Through Force or Faith? — Page 248
?— A Reply to Pope Benedict XVI 248 The Holy Prophet s as said: Acquire knowledge even if you have to go to China. ( Tirmidh ī, Kitabul ‘Ilm, Chapter: The virtue of seeking knowledge) The small sentences of the above sayings of the Prophet s as have condensed the significance and greatness of knowledge— multum in parvo —like a sea in a jug, an ocean in a cup. The Holy Prophet s as said: He who takes a journey in search of knowledge, Allah will lead him onto one of the paths to Paradise. Certainly, the angels spread their wings for the bliss of a student. Whatever is in the earth and in the heaven, even the fish in the depth of an ocean, pray for his forgiveness! Surely, a scholar is superior over a worshipper as the full moon in a moon-lit night is superior over the stars. Certainly, schol- ars are the inheritors to the prophets, and the inheritance of the prophets is not gold and silver; it is knowledge… ( Kanz-al-‘Umm ā l, Harf-ul-‘Ain, Chapter 1 on Targheeb feeh, Tradition No. 28698) 1 Without any doubt, greater significance and value of knowledge that what is presented in Islam can not be conceived. All other 1. And also see: J a m‘e Tirmidh i , Book of Knowledge, Chapter: What has been related about the superiority of Fiqh over worship. [Publisher]