When Understanding Finally Hit
“Let one present inform those who are absent; for indeed perhaps one present will inform one who understands better than him.” (Bukhari)
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
I read this hadith like a million times. I always teach it to kids and even try to be funny in explaining it.
دَعْ مَا يَرِيبُكَ إِلَى مَا لَا يَرِيبُكَ
Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt.. (Tirmizi, 2518, Sahih — Darussalam)
But it never hit me till today. Today I was confused about something. It bothered me if I should do it or not, and it was giving me doubt. I read the istikhara dua yet I think found myself in doubt. Later tonight, when I read this hadith in class it hit me.
“Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt.”
Dear readers,
A person may have knowledge but no understanding
Another person may have knowledge and understanding but no internalization (deep understanding).
Another person may have knowledge, and understanding, and internalization but no guidance.
Another person may have knowledge and understanding and internalization and guidance and implementation but no conveying to others.
Finally, a person may have knowledge, understanding, internalization, guidance, implementation and conveying to others.
And someone may have varying combinations of these.
Knowledge
Allah says:
وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا
Say, “Lord! Increase me in knowledge.” (20:114)
And
يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ
Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. (58:11)
Understanding
Allah says:
فَفَهَّمْنَاهَا سُلَيْمَانَ ۚ وَكُلًّا آتَيْنَا حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا
So We made Sulayman to understand it, and to each We brought judgment and knowledge. (21:79)
The Prophet ﷺ said in his farewell pilgrimage:
لِيُبَلِّغِ الشَّاهِدُ الْغَائِبَ، فَإِنَّ الشَّاهِدَ عَسَى أَنْ يُبَلِّغَ مَنْ هُوَ أَوْعَى لَهُ مِنْهُ
“Let one present inform those who are absent; for indeed perhaps one present will inform one who understands better than him.” (Bukhari, 67, narrated by the father of Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Bakra)
Wisdom
Allah says:
يُؤْتِي الْحِكْمَةَ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَن يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ
He gives wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever has been given wisdom has certainly been given much good. And none will remember except those of understanding. (2:269)
Guidance
Allah says:
وَيَزِيدُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ اهْتَدَوْا هُدًى ۗ وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ مَّرَدًّا
And Allah increases those who were guided, in guidance, and the enduring good deeds are better with your Lord, in reward and better as return. (19:76)
Implementation
Allah says:
الَّذِينَ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقَوْلَ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَهُ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ هَدَاهُمُ اللَّهُ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمْ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ
Who listened to the word and follow the best of it. Those are the ones Allah has guided, and those are people of understanding. (39:18)
Conveying
Zayd ibn Thabit narrated that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying:
نَضَّرَ اللَّهُ امْرَأً سَمِعَ مِنَّا حَدِيثًا فَحَفِظَهُ حَتَّى يُبَلِّغَهُ
May Allah brighten a man who heard a hadith from us, memorized it until he conveys it. (Abu Dawud:3660, Sahih — Al Albani)
Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
بَلِّغُوا عَنِّي وَلَوْ آيَةً
Convey from me, even a single verse. (Bukhari, 3461)
The example of one who knows but does not implement is like a billionaire who leaves all his money in his bank, and lives a poor life. He never retrieves the money even though he owns it. And he never benefits from it even though its as an easy reach for him.
May Allah help us to know, and understand, and internalize, and be guided, and implement, and convey, and He is the source of all success.