The Quran and Knowledge

My Lord knoweth (every) word in the heavens and on earth. He is the One that heareth and knoweth (all things).

(The Prophets 21:4)

الَ رَبّی يَعْلَمُ الْقَوْلَ فِی السَّماء ِ وَ الأَرْضِ وَ هُوَ السَّميعُ الْعَليمُ.
He knows the unseen and that which is open. He is the Great, the most High.

(Thunder 13:9)

عالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهادَةِ الْكَبِيرُ الْمُتَعالِ.

God Almighty knows all things. The least little atom in the Heavens or on earth is not hidden from Him.

“… Him Who knows the unseen, – from Whom is not hidden the least little atom in the heavens or on earth: Nor is there anything less than that, or greater, but is in the Record Perspicuous.”

(City of Saba 34:3)

عالِمِ الْغَيْبِ لا يَعْزُبُ عَنْهُ مِثْقالُ ذَرَّةٍ فِی السَّماواتِ وَ لا فِی الْأَرْضِ وَ لا أَصْغَرُ مِن ذَلِكَ وَ لا أَكْبَرُ إِلّا فِی كِتابٍ مُبيـنٍ.

According to the Holy Quran (2:29-33), Adam was blessed with knowledge and was taught ‘all the Names’.  This knowledge was not imparted to even the Angels:

29) It is He Who hath created for you all things that are on earth; Moreover His design comprehended the heavens, for He gave order and perfection to the seven firmaments; and of all things He hath perfect knowledge.
30) Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: “I will create a vicegerent on earth.” They said: “Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood? – whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)?” He said: “I know what ye know not.”
31) And He taught Adam the nature of all things; then He placed them before the angels, and said: “Tell me the nature of these if ye are right.”
32) They said: “Glory to Thee, of knowledge We have none, save what Thou Hast taught us: In truth it is Thou Who art perfect in knowledge and wisdom.”
33) He said: “O Adam! Tell them their natures.” When he had told them, Allah said: “Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of heaven and earth, and I know what ye reveal and what ye conceal?”

(The Cow 2: 29-33)

هو الذي خلق لكم ما في الارض جميعا ثم استوى الى السماء فسواهن سبع سماوات و هو بكل شي‏ء عليم (29) و اذ قال ربك للملائكة اني جاعل في الارض خليفة قالوا ا تجعل فيها من يفسد فيها و يسفك الدماء و نحن نسبح بحمدك و نقدس لك قال اني اعلم ما لا تعلمون (30) و علم آدم الاسماء كلها ثم عرضهم على الملائكة فقال انبئوني باسماء هؤلاء ان كنتم صادقين (31) قالوا سبحانك لا علم لنا الا ما علمتنا انك انت العليم الحكيم (32) قال يا آدم انبئهم باسمائهم فلما انباهم باسمائهم قال ا لم اقل لكم اني اعلم غيب السماوات و الارض و اعلم ما تبدون و ما كنتم تكتمون (33).

There are many verses in the Holy Qur’an which speak of the various ways that God reveals Himself to His creation. These are called ayat (signs). Hence, the ayat of the Holy Qur’an speak to those whose hearts have been illuminated by the light of knowledge. The Holy Qur’an (42:51-52) states:

51) It is not fitting for a man that God should speak to him except by inspiration, or from behind a veil, or by the sending of a messenger to reveal, with God’s permission, what God wills: for He is Most High, Most Wise.
52) And thus have We, by Our Command, sent inspiration to thee: thou knewest not (before) what was Revelation, and what was Faith; but We have made the (Quran) a Light, wherewith We guide such of Our servants as We will; and verily thou dost guide (men) to the Straight Way.

(Consultation 42:51-52)

و ما كان لبشر ان يكلمه الله الا وحيا او من وراء حجاب او يرسل رسولا فيوحي باذنه ما يشاء انه علي حكيم (51) و كذلك اوحينا اليك روحا من امرنا ما كنت تدري ما الكتاب و لا الايمان و لكن جعلناه نورا نهدي به من نشاء من عبادنا و انك لتهدي الى صراط مستقيم (52)

Throughout the Holy Qur’an, God Almighty guides us to seek true knowledge beyond the limitations of our physical dimensions.

Molana Salaheddin Ali Nader Angha, the present Master of the M.T.O. Shahmaghsoudi® School of Sufism states: “Religion is about certainty, and certainty comes when it is grounded in knowledge that has been revealed to one by God, and no one else. Knowledge leads to certainty.” [1] Witnessing the truth brings certainty and peace to one’s life. In the School of Sufism, the focus is discovering the “Reality” of religion.

 

  1. Nader Angha, Hazrat Salaheddin Ali, Sufism, The Reality of Religion, M.T.O. Publications®, Riverside, CA, USA, 2000, p.70.