On the Quest for Knowledge

Let me start with the following: 

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

1. Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists),
2. Has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood).
3. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous,
4. Who has taught (the writing) by the pen,
5. Has taught man that which he knew not.

Holy Quran Chapter 96 verses 1-5.

I never cease to be amazed by these first five verses revealed to the Holy Prophet (SAW). The message contained herein is a testimony to our DNA as humans whereby it has been ingrained in us to have that unquenchable thirst for knowledge and it is not coincidental that the very first revelation is about creation and the allusion to search for knowledge in nature. 

Man has been around very briefly on this planet -  comparatively speaking - and yet as a species we seem to have had the most dramatic and profound effect on it. Knowledge seems to have had a 'double-edged sword' effect of enabling the furthering of frontiers while at the same time pushing us towards a precipice (a subject of another discussion). 

So mankind would seem to tower in the glory and splendour of knowledge yet at the very same time there is a logical imperative for humility based on the human beings' origins (a piece of thick coagulated blood). The self-conciousness that you did nothing to contribute to your existence is enough ground for an average human to be humble and also utilise the gifts of comprehension, and utilising it to build better lives. And Gratitude doesn't get any better than using your knowledge to help others. 

Then the Pen - the human's abilities are geometrically enhanced with the etching of a mark to represent ideas and document eras, milestones and existence. The speed with which humanity has advanced is so mind-boggling that technology is taken for granted and the origins seem to have been relegated to the background. It all started with Al-Qalam.

And lastly, whatever it is that has been discovered in the unquenchable quest for knowledge, the one thing that is for sure is that we've not scratched the surface of knowledge. 

I will end with another verse from the Holy Quran:

Say: "If the ocean were ink (wherewith to write out) the words of my Lord sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would the words of my Lord even if we added another ocean like it for its aid."

Holy Quran Chapter 18 verse 109 Yusuf Ali translation

May we gain knowledge that will be beneficial to us and those around us. 

Haidar Wali 201302201048hrs

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