Islam, Second Edition, Crescent Books Inc., New York, USA. Pg. 279-289)

Knowledge is the key to success, and Islamic knowledge is the key to ultimate success. Knowledge instills superiority, confidence, and a sense of satisfaction. It fosters faith and provides direction, unlocking new paths for progress in life. It allows us to venture into outer space while also encouraging us to explore our inner selves. This is the knowledge that helps us comprehend our purpose, origins, and destinies. It connects us with our Creator and liberates us from all kinds of bondage. When applied effectively, this knowledge helps us to be deserving of the title 'Best of All Creatures.' Ultimately, “knowledge is to light as ignorance is to darkness.” The importance of knowledge has been evident since the creation of the first human being:

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً  ۖ قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ  ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ‎30 ‏ وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاءِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ ‎31‏ قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا  ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ ‎32‏ قَالَ يَا آدَمُ أَنبِئْهُم بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ  ۖ فَلَمَّا أَنبَأَهُم بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ غَيْبَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَأَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ ‎33‏ وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَاسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ 34¹

And when your Sustainer stated for the angels, “Certainly, I am to make a vicegerent on earth,” they began saying, “Will You make in it those who will create mischief in it and will commit bloodshed, when in fact we speak Your Holiness with Your praise and keep glorifying You.” (Allah) stated, “Certainly, I know what you do not know.” And (He) taught ‘Adam () all the names, each and every; then (He) presented them to the angels. Then (He) stated, “Tell me all of their names if you are truthful!” They began saying, “Holiness is Yours; we do not have any knowledge except of whatever You have taught us. Certainly, only You are All-Knowing, All-Wise.” (Allah) said, “O ‘Adam (), do tell them all of their names.” So when they were told all of their names, (Allah) said, “Did I not tell you that without a doubt, only I know the mysteries of the heavens and Earth, and (I) know whatever you reveal and whatever you conceal?” And when We commanded the angels to prostrate before ‘Adam (), they all prostrated, except Iblis. He refused and became proud, and (he) became of the disbelievers.

Allah first granted ‘Adam , His vicegerent, the gift of knowledge, which provided ‘Adam (and humanity) a distinct advantage over the angels, elevating his status. This divine knowledge included teaching ‘Adam the names of all things, allowing him to understand their qualities and functions. This knowledge, the essential asset for navigating life, was given to man even before he set foot on Earth. Allah was man's first teacher, underscoring the significance of knowledge, particularly as it was imparted directly by Him. The initial verses revealed in the Holy Quran also highlight this crucial message.

اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ ‎1‏ خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ 2 ‏ اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ 3 ‏ الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ ‎4‏ عَلَّمَ الْإِنسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ 5²

Read in the name of your Lord, Who created. He created man from a clot of blood. Read! And your Lord is Most Merciful, Who taught by the pen, taught man whatever he knew not.

The Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad starting with these verses, emphasizing the significance of knowledge and education in Islam. This foundational knowledge, which humans later built upon to enhance their understanding of life, originated from the Lord. Without this essential knowledge, reaching our current state would have taken many thousands more years.

الرَّحْمَٰنُ 1 ‏ عَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ 2 ‏ خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ 3 ‏ عَلَّمَهُ الْبَيَانَ 4 ‏ الشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ بِحُسْبَانٍ ‎5 ‏ وَالنَّجْمُ وَالشَّجَرُ يَسْجُدَانِ 6 ‏ وَالسَّمَاءَ رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ الْمِيزَانَ 7 ‏ أَلَّا تَطْغَوْا فِي الْمِيزَانِ ‎8 ‏ وَأَقِيمُوا الْوَزْنَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا تُخْسِرُوا الْمِيزَانَ ‎9 ‏ وَالْأَرْضَ وَضَعَهَا لِلْأَنَامِ ‎10 ‏ فِيهَا فَاكِهَةٌ وَالنَّخْلُ ذَاتُ الْأَكْمَامِ 11 ‏ وَالْحَبُّ ذُو الْعَصْفِ وَالرَّيْحَانُ 12 ‏ فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ‎‏ 13³

The merciful Allah, taught the Quran. created this man. and informed him thoroughly. The sun and moon are according to a measure. and vines and shrubs and trees are fallen into prostration. And heavens He raised and He indeed set the scale, and do not go under or over when weighing, and establish weighing with justice and do not lessen the weight. And He kept the earth for the creatures. in which there is fruit and sheathed dates and grains of husks and scented flowers. So, O Jinns and Men! How many of your Lord’s bounties will you deny?

Knowledge and wisdom are crucial for guiding mankind, and to ensure that one is fully guided, Allah bestowed knowledge and wisdom upon all of His Prophets , who then conveyed it to the wise. In the beautiful story of Yusuf (Joseph) , Allah states:

وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ آتَيْنَاهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا  ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ ‎ ‎‏ 22⁴

When he reached his full maturity, so We gave him wisdom and knowledge, and in this way We reward the upright servants.

This highlights the significance of the knowledge granted to Yusuf as a reward. Observe how Allah honored His Prophet Yaq‘ub (Jacob) in the Holy Quran:

...وَإِنَّهُ لَذُو عِلْمٍ لِّمَا عَلَّمْنَاهُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ‎ ‎ ‎‏ 68⁵

…and without a doubt, he was a man of knowledge, which We taught him, but most people act ignorantly.

While interpreting the dreams of two prisoners, Yusuf said:

...ذَٰلِكُمَا مِمَّا عَلَّمَنِي رَبِّي...‎ ‎‏ 37⁶

…this is because my Lord has taught me…

Through knowledge, Allah exalts His true servants:

...نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَاتٍ مَّن نَّشَاءُ وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِي عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ 76 ‎⁷

…We elevate the ranks of whomever We want, and over every knowledgeable person, there is a more knowledgeable One…

When informing Yahya (John the Baptist), son of Zakariya (Zachariah), Allah said:

يَا يَحْيَىٰ خُذِ الْكِتَابَ بِقُوَّةٍ   ۖ وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْحُكْمَ صَبِيًّا 12⁸

“O Yahya! Hold onto the Book strongly.” And We had given him wisdom, ever since childhood.

When Ibrahim (Abraham) tried to convince his uncle to follow the right path and refrain from idol worship, he, referencing his knowledge, said:

يَا أَبَتِ إِنِّي قَدْ جَاءَنِي مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا لَمْ يَأْتِكَ فَاتَّبِعْنِي أَهْدِكَ صِرَاطًا سَوِيًّا 43⁹

O Uncle! Without a doubt, a part of that knowledge has come to me, which did not come to you; so, keep following me; I will take you to the Right Path.

Regarding Prophet Lut (Lot) , Allah stated:

وَلُوطًا آتَيْنَاهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا...    ۝ ¹⁰

And We gave to Lut (), prophecy and knowledge…

Allah stated the same regarding Sulayman (Solomon) , Musa (Moses) , and Yusuf :

وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَاسْتَوَىٰ آتَيْنَاهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ 14¹¹

And when he reached full maturity and youthful prime, We gave him wisdom and knowledge. And this is how We reward upright servants.

Knowledge and wisdom are the highest bounties; nothing equals them. Whoever is endowed with them is truly exalted and honored. Allah states:

يُؤْتِي الْحِكْمَةَ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَن يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ 269¹²

He gives wisdom to whomever He wills, and whoever is given wisdom, certainly he is given a great treasure.

To gain a deeper understanding of the importance of true knowledge and its results, Allah reveals:

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ وَالدَّوَابِّ وَالْأَنْعَامِ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ كَذَٰلِكَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ ...   ۝ ¹³

And people, beasts, and cattle are of various colors. In this way, only the knowledgeable people among His servants fear Allah …

One of the greatest purposes of Allah’s granting knowledge is:

وَلِيَعْلَمَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَيُؤْمِنُوا بِهِ فَتُخْبِتَ لَهُ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَهَادِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ 54¹⁴

And so they may know who has been given knowledge that undoubtedly, this indeed is truth from their Lord. So they may believe it, and so their hearts may become affectionate to it. And certainly, Allah will indeed grant the way to those who have believed, towards the Right Path.

وَيَرَى الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ هُوَ الْحَقَّ وَيَهْدِي إِلَىٰ صِرَاطِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ 6¹⁵

And those who are given knowledge are observing that what has been revealed to you from your Lord is the truth, and it guides to the way of the Exalted, the Praiseworthy.

Prophets primarily aimed to impart knowledge and wisdom, guiding their people on their purpose and proper behavior in life. This mission equally applied to Muhammad , the final prophet. Allah states:

هُوَ الَّذِي بَعَثَ فِي الْأُمِّيِّينَ رَسُولًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِن كَانُوا مِن قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ 2¹⁶

It is He, Who sent among the unlettered a Prophet from among them, who recites unto them His Verses and purifies them and teaches them the book and wisdom, and without a doubt, these people before were in manifest apostasy.

Although the human race has achieved much in a relatively short time, its overall knowledge remains quite limited. People have no choice but to continue striving for knowledge until they fully understand their purpose. To illustrate the limits of our knowledge, Allah states in the Holy Quran:

وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ   ۖ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي وَمَا أُوتِيتُم مِّنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا 85¹⁷

And they ask you about the spirit. Reply to them, “The spirit is by the command of my Lord, and you were not given from knowledge except a bit.”

يَعْلَمُونَ ظَاهِرًا مِّنَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ عَنِ الْآخِرَةِ هُمْ غَافِلُونَ ‎7‏ أَوَلَمْ يَتَفَكَّرُوا فِي أَنفُسِهِم مَّا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ بِلِقَاءِ رَبِّهِمْ لَكَافِرُونَ ‎8‏ أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَانُوا أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَأَثَارُوا الْأَرْضَ وَعَمَرُوهَا أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا عَمَرُوهَا وَجَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَٰكِن كَانُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ 9¹⁸

Those people know the earthly life’s apparent condition, and regarding the Hereafter, all those people are negligent. Did they not think in their hearts that Allah did not create the heavens and Earth and whatever is in between them but accurately and for a fixed period, and certainly many people are deniers of meeting with their Lord. Did they not travel on the Earth to see how was the consequence of those before them, who were much stronger than them and broke ground, and had inhabited it more than they inhabit it. And their prophets brought to them signs; so it was not Allah to oppress them, but, yes, they oppressed themselves.

أَفَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَىٰ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُم مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ إِن نَّشَأْ نَخْسِفْ بِهِمُ الْأَرْضَ أَوْ نُسْقِطْ عَلَيْهِمْ كِسَفًا مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّكُلِّ عَبْدٍ مُّنِيبٍ 9¹⁹

So did they not look what is in front and behind them, Heaven and Earth. If we would like to, we could bury them in earth or drop upon them a piece from the heavens. Certainly, there is indeed a sign in it for every person who pays attention.

وَقَالُوا مَا هِيَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا الدُّنْيَا نَمُوتُ وَنَحْيَا وَمَا يُهْلِكُنَا إِلَّا الدَّهْرُ ۚ وَمَا لَهُم بِذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ۖ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَظُنُّونَ 24²⁰

And those people said that there is nothing except this worldly life of ours, that we live and die, and nothing perishes us, but time. And they know nothing about this; they only go about following suppositions.

وَمَا لَهُم بِهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ۖ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ  ۖ وَإِنَّ الظَّنَّ لَا يُغْنِي مِنَ الْحَقِّ شَيْئًا ‎28‏ فَأَعْرِضْ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَلَمْ يُرِدْ إِلَّا الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا ‎29‏ ذَٰلِكَ مَبْلَغُهُم مِّنَ الْعِلْمِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اهْتَدَىٰ     ۝  ²¹

And they have no knowledge at all of this. They do follow nothing but imagination. And certainly, apprehension and assumption is not a bit useful in place of truth. So, turn away from him who turns away from Our remembrance and wishes only for worldly life. This is the extent of their knowledge…

Through the verses shared above, I aim to enhance your under-standing of the significance of knowledge in Islam.

ACQUISITION OF KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge is such a remarkable and desirable power that Allah instructed His Prophets to strive and supplicate for it.

وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا 114²²

…and pray, “O Sustainer! Give me more knowledge.”

In Islam, obtaining knowledge is regarded as a form of indirect worship. The pursuit and enhancement of knowledge are so important and advantageous that when Prophet Musa learned about a servant of Allah named al-Khidr who held divine knowledge, he promptly sought to learn from him.

قَالَ لَهُ مُوسَىٰ هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَىٰ أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًا 66²³

Musa said to him, “Can I accompany you, so you may teach me that which you have been taught so well?”

