The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to supplicate: “O Allah, I seek refuge with You from from knowledge that is of no benefit, from a heart that does not fear (You), from a soul that is never satisfied, and from a supplication that is not heard.” [Ibn Majah]

Types of knowledge

From the above narration, we can abstract that there are essentially two types of knowledge; unbeneficial and beneficial knowledge. Let us explore them here in a little more detail.

Unbeneficial knowledge is of three types:

1. The first type is knowledge that is harmful such as astrology, magic, fortune-telling, gambling, unjust profiteering, indecent and lustful novels and forbidden kind of poetry. Such knowledge fills the heart with corruption which may be reflected upon the tongue in speech and upon the limbs as actions.
2. The second type is trivial knowledge that is of no benefit (like obscure and pointless facts, the latest media gossips, sports and soap trivia, and etc…). Instead of benefiting, it harms the carrier by wasting his time.
3. The third type of knowledge is actually beneficial knowledge (like studying chemistry, mathematics, physics, sociology, psychology or even Islamic disciplines). However, if the knowledge is not acted upon, it renders the knowledge to become abstract and unbeneficial.

Beneficial knowledge is of two types.

1. The first type is knowledge that is only beneficial from a worldly sense.
2. The second type is knowledge that is beneficial both in this world and in the Afterlife. This is salvific knowledge.

In the Du’a of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), he sought refuge from unbeneficial knowledge. He only wanted the knowledge that would benefit him  – for beneficial knowledge is that which leads to the knowledge of Allah. This knowledge of Allah  creates within the heart hope and fear, the heart becomes soft and shy before Allah to ever want to displease Him and at the same time it yearns to draw closer to Him. A heart that has no beneficial knowledge will never be satisfied for it is pointing towards the Dunya,  and a heart full of knowledge of other than Allah is in a state of impurity to have its prayers answered. This type of beneficial knowledge is often referred to as salvific knowledge – i.e. knowledge that is grounded in Allah, it enhances our knowledge of Him, increases our love and awe within the the heart, leads to outward obedience and servitude to Him, and finally draws us closer to Him.

So knowledge is key. Going back to what we started with, knowledge is of two types: one type will benefit us and other type that will actually harm us. It’s important that we know which is which, and thereafter act upon it. 

“A sign of a learned man is that he is concerned with the acquisition of knowledge that is conducive to good works and is beneficial in the Hereafter. He should avoid the disciplines of knowledge that are of little benefit.” [Imam Al-Ghazali][i]

May Allah teach us the beneficial knowledge, may He grant us the Tawfiq to act upon the knowledge and let us draw close to Him by it.

[i] Ihya Ulum ad-Deen in (Book of knowledge) – Al-Ghazali – page 163