mindedandshowing offbeforethescholars andattractingpeople’sat-
tentions.” On this bright rule, Islam has encouraged people, by all
means,oncommittingtoknowledge.AnIslamiceducationistsays,“The
seekersofknowledgeoughttodedicatetheiractstoGodandtheHere-
after.Theyoughttointend toeradicateignorance ofpeople, aswellas
themselves, enliven the religion, and perpetuate Islam. Knowledge is
surely the only means of perpetuating Islam.”
Theincentiveofseekingstudiesshouldbe spreadingknowledgeand
God-fearingamongpeople.Islamhasurgedgroupsonhavingreligious
erudition and rulings, and disposing them among people. God says:
Whyshouldnotthenacompanyfromeverypartyfromamongthem
go forth that they may apply themselves to obtain understanding in
religion?
TheseekingofknowledgeinIslamissignificantonlywhenitaimsfor
discipliningpeopleandraisingtheirlevels totakethemaway fromthe
totalsortsof irregularityanddeviation.Suchseekers ofknowledgeare
definitely the prophets’ heirs and the masters of the pious and the
virtuous.
Inanyevent,thepropagationoftheIslamicdoctrine,theintroduction
oftheconventionalrulingstopeople,habituatingthemtothenoblemor-
als,andtakingthemawayfromillmannersandvilemoralities;theseare
the most important incentives of the religious teaching.
We may mention the creation of the social conscience and leading
peopletocooperation,heartpurity,andspiritualfinenesswiththegoals
withwhich Islamhasconcerned. Thedevelopmentofthe feelingof re-
sponsibility,theencouragementonthe conceptualandscientificmatur-
ity, andthe improvement of the general lifefor avoiding poverty, ail-
ment,andignorance;alltheseareincludedwiththegoalsinvolved.The
Islamicteachinghasnotbeenmerereligiousnormerematerial.Ithasac-
commodatedbetweenthe religious andthe worldly affairssinceithas
preparedpeople to actpositively in thisworld and the Hereafter.The
holy Quran refers to this point. God says:
AndseekbymeansofwhatAllahhasgivenyouthefutureabodeand
do not neglect your portion of this world.