Knowledge or العم in Arabic is defined as or light. In the Qur’an, the word science is mentioned 80 times, the number is already in the meaning of makrifat as well as nakiroh. While the word ‘allama ya’lamu a’lim is mentioned more than 100 times the mention of the word knowledge over and over again is a reference or encouragement for Muslims to want to seek knowledge, because with knowledge the degree of humans is higher than other creatures of Allah SWT. There are quite a number of hadiths about seeking knowledge, the following is a hadith about studying complete with sanad, matan and narrators.
Hadith of Seeking Knowledge from the Cradle to the Grave
In terms of the obligation to study, Rasulullah SAW frequently encouraged his friends to study even in China, and every human being, from the cradle to the grave, is obligated to seek knowledge.
اطلب العم من المهد الى اللحد
” tuntutlah ilmu dari buaian hingga ke liang lahat”
Kata طلب diimbuhi dengan ا maka menjadi fi’il amar yang menunjukan kata perintah, maka artinya adalah tuntutlah.
Verses of the Qur’an about Seeking Knowledge
Muslims who wish to study one of Allah SWT’s sentences in QS, Al mujadilah verse 11, are also motivated by Allah SWT.
يرفع الله الذين ءامنو منكم والذين اوتوا العلم درجت ، والله بما تعملون خبير
Al Mujadilah Verse 11
“Allah will exalt those who believe among you, and those who were given knowledge by several degrees. And Allah is aware of what you do.”
Every Muslim has an obligation to seek knowledge, because knowledge is a source of light for a country. The land will be gloomy if the people are not knowledgeable. Similarly, if a family is not founded on knowledge, the future is bleak.
The future that aims to amar ma’ruf nahi munkar is also the best of humans with knowledge, because Allah raises the degree of every human being both in this world and in the hereafter, but don’t forget that knowledge without adab is like a tree that does not bear fruit, or in other words, knowledge without adab is a futility that can lead to man’s destruction. “Knowledge without manners is like a tree that bears no fruit,” according to a maqlah.
Maka jelaslah disini bahwa menuntut ilmu bagi setiap manusia adalah fardhu yang artinya wajib untuk kemaslahatan manusia itu sendiri juga hubungannya dengan sesama manusia ataupun hubungannya dengan Tuhannya semua tak luput harus didasari dengan ilmu.
Pun kelak jika ia bercita-cita menjadi manusia yang beruntung diakhirat maka harus didasari ilmu sedini mungkin.
Hadith about Seeking Knowledge Complete with Sanad, Matan and Rawi
There are numerous hadiths on the subject of studying. A hadith about seeking knowledge, replete with sanad, matan, and rawi, is presented below. Arabic words and their Indonesian translations are also included:
Hadith about Seeking Knowledge and Ease of Path to Heaven
عن كثير بن قيس قال : كنت جالسا عند أبي الدّرداء في مسجد دمشق , فأتاه رجل , فقال : يا أبا الدّرداء , أتيتك من المدينة – مدينة رسول الله صلّى الله عليه وسلّم – لحديث بلغني أنّك تـحدّث به عن النّبـيّ . قال : فما جاء بك تـجارة ؟ . قال : لا . قال : ولا جاء بك غيره ؟ . قال : لا . قال : فإنّي سمعت رسول الله صلّى الله عليه وسلّم يقول : ” من سلك طريقا يلتمس فيه علما سهّل الله له طريقا إلى الجنّة , وأنّ الـملائكة لتضع أجنحتها رضا لطالب العلم , وإنّ طالب العلم يستغفر له من في السّماء والأرض حتّى الحيتان في الـماء , وإنّ فضل العالم على العابد كفضل القمر على سائر الكواكب , إنّ العلماء هو ورثة الأنبياء , إنّ الأنبياء لم يورّثوا ولا درهما , إنّما ورّثوا العلم , فمن أخذه , أخذ بـحظّ وافر
From Katsir bin Qais Radhiyallahu’anhu, he said: “When I was sitting next to Abu Darda ‘at the Damascus Mosque. Suddenly a man came to him, then the man said: “O Abu Darda ‘, I have come to you from the city of Medina – the city of Medina Rasulullah – for the purpose of a hadith that reaches me that you have narrated it from the Rasulullah Shallallahu’alaihi wa sallam. Abu Darda ‘said: “Did you come (all) to trade?” He replied: “No.” Abu Darda ‘said again: “Did you come (all) for purposes other than that?” He (the man) replied: “No.” Abu Darda ‘said: “I heard Rasulullah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam say: “Whoever walks in pursuit of knowledge, Allah will make it easy for him the path to Paradise. Verily the angels lay down their wings. Because of the pleasure of the seeker of knowledge. Verily, those who seek knowledge will be asked for forgiveness by the creatures in the heavens and on the earth to the fish that are in the water. Indeed, the superiority of a scholar (ulama) over a worshiper is like the virtue of the moon over all the stars. Verily, the Ulama are the inheritors of the Nabi. And verily the Nabi did not bequeath dinars or dirhams. But they only pass on knowledge. Whoever takes it, then he has taken a large share.”
[Hasan Sahih: Narrated by Imam Ibn Majah rahimahullah in his Sunan hadith no. 223, Imam Abu Daud rahimahullah in his Sunan, hadith no. 3641. Imam Ibn Hibban rahimahullah in his Sahih hadith no. 88. Imam At-Tirmidhi rahimahullah in his Sunan hadith no. 2682, Imam Ad-Darimi rahimahullah in his Sunan Imam Ahmad rahimahullah in his Musnad, authenticated by Shaykh Al-Albani rahimahullah, and authenticated by Shaykh Shu’aib, Shaykh Fawwaz, Shaykh Khalid, Shaykh Hamzah]
Hadith about people learning and teaching knowledge sincerely like people who strive in the way of Allah
عن أبي هريرة قال : سمعت رسول الله صلّى الله عليه وسلّم يقول : ” من جاء مسجدي هذا ,لم يأته إلاّ لخير يتعلّمه أو يعلّمه , فهو بـمنـزلة الـمجاهد في سبيل الله , ومن جاء لغير ذلك , فهو بـمنـزلة الرّجل ينظر إلى متاع غيره ”
From Abu Hurairah Radhiyallahu’anhu, he said: “I heard Rasulullah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam say: “Whoever comes to my mosque is nothing but for the good that he wants to learn or what he wants to teach. So his position is equal to that of a jihadist in the cause of Allah. And whoever comes with an intention other than that, then his position is the same as someone who can only look at other people’s property.”
[Hasan Sahih: Narrated by Imam Ibn Majah in his sunan hadith no. 227. And this is his lafadz. Narrated by Imam Ibn Hibban in his Sahih Hadith No. 86. Narrated by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad, Hadith No. 8603. Authorized by Shaykh Al-Albani and Hasanah by Shaykh Shuaib al-Arnauth].
