The reward of seeking علم (ilm)

The quest for علم (Islamic knowledge) is one of the noblest pursuits for the Muslim. The Prophet of Allah ﷺ said;

Whoever travels a path in search of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise.. ¹

Considering this, it seems strange that some people find themselves asking what the benefit or reward of seeking a specific piece of knowledge is. While listening to an audio lecture series covering a concise explanation of الأصول الثلاثة (The Three Principles), the translator of the sheikh mentioned this point and it stood out to me how simple the answer was, which is when I made the connection to this hadith.

The one who studies the three principles, memorizes them and lives by them, has sought knowledge and has a path to Paradise made easy for them. The translator said, very simply (paraphrased) “the reward of this knowledge is the knowledge itself; know these questions of the grave and you will be admitted to Paradise.”

The actual knowledge one is seeking serves as the means to attaining Paradise through Allah’s mercy, and if one had not sought it and been unable to answer the questions of the grave, this mercy would not have been granted to them. This is a specific example but it also applies to other علم as we know that one does not truly comprehend or benefit from knowledge until they act on it; meaning that the seeking of knowledge is rewarded with the ability to act upon it, thus bringing one in to Allah’s mercy and thereby admission to Paradise.

Very random and perhaps odd reflection, but it was just something that hit me as I was revising this book.

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته