The foundation of knowledge is the fear of Allah

أَصْلُ الْعِلْمِ خَشْيَةُ اللهِ

(The foundation of knowledge is the fear of Allah)

كَانَ الإِمَامُ أَحْمَدُ رَحِمَهُ اللهُ يَقُولُ عَنْ مَعْرُوفٍ:

مَعَهُ أَصْلُ الْعِلْمِ خَشْيَةُ اللهِ:

فَأَصْلُ الْعِلْمِ بِاللهِ الَّذِى يُوجِبُ خَشْيَتَهُ وَمَحَبُّتَهُ

وَالْقُرْبَ مِنْهُ وَالأُنْسَ بِهِ والشَّوْقَ إِلَيْهِ.

ثُمَّ يَتْلُوهُ الْعِلْمُ بِأَحْكَامِ اللهِ وَمَا يُحِبُّهُ وَيَرْضَاهُ

مِنَ الْعَبْدِ مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ أَوْ حَالٍ أَوْ اعْتِقَادٍ:

فَمَنْ تَحَقَّقَ بِهَذَيْنِ الْعِلْمَيْنِ كَانَ عِلْمُهُ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا

وَحَصَلَ لَهُ الْعِلْمَ النَّافِعَ وَالْقَلْبَ الْخَاشِعَ

وَالنَّفْسَ الْقَانِعَةَ وَالدُّعَاءَ الْمَسْمُوعَ.

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Imaam Ahmad, may Allaah have mercy upon him, used to say about Ma’ruf:           

He possesses the foundation of knowledge: the fear of Allaah

’Therefore the foundation of knowledge is that

knowledge which leads to fearing Him, loving Him,

drawing close to Him, taking comfort with Him, and ardently desiring Him.

Then this is followed by knowledge of the rulings of Allaah,

all that He loves and is pleased with from the servant

of statement, action, spiritual condition, and belief.

Whoever realises these two types of knowledge

has found beneficial knowledge;

he has attained beneficial knowledge, a fearful heart,

a content soul, and a supplication responded to.

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