Also on the authority of ‘Umar, radiyallahu ‘anhu, who said:
“While we were one day sitting with the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu
‘alayhi wasallam, there appeared before us a man dressed in extremely
white clothes and with very black hair. No traces of journeying were visible
on him, and none of us knew him.
He sat down close by the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, rested his
knee against his thighs, and said, O Muhammad! Inform me about
Islam.” Said the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, “Islam is
that you should testify that there is no deity save Allah and that
Muhammad is His Messenger, that you should perform salah (ritual
prayer), pay the zakah, fast during Ramadan, and perform Hajj
(pilgrimage) to the House (the Ka’bah at Makkah), if you can find a way to
it (or find the means for making the journey to it).” Said he (the man),
“You have spoken truly.” We were astonished at his thus questioning him and telling him that he
was right, but he went on to say, “Inform me about iman (faith).” He (the
Messenger of Allah) answered, “It is that you believe in Allah and His
angels and His Books and His Messengers and in the Last Day, and in
fate (qadar), both in its good and in its evil aspects.” He said, “You have
spoken truly.”
Then he (the man) said, “Inform me about Ihsan.” He (the Messenger of
Allah) answered, ” It is that you should serve Allah as though you could
see Him, for though you cannot see Him yet He sees you.” He said,
“Inform me about the Hour.” He (the Messenger of Allah) said, “About
that the one questioned knows no more than the questioner.” So he said,
“Well, inform me about the signs thereof (i.e. of its coming).” Said he, “They are that the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress, that you will see
the barefooted ones, the naked, the destitute, the herdsmen of the sheep
(competing with each other) in raising lofty buildings.” Thereupon the
man went off.I waited a while, and then he (the Messenger of Allah) said, “O ‘Umar, do
you know who that questioner was?” I replied, “Allah and His Messenger
know better.” He said, “That was Jibril. He came to teach you your religion.””
From beautiful narration above, seekers of knowledge can derive the following ethics of seeking knowledge.
The seeker of knowledge should appear neatly dressed and in a humble manner before his or her tutor.
The seeker of knowledge should sit closer to the teacher and pay rapt attention to whatever the teacher says. He should ask questions for further clarifications from the teacher as well.
The seeker of knowledge can sometimes ask questions whose answers are known to already, but for the benefit of other student who might not have understood what was taught. In so doing, the teacher would explain further to the understanding of all. What other ethics of seeking knowledge have you learned from the narration? Drop them in the comment section
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