Through Force or Faith? — Page 247
Chapter 6 — Islam: Knowledge, Wisdom, and Rationality 247 of years and the science of reckoning. And everything We have explained with a detailed explanation ( S u rah Ban i Isr a ’ i l, 17:13). Compared to the founder of any other religion, the instructions given by the founder of Islam to gain knowledge are far greater in quantity. Following are a few of his sayings in this regard. He said: God helps his servant who helps his Muslim brother; and he who travels in search of knowledge, God makes his path easy to enter Paradise. ( Muslim, Kit ā b adh-Dhikr wad-Du‘ ā wad-Taubah; Chapter: The virtue of gathering to read the Quran and Zikr) It is hard to imagine a better concept concerning eminence of a student as is mentioned in this h adīth. To attain Paradise is the goal of life for everyone, and to gain knowledge is described as an important means to achieve it. The Holy Prophet s as said: Pursuit of knowledge is a duty of every Muslim, man and woman. ( Ibn M ā jah, Kit a b al-Muqaddamah, Chapter: Merits of the scholars and seeking knowledge) The Holy Prophet s as said: He who travels in pursuit of knowledge remains on the way of Allah till the time he returns from his journey.