Moreover, countless ahadīth establish the value of acquiring know-ledge. The Prophet stated:

Scholars are the successors of the Prophets. ²⁴

For the one who embarks on the path to acquire knowledge, Allah eases their path to Heaven. Additionally, angels spread their wings beneath the feet of a knowledge seeker, and every creature prays for their success and safety. A righteous scholar holds a greater status than a devout worshipper, just as the full moon outshines the stars. ²⁵

Studying or acquiring knowledge of the religion of Islam, even for a few moments at night, is far better than worshipping all night long. ²⁶

A single jurist becomes heavier upon Satan (to mislead) than a thousand devout worshippers. ²⁷

Overall, the benefits of gaining knowledge and educating both oneself and others are unmatched. In this life, teachers and those who seek knowledge are highly regarded and will receive their due recognition in the Hereafter.

ISLAM AND SECULAR EDUCATION

Islam is the complete way of life that does not ignore or fail to cover any aspect of worldly life.

As Muslims deepen their understanding of Islam and progress to becoming scholars of the Quran, Sunnah, Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), and various other fields, they not only transition into religious scholars but also acquire insights relevant to worldly matters. This journey transforms them into philosophers, psychologists, sociologists, politicians, economists, among others. The knowledge gained through Islam provides them with a frame of reference regarding law, government operations, justice systems, financial and social structures, community well-being, conflict resolution, peacekeeping, military strategy, foreign relations, human rights and responsibilities, ethics, character development, and all other essential aspects of life and society.

An objective examination of Muslims’ contributions in science and other fields will reveal, as you may be surprised to discover, that these individuals were not only secular experts but also knowledgeable scholars of Islam. The wisdom found in the Holy Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad have propelled Muslims to enhance human intellect significantly over time. Due to space constraints, I cannot delve deeper into their accomplishments. Nevertheless, there are fields of knowledge in which Muslims have not made significant contributions for various reasons. This does not suggest that they lacked the capability to do so or that Islam discourages involvement in such areas of study.

Islam is not opposed to modernization or the progress of science and tech-nology. In reality, it established the theoretical foundations for all sciences and offered legal and religious flexibility to support innovations that enhance human welfare. Islam endorses any advancement that eases life and alleviates suffering, with such efforts yielding substantial rewards in various forms. “And without a doubt, towards your Lord is the final destination." ²⁸

Islam discourages actions and innovations that only provide fleeting joy, fail to benefit humanity, and result in long-term suffering. In fact, Islam supports any field of knowledge, science, or technology that fosters genuine happiness and prosperity. Today, the significant advancements made by non-Muslims in science and technology are recognized and accepted within Islam. It appears that Allah acknowledges their efforts and rewards them in this life. Importantly, Islam teaches that those who contribute to humanity’s progress and also have faith in Allah will receive rewards that continue into the Hereafter, promising eternal peace and happiness.

Allah encourages everyone to be attentive, reflect, contemplate, and investigate His Message, His world, and His universe, facilitating our journey toward the ultimate truth. As this invitation serves our benefit, all related endeavors align with Islam. Islam does not restrict any thinker, explorer, or scientist in this pursuit.

Allah states in the Holy Quran:

إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَالْفُلْكِ الَّتِي تَجْرِي فِي الْبَحْرِ بِمَا يَنفَعُ النَّاسَ وَمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مِن مَّاءٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَابَّةٍ وَتَصْرِيفِ الرِّيَاحِ وَالسَّحَابِ الْمُسَخَّرِ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ 164²⁹

Truly, in the creation of heavens and Earth, in the alternation of night and day, in the sailing of ships on sea carrying that which benefits people, in the water which is sent down by Allah from the sky, through which the earth is given life after its death, in scattered animals of all kinds on (it), and the differing movements of clouds and winds bound in between the sky and earth—in all of this, certainly, are signs for those people who utilize intellect.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ فَالِقُ الْحَبِّ وَالنَّوَىٰ  ۖ يُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَمُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتِ مِنَ الْحَيِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ   ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُؤْفَكُونَ 95 ‏ فَالِقُ الْإِصْبَاحِ وَجَعَلَ اللَّيْلَ سَكَنًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ حُسْبَانًا  ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ ‎96 ‏ وَهُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ النُّجُومَ لِتَهْتَدُوا بِهَا فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِقَدْ فَصَّلْنَا الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ ‏      ۝  ³⁰

Certainly, it is Allah Who splits open the seeds and pits. He takes out the living from the dead and is the One to take out the dead from the living. This is your Allah, so where are you falling on your face? He burst forth the dawn and made night the time of peace, and the sun and moon to calculate time. This is fixed by the All-Conquering, All-Knowing. And it is He, Who made for you stars to navigate in the darkness of land and water. We have explained the signs for those who have knowledge.

وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ نَبَاتَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَأَخْرَجْنَا مِنْهُ خَضِرًا نُّخْرِجُ مِنْهُ حَبًّا مُّتَرَاكِبًا وَمِنَ النَّخْلِ مِن طَلْعِهَا قِنْوَانٌ دَانِيَةٌ وَجَنَّاتٍ مِّنْ أَعْنَابٍ وَالزَّيْتُونَ وَالرُّمَّانَ مُشْتَبِهًا وَغَيْرَ مُتَشَابِهٍ انظُرُوا إِلَىٰ ثَمَرِهِ إِذَا أَثْمَرَ وَيَنْعِهِ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكُمْ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ 99³¹

And it is He Who rains down water from the sky; then We produced from it all kinds of plants, then bring forth from it greenery, from which We take out seeds over seeds. And from date palm buds, clusters of dates hang within easy reach, and there are gardens of grapes, olives, and pomegranates, in some ways, similar and in some dissimilar. You people see a fruit when it yields and as it ripens. Certainly, there are signs in this for those who believe.

وَهُوَ الَّذِي مَدَّ الْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ وَأَنْهَارًا   ۖ وَمِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ جَعَلَ فِيهَا زَوْجَيْنِ اثْنَيْنِ ۖ يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ 3³²

And it is He, Who spread the earth, and created on it mountains and streams; and created from all kinds of fruits in pairs, two by two, and He covers the day with night. Therein, indeed, are signs for those who think and ponder.

أَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَى الطَّيْرِ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ فِي جَوِّ السَّمَاءِ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا اللَّهُ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ 79³³

Have they not looked towards the birds, that they are balanced in the air space; they are not held, but by Allah. Certainly, there are signs in this for those who come to believe.

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْأَزْوَاجَ كُلَّهَا مِمَّا تُنبِتُ الْأَرْضُ وَمِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمِمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ 36³⁴

Holiness is His, Who created in pairs all those things that the Earth produces, as well as these people themselves and other things that they do not know.

سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ 53‏ أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ فِي مِرْيَةٍ مِّن لِّقَاءِ رَبِّهِمْ أَلَا إِنَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّحِيطٌ 54³⁵

Finally, We will indeed show them Our signs everywhere and within themselves, until it becomes evident to them that without a doubt, this is truth. Is it not enough that your Lord, without a doubt, is witness of everything? Remember that those people are in doubt about meeting with their Lord. Remember that He encompasses everything.

Undoubtedly, these sacred verses express Allah’s signs and invite us to explore the earth, the universe, and ourselves. Without advancements in sci-ence and technology, how could this exploration occur? How can Allah simultaneously invite humanity to seek and discover while also placing restrictions through His own religion, Islam? From the Holy Quran, we understand that efforts to deny Allah as the Creator will be in vain, while human endeavors aimed at affirming His existence will be fruitful and bene-ficial. Regardless of the situation, Allah does not impede any human actions.

In verse 41:53, Allah tells us that by looking deeply into our inner selves and the world around us, we can uncover layers of complexity—systems nested within systems and worlds within worlds. This prompts the question: is it not evident that the Holy Quran is not the work of a man, but a divine revelation? Allah states, “I will continue to show my signs,” and He fulfills this promise, helping us to recognize and accept the ultimate truth.

Despite our observations and explorations that illustrate the existence of a Supreme Being and convey that the entire universe is His masterpiece, only a handful of us genuinely believe in Him. Regardless of whether we attempt to refute or seek out our Creator, one fact remains evident: the deeper we delve, the more our endeavors affirm and validate the reality of a Supreme Being ³⁶.

From my perspective, considering knowledge, wisdom, science, tech-nology, intellect, and experience, as well as His signs, we ought to focus our efforts on exploring and comprehending the Creator’s purpose for our existence instead of trying to prove or disprove the Creator's existence. Once we understand our purpose, we can clearly define our role in life, which will guide us in addressing humanity's challenges.

