Verses about knowledge in the Quran, with the commentaries
Knowledge in the Quran — "are those who know equal to those who do not know?", "my Lord, increase me in knowledge", "Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees", and "only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge" — read in al-Tafsir al-Muyassar, al-Safi and al-Mizan.
The word al-'ilm, "knowledge", with the definite article, occurs 28 times in the Quran, in 28 verses across 22 surahs, and the word for "scholars", 'ulama', occurs twice. This article reads the main verses on knowledge and, at each one, gives the Sunni reading of al-Tafsir al-Muyassar first, then the Shia readings of al-Safi (al-Fayd al-Kashani) and al-Mizan (al-Tabataba'i).
Quotations from the three commentaries are my renderings of the Arabic.
"Are those who know equal to those who do not know?"
Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding.
Al-Muyassar: say, Messenger: are those who know their Lord and their true religion equal to those who know nothing of that? They are not equal. Only those of sound minds take heed and see the difference. Al-Safi relays, as the verse's interpretation: are those who know that Muhammad is the Messenger of God equal to those who do not know that Muhammad is the Messenger of God, or say he is a lying sorcerer; and on "people of understanding": they are the people of intellect. Al-Mizan: knowledge and its absence are unqualified, but what is meant, by what fits the setting of the verse, is knowledge of God and its absence, for that is what perfects a person and benefits him in the true sense of the word, and its absence harms him.
Where they agree
All three agree that the verse sets those who know above those who do not. Al-Muyassar and al-Safi agree that the "people of understanding" are the people of intellect.
Where they differ
They differ on what is known: al-Muyassar makes it knowledge of the Lord and the true religion; al-Safi relays that it is knowing that Muhammad is the Messenger of God; al-Mizan says knowledge in the verse is unqualified, and what is meant by its setting is knowledge of God.
"My Lord, increase me in knowledge"
So high [above all] is Allah, the Sovereign, the Truth. And, [O Muhammad], do not hasten with [recitation of] the Qur'an before its revelation is completed to you, and say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge."
Al-Muyassar: do not hasten, Messenger, to race Gabriel in receiving the Quran before he has finished, and say: my Lord, increase me in knowledge beyond what You have taught me. Al-Safi: ask God for more knowledge instead of hastening, for what is revealed to you will surely reach you; and relays from the Prophet: if a day comes on which I do not grow in knowledge that brings me nearer to God, may God not bless me in the rising of its sun. Al-Mizan: the flow of "do not hasten with it, and say: my Lord, increase me" shows that what is meant is an exchange: instead of hastening to recite what has not yet come down, ask for more knowledge.
All three agree that the verse forbids hastening to recite the Quran before its revelation is complete, and commands asking for more knowledge. Al-Safi and al-Mizan agree that asking for more knowledge comes in place of hastening.
"Those who were given knowledge, by degrees"
O you who have believed, when you are told, "Space yourselves" in assemblies, then make space; Allah will make space for you. And when you are told, "Arise," then arise; Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do.
Al-Muyassar: God raises the standing of the sincere believers among you, and raises the standing of the people of knowledge by many degrees in reward and ranks of His good pleasure; God is aware of your deeds. The verse honours the standing and merit of scholars and the raising of their degrees. Al-Safi: God raises those of you who believe with victory and good repute in this world and lodging in the chambers of the Gardens in the next, and those given knowledge by degrees — He raises the scholars among them especially, with more elevation; and relays from al-Baqir: a scholar whose knowledge is put to use is better than seventy thousand worshippers. Al-Mizan: there is no doubt that God raising a servant in degree entails his greater nearness to Him; this is a rational sign that those given knowledge are the scholars among the believers, so the verse divides believers into two groups — the believer, and the believer who knows — and the believer who knows is better; and: so the raising by degrees in the verse is specific to those given knowledge, and the rest of the believers have one degree of raising; the sense is: God raises those of you who believe by a degree, and raises those of you given knowledge by degrees.
Where they agree
All three agree that God raises the people of knowledge among the believers above the rest, and that the verse honours scholars.
Where they differ
They differ on how the other believers are raised: al-Muyassar says "God raises the standing of the sincere believers"; al-Safi makes it victory and good repute in this world and the chambers of the Gardens in the next; al-Mizan gives the rest of the believers one degree, with the degrees reserved for those given knowledge.
"Only those fear Allah who have knowledge"
And among people and moving creatures and grazing livestock are various colors similarly. Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Forgiving.
Al-Muyassar: only those who know God, His attributes, His law and His power over everything fear Him and guard against His punishment by obeying Him and avoiding disobedience — among His signs the variety of these creatures from one cause — and they reflect on the lessons in them. Al-Safi: since the condition of fear is knowing the One feared and knowing His attributes and acts, whoever knows Him better fears Him more; hence the Prophet said: I am the one of you who fears God most and guards against Him most; and relays from al-Sadiq: by scholars He means those whose deeds confirm their words; whoever's deeds do not confirm his words is no scholar. Al-Mizan: the scholars meant are those who know God — who know Him by His names, attributes and acts with a complete knowledge that settles their hearts, removes the stain of doubt and unease from their souls, and shows its effects in their deeds, so that their deeds confirm their words.
All three agree that the scholars in the verse are those who know God and His attributes, and that fear follows this knowledge. Al-Safi and al-Mizan agree that the scholar is one whose deeds confirm his words.
What the verses do not say
- They do not confine knowledge to one particular field; the commentators differ on what is meant in each place.
- They do not give the number of degrees by which the people of knowledge are raised.
- They do not tie asking for more knowledge to a particular time or state.
Counted on the mushaf
- Al-'ilm, with the definite article: 28 times in 28 verses across 22 surahs.
- 'Ulama', "scholars": twice, Ash-Shu'ara 197 and Fatir 28.
- "Those who were given knowledge": nine times.
- "My Lord, increase me in knowledge": once in the whole Quran.
Sources
- al-Tafsir al-Muyassar — King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Quran.
- Tafsir al-Safi — al-Fayd al-Kashani.
- al-Mizan fi Tafsir al-Quran — al-Sayyid Muhammad Husayn al-Tabataba'i.
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