Second matter: Actions upon Knowledge

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Acting upon the knowledge one gains

The second matter mentioned by the author is action upon the knowledge.

It means action upon the knowledge which one has acquired.

This is in fact one of the main reasons to acquire knowledge so that the actions can be sound and correct based on proofs and evidences from the Qur'ān and the Sunnah. Actions are the manifestation of one's "Knowledge" and that's how knowledge actually benefits.

So actions should follow the knowledge as per many textual proofs and also there is serious harm for those who don't act upon their knowledge and who don't correct themselves firstly- through acting upon the knowledge he has before correcting others.

Action is the fruit of knowledge, actions without knowledge is resemblance to the Christians and knowledge without action resembles Jews.

Fuḍayl ibn ʻIyāḍ said - The scholar continues to be ignorant until he acts according to his knowledge if he does so then he really becomes a scholar.

It's because if he has knowledge but does not act accordingly then there is really no difference between him and the ignorant one. Hence he's only called a scholar when he acts according to the knowledge.

This action is an establishment of the knowledge and it's continuity so they help the person to remember the matters and rulings and the evidences but the one who fails to do so he forgets them quickly and easily as knowledge isn't settled in his heart through actions.

Some of the Salaaf said - we used to utilise acting upon the ḥadīth as a means to preserve it.

As said by some of the people of knowledge that the one who acts by what he knows, Allāh Will Make him inherit knowledge which he did not know and as for the one who doesn't act according to the knowledge he has then Allāh is about to deprive him of what he knows.

Some people say this statement and they consider it to be a ḥadīth which is incorrect. This is a famous statement, Shaykh Ibn Tayyımiyyah mentioned it. As for the meaning then it means Allāh will increase him in faith and insight and will open for him variety of knowledge hence the scholar who acts according to knowledge we see him grow in it by the time. Not only that but Allāh also Blesses his time and his knowledge.

وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱهۡتَدَوۡاْ زَادَهُمۡ هُدًى وَءَاتَىٰهُمۡ تَقۡوَىٰهُمۡ 

While as for those who accept guidance, He increases their guidance and bestows on them their piety.

Imaam Shawkānī said الله increases their Imaan-their faith and their knowledge and gives them good knowledge regarding the dīn.

Therefore a Muslim should be aware and realise the great importance of action upon knowledge.

If he doesn't do so then his knowledge will be a testimony against him as per ḥadīth of Abu Barzah where it is mentioned that the servant will be asked about 4 things and one of them being about his knowledge and how he acted upon it. (Ṣaḥīḥ according to At-Tirmidhī and Al-Albānī).

This is not particular to the scholars rather anyone who has knowledge regarding any matter then the evidence is established against him regarding that.

So if anyone hears a point of benefit during a lecture or a friday sermon for example, a warning about something he's indulged in being a sin then he's no longer ignorant and is considered having knowledge of that as he heard it.

And it is affirmed in a ḥadīth that Prophet ﷺ said- The Qur'ān is an evidence for you or against you.

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