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To Seek Knowledge is a Duty:
Islam is a religion based upon knowledge for it is ultimately knowledge of the Oneness of God combined with faith and total commitment to Him that saves man. The text of the Quran is replete with verses inviting man to use his intellect, to ponder, to think and to know, for the goal of human life is to discover the Truth which is none other than worshipping God in His Oneness.
The importance of knowledge in Islam can be determine by this fact that the very first verses of Quran revealed to the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) are about knowledge.
The Quran says: "Read! in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher Who created. Created man out (mere) clot of congealed blood. Read! and thy Lord is Most Bountiful. He Who taught (the use of) the Pen. Taught man that which he knew not."
The Quran asks: "Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know? "
The Hadith (sayings of Prophet) literature is also full of references to the importance of knowledge.
The Messenger of God (Peace be upon him) said: 'Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave.'
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: 'Seeking of knowledge is the duty of every man and woman.'
The Messenger of God (Peace be upon him) said: 'A father gives his children nothing better than a good education.'
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: 'Verily the men of knowledge are the inheritors of the prophets.'
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, 'He who treads the path in search of knowledge, Allah will make that path easy, leading to Paradise for him.'
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 'Seek knowledge even in China.'
These sayings have echoed throughout the history of Islam and incited Muslims to seek knowledge wherever it might be found.
During most of its history, Islamic civilization has been witness to a veritable celebration of knowledge. That is why every traditional Islamic city possessed public and private libraries and some cities like Cordoba and Baghdad boasted of libraries with over 400,000 books. Such cities also had bookstores, some of which sold a large number of titles. That is also why the scholar has always been held in the highest esteem in Islamic society.
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