Knowledge is life for one’s soul and fuel for one’s character, observes SYED KAZIM
Knowledge Management refers to a multi-disciplined approach to achieving organisational objectives by making the best use of knowledge. It focuses on processes such as acquiring, creating and sharing knowledge and the cultural and technical foundations that support them. Knowledge Management is also explained as a process of seeking, developing, sharing, and effectively using knowledge. It is one of the debated topics today in both industry and academic research. Data and information is not knowledge until we know how to dig the value out of it. That is the reason why there is a need to have a knowledge management system.
There are various means of seeking knowledge like gaining experience, observation, reading, listening, discussing, etc. Among all of these, reading is one of the most important means to gain knowledge. It has at all times and in all ages been a source of knowledge. During the ancient times, till the birth of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him), ‘reading’ was regarded as the privilege of the royal family, of the families of the nobles and aristocrats, and of the clerical and priestly classes. Others did not have an opportunity and were often discouraged or even prevented from learning how to read and write. In some instances, they were punished as well, especially in Arabia. But the situation changed completely after the Prophet arrived in Makkah with the prophetic mission.
The importance of learning, reading and writing in Islam can be understood from the fact that, the first commandment given by Allah the Exalted to the Prophet was not to pray, not to do Dawah, not to give charity but the very first word revealed commanded everyone, male as well as female, to read. ‘Read’, said the Qur’ān to the world in the middle of the 7th century, and the world never looked back from then on and this marked the beginning of the knowledge management. This is one of the key aspects where the Prophet changed the worldview of reading and writing and laid down the foundation stone of knowledge management, opening it for the general public irrespective of gender, status, region, etc.
Allah says in the Qur’ān, “…Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge…” (Qur’ān 35:28). Muslims must continue to pursue knowledge, as long as the breath of life remains in his body. The fact that Allah has raised the status of those who have knowledge, and described them alone as truly fearing Him, should be enough to encourage the Muslim to apply himself to seeking knowledge. Allah says in the Qur’ān, “…Say, ‘Are those who know equal to those who do not know?’” Only they will remember (who are) people of understanding” (Qur’ān 39:9). No one truly fears Allah except those whose minds are enlightened enough to see the greatness and power of Allah manifested in the creation of the universe and all living things, and these are the people of knowledge. Allah says in the Qur’ān, “…And say, “My Lord, increase me in knowledge” (Qur’ān 20:114). In the verse, Allah the Exalted teaches people also to pray to him to increase one’s knowledge. These verses clearly show the importance which Islam has given to seeking knowledge and the overall process of knowledge management.
Prophet Muhammad’s job was not only to communicate the message to the people around him but also to the billions far away, who come in future till the Day of Judgment. Thus, he had to take steps to preserve the divine knowledge which came from Allah. Three different methods were adopted to preserve the Qur’ān. First, he would ask the scribes to write it down, as and when it was revealed. Secondly, he ensured that many companions memorise the Qur’ān. Thirdly, a considerable number of the literate Companions kept a private record of the text of the Qur’ān. The verses of the Qur’ān were written on pieces of leather, bones and palm leaves. The aspect of preserving knowledge is so very important that Allah takes the responsibility to do the same. Allah says in the Qur’ān, “Indeed, it is We who sent down the message (i.e., the Qur’ān), and indeed, We will be its guardian” (Qur’ān 15:9). Thus, the Qur’ān has been preserved in both the oral as well as written form in a way no other religious book in history has.
Seeking knowledge has a significant importance in Islam. Prophet Muhammad has always encouraged his companions to seek knowledge. He said, “Seeking knowledge is a duty on every Muslim” (Bukhari). In a hadith he makes it an obligatory act to gain knowledge. Muslims should exercise their minds and seek knowledge and discover new thing and this can only happen when one is constantly struggling to gain knowledge.
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) said, “O Abu Dharr, if you learn one verse from the Book of Allah (the Qur’ān), it is better for you than to voluntarily pray one hundred rakahs; and if you learn a category of knowledge (religion), regardless if it is applied or not, it is better for you than to voluntarily pray one thousand rakahs” (Ibn Majah). The reason that acquiring religious knowledge has so much superiority over praying nafl rakahs is because of the potential of much greater benefit to oneself and society as a result of knowledge of the Deen. The rules Allah has set out for mankind are for our worldly benefit, as well as for earning everlasting happiness and perfection that can only be enjoyed in the Akhirah. Even if a person does not initially translate his knowledge of right and wrong into action, the possibility exists that he may do so. On the other hand, without guidance one wanders around blindly.
On one side, Prophet Muhammad commanded people to gain knowledge, on the other, he commanded to people to spread the message. He said, “Convey from me, even if it is one verse” (Bukhari). The hadith stresses the importance of acquiring knowledge of the Qur’ān and Hadith and imparting it to others. Regardless of whether one has a little knowledge or a great deal, he or she must communicate it to others. There is no justification to leave inviting to the Message of Allah to those who are well-versed in this sphere. It is a duty upon every Muslim to learn something and pass it on. So much so that if a person knows even a single verse of the Qur’ān, that is, a single injunction of Allah, they should communicate it to others.
Prophet Muhammad also said, “The best among you are those who learn the Qur’ān and teach it” (Bukhari). He emphasised the importance of gaining and spreading knowledge, that he declared them to be the best. By this we can understand the seriousness which he had towards various aspects of knowledge.
Once Safwan Ibn Assal Al-Muradi came to the Prophet in the mosque and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I have come seeking knowledge.” The Prophet told him, “Welcome, O seeker of knowledge. Truly the angels surround the seeker of knowledge with their wings; gathering around him in ranks one above the other, until they reach the first heaven, out of love for that which he seeks.” This shows how noble and significant the act of gaining knowledge from the point of view of Prophet is.
Knowledge sharing, which is an integral part of Knowledge Management, plays such a significant role in one’s life that it helps a person, even after his death. Prophet Muhammad said, “There are three things that continue to benefit a (believing) person even after his death, charity which he had given (which continues to benefit others), beneficial knowledge which he had left behind (i.e. authored or taught), and supplication on his behalf by a righteous child” (Muslim).
Once, there was a ship with two compartments. The travellers in the lower compartment had to go to the upper compartment to fetch water and this troubled the people in the upper compartment. The people in the lower compartment then thought, “Let us make a hole in the lower compartment of the ship and get water (from the sea), saving those who are above us from trouble.” So, if the people in the upper compartment let the others to do what they suggested, all the people of the ship would be destroyed, but if they prevent them, both parties would be safe. (Extracted from Bukhari). This hadith explains two things: first, the people who have knowledge should share it with others, and secondly, if they do not share the knowledge then both the parties will have to face the consequences.
Prophet Muhammad said, “Knowledge from which no benefit is derived is like a treasure out of which nothing is spent in the cause of Allah” (Tirmidhi). From this hadith we learn that, knowledge should not be acquired, maintained and spread but it should be used in such a way that it should benefit people. The ultimate objective of knowledge is that it should benefit mankind.
After the Battle of Badr, about 70 of the unbelievers were taken as the prisoners of war. They were educated people. The Prophet announced that if any one of them would teach ten Muslim children how to read and write, he would be freed. This was the first school in the history of Islam in which all of the students were Muslims, and all of the teachers were from the enemy rank. Later in Medina, the Prophet appointed teachers whose sole occupation was to teach the community. This shows the spirit of the Prophet to educate people, spread and share knowledge.
Knowledge is life for one’s soul and fuel for one’s character. Islam has placed high importance to Knowledge Management. It has focused on gaining, preserving, sharing and effective use of knowledge that he addressed this aspect of knowledge in his last sermon. The Prophet said, “All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people.” Thus he encouraged people to share the knowledge which he is leaving behind. He also clarified that the two sources of knowledge which he is leaving behind are the Qur’ān and his example.