Islam, like everyone else, would not suppress, dismiss, or reject any attempts to uncover the truth. With advancements in science and techno-logy, along with cooperation among individuals, we can arrive at the ultimate reality, no matter the path we each take, as long as we are sincere in our quest. Given that the ultimate reality is singular, all paths must ultimately converge towards it. Some might explore through philosophy, while others may apply methods from biology, psychology, anthropology, archaeology, astronomy, and more to discover this truth. Some may venture into space or explore the depths of the oceans, while others may find insight through meditation or birdwatching. Additionally, some may study animal and human behavior. Ultimately, everyone will reach the same conclusion: there exists a Supreme Being, the Creator, the Almighty Lord.

The power of the Almighty becomes clear when human researchers, including philosophers and scientists, encounter failures or reach dead ends. When Darwin cannot explain humanity's origins, when Freud is unable to outline the vast complexities of the human mind, when Rousseau can no longer offer solutions to societal issues, when Newton and Einstein acknow-ledge their limitations, when medical experts are unable to prevent patient deaths, when, despite our capabilities, we cannot avert natural disasters, when our tools fail to allow us to forecast the future accurately, and when, with all our intellect, we remain unable to solve our own dilemmas—this is when we come to acknowledge the power of the Almighty.

At some point in our lives, we all find ourselves submitting to Him in various ways, yet true reward and success are reserved for those who submit willingly. Each of us has the right to explore, seek knowledge, and use our intellect; however, we do not have the right to create beliefs about ultimate truths and realities based on incomplete or questionable information. It is essential that we do not prevent anyone from investigating and learning. We should also prioritize spreading the truth and educating people effectively. This underscores the significant value Islam places on knowledge/ education.

As clouds naturally float, rivers flow, trees green in spring, thunder rumbles, lights illuminate, darkness conceals, and fire blazes, it is also our inherent nature to think and reason, perceive and act, question and communicate, as well as choose, decide, differentiate, pursue, and follow. Therefore, we possess the right to question and utilize our faculties to seek and uncover ultimate truths. While in Islam, having faith without inquiry carries a greater reward, if faith arises from investigation and contemplation, Islam encourages, “Let it be.” Gaining faith through knowledge and under-standing is vastly superior to having no faith at all. In Islam, knowledge holds significant importance as it fosters faith and fortifies the believers.

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• ¹  Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah, 2: 30-34
• ²  Holy Quran, Al-Alaq, 96: 1-5
• ³  Holy Quran, Ar-Rahman, 55: 1-13
• ⁴  Holy Quran, Yusuf, 12: 22
• ⁵  Holy Quran, Yusuf, 12: 68
• ⁶  Holy Quran, Yusuf, 12: 37
• ⁷  Holy Quran, Yusuf, 12: 76
• ⁸  Holy Quran, Maryam, 19: 12
• ⁹  Holy Quran, Maryam, 19: 43
• ¹⁰  Holy Quran, Al-Anbiya, 21: 74
• ¹¹  Holy Quran, Al-Qasas, 28: 14
• ¹²  Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah, 2: 269
• ¹³  Holy Quran, Fatir, 35: 28
• ¹⁴  Holy Quran, Al-Hajj, 22: 54
• ¹⁵  Holy Quran, Saba, 34: 6
• ¹⁶  Holy Quran, Al-Jumua, 62: 2
• ¹⁷  Holy Quran, Al-Isra, 17: 85
• ¹⁸  Holy Quran, Ar-Room, 30: 7-9
• ¹⁹  Holy Quran, Saba, 34: 9
• ²⁰  Holy Quran, Al-Jathiya, 45: 24
• ²¹  Holy Quran, An-Najm, 53: 28-30
• ²²  Holy Quran, Ta-Ha, 20: 114
• ²³  Holy Quran, Al-Kahf, 18: 66
• ²⁴  Al-Bukhari
• ²⁵  Mishkat
• ²⁶  Mishkat
• ²⁷  Al-Bukhari
• ²⁸  Holy Quran, An-Najm, 53: 42
• ²⁹  Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah, 2: 164
• ³⁰  Holy Quran, Al-Anam, 6: 95-97
• ³¹  Holy Quran, Al-An'am, 6: 99
• ³²  Holy Quran, Ar-Ra'd, 13: 3
• ³³  Holy Quran, An-Nahl, 16: 79
• ³⁴  Holy Quran, Ya-Seen, 36: 36
• ³⁵  Holy Quran, Fussilat, 41: 53-54
• ³⁶  Holy Quran, Al-Ankaboot, 29: 69