Considering oneself wiser than others, boasting of false qualities, and secretly feeling proud of one’s virtues—all of this is nothing but ignorance. Wherever you look, idols of personality worship are being adored. The worshippers do not even realise it. They strangle knowledge and become devotees of ignorance.
Syed Mustafa Ahmad
I am unable to present any concrete and logical definition of ignorance, but I do know this much: ignorance is one of the greatest sins among major sins. If I say that all other forms of filth and corruption arise from this vile trait, it would not be an exaggeration.
After studying a little, I have reached the conclusion that even in religious matters, emphasis has been laid on staying away from ignorance. Since the creation of this vast universe, there has always been a struggle between knowledge and ignorance. The conflict between light and darkness, apart from the Being of Allah Almighty, has brought the illuminated personalities of the Prophets (Peace Be Upon Them) before people in a clear and pure form.
Ignorance does not become the destiny of any nation overnight. It takes time and prepares the ground until it gives birth to poisonous trees in such a way that man can do nothing except remain entangled in thorny bushes. Its fruits are so bitter that no one can tolerate them even for a moment, yet most people become prisoners of these destructive shrubs and gradually move away from the refined valleys of wisdom and knowledge, gathering the means of their own destruction in darkness.
Now the question arises: how does it happen that only ignorance spreads and dominates, while the countless rivers and springs of knowledge and wisdom remain dry? A wise man tries hard to understand this matter, yet remains astonished. He cannot comprehend how ignorance dares to raise its voice against the light of knowledge and disrespectfully challenge it when knowledge is the real wealth.
When I applied my limited understanding, I reached the conclusion that there are certain reasons why this entire matter went wrong.
The Disease Of Ego
Most people suffer from the illness of thinking, “I am everything. Everything begins with me and ends with me.” This foolish mindset has ruined many people. Considering oneself wiser than others, boasting of false qualities, and secretly feeling proud of one’s virtues — all of this is nothing but ignorance. Because of this disease, the roots of ignorance grow stronger day by day.
Personality Worship
This cause has tightly gripped almost the whole world with its iron hands. Everywhere, people are trapped in different forms of personality worship, and escape seems impossible. Wherever you look, idols of personality worship are being adored. The greatest loss of this is that ignorance easily accomplishes its work, and the worshippers do not even realise it. Living in a world of deception, they consider themselves right, strangle knowledge, and become devotees of ignorance, harming not only their worldly life but also their hereafter. They gain neither God nor worldly success.
Distance From Religion
In Islam, it has repeatedly been stated in clear words how important it is to acquire knowledge and how necessary it is to stay far away from ignorance. The rank of a learned person is many times higher than that of an ignorant one. The search for knowledge is, in fact, the search for God. Whoever walks on the path of knowledge, Allah Almighty shades him with clouds of mercy. A scholar is like a star that guides people in confusion.
Now, when Islam has described the importance of knowledge so openly and has strongly emphasised staying away from ignorance, then how can we avoid thinking deeply into matters and instead spread baseless ideas with no foundation? Where fountains of knowledge are flowing, what achievement is there in placing a signboard in a desert?
Structure Of Society
In our society, customs and traditions have taken such deep roots that religion, culture, and traditions have become mixed together in such a way that separating them has become difficult. When traditions become another name for life itself, it becomes extremely difficult for conditions to remain on the right path. In such an environment, it is not surprising that the feet of ignorance grow stronger and stronger. Under these circumstances, true knowledge hides behind curtains while ignorance dances in ecstasy.
Some Major Effects Of Ignorance
Its first effect appears in the form that the value of knowledge decreases, and trust in scholars ends. Here, the word scholars is used in a broad sense. A nation that does not consult those who know may appear outwardly cheerful, but its true face is already distorted. When the person who truly understands things becomes worthless, then God alone can protect that nation. This is also our condition.
Its second effect appears in the form of conflicts arising everywhere in society. When everyone is immersed in ignorance from head to toe like a drunken elephant, then everyone assumes himself to be a scholar, wraps himself in the filthy cloak of personality worship, and adds fuel to the fire. Soon, the entire society is surrounded by storms. Then, honourable personalities are humiliated publicly, and the funeral of morality is carried out daily.
Its third effect is the displeasure of God. Allah Almighty is the All-Knowing. This directly means that He has great love for those who seek knowledge and research. But when the pursuit of knowledge becomes trapped in narrow-minded views, and people stop investigating, then Allah’s displeasure manifests itself upon His servants in different forms. In such a nation, the absence of peace can be seen from afar. Despite heaps of outward knowledge, the pleasure of God is granted only to a few true scholars.
The Need Of The Hour
Now, the need of the time is that we should make every possible effort to protect ourselves from ignorance. For the survival of any nation, ignorance is no ornament; it is an ugly stain whose depth cannot be measured. To get rid of ignorance, we must begin with ourselves. Freeing ourselves from the chains of ignorance is the real need of the time.
Besides this, we should always turn to genuine and capable scholars so that there remains no corruption in actions or beliefs. We must also make strong efforts in our society so that others realise the importance of knowledge. Everyone must come forward in this noble cause. All people should move ahead with concern for the nation. From schools to educational institutions, we can provide platforms of learning for our children, through which not only the present but also the future can be secured.
This is not an easy task. For this, we all will have to endure great hardships and face severe struggles. But once we reach the destination, all wounds will heal, and life will appear beautiful. May Allah Almighty have mercy on our condition.
The writer teaches at Sofi’s Institute of Excellence, Khushipora, HMT, Srinagar
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