1 Not in contradiction to Book and Sunnah

A’bdullah ibn Amru reports Nabi (saw) “Knowledge is of three kinds Ayaatul Muhkamah or sunnah qaaimah or a fareedah and beyond that is fadl (nafilah).” (ABU DAWOOD IBN MAAJAH)

2 Connected to Tawheed

Allah (swt) said “Those truly fear Allah among His slaves who have knowledge” (Faatir 35:28) Ibn A’bbaas said ‘The one among His servants who knows about Ar Rahmaan, is the one who does not associate anything in worship with Him, the one who accepts the lawful that which He has permitted and accepts as unlawful that which He has prohibited. He obeys His commands and is certain that he will meet Him and be brought to account for his deeds.’ (IBN KATHEER) Al Hasan al Basri said ‘The knowledgeable person is the one who fears Ar Rahmaan with regard to the unseen, who likes that which Allah wants him to like and who shuns that which angers Allah’ (IBN KATHEER) So this is the definition of the true u’lemaa according to the salaf, the a’lim is the one who is upon tawheed and then acts upon the Islamic knowledge and adopts the Islamic knowledge as part of his personality so that he loves and hates for the sake of Allah.

In relation to this Sufyaan ath Thawri narrated from Abu Hayyaan at Taymi that one of the salaf said ‘It used to be said that the knowledgeable are of three types – one who knows the command of Allah but does not know Allah. The one who knows Allah and the command of Allah is the one who fears Allah and knows the limits [hudood] and the obligations [faraa’id]. The one who knows Allah but does not know the command of Allah is the one who fears Allah but does not know the limits nor the obligations. The one who knows the command of Allah but does not know Allah is the one who knows the limits and the obligations but does not fear Allah.’ (IBN KATHEER)

“And verily We have raised in every nation a messenger, (proclaiming): Worship Allah and reject Taaghoot. Then some of them (there were) whom Allah guided, and some of them (there were) upon whom error had just hold. Do but travel in the land and see the nature of the consequence for the deniers! Even if thou (O Muhammad) desirest their right guidance, still Allah assuredly will not guide him who misleadeth. Such have no helpers.” (an Nahl 16:36-37)

3 Connected to Benefit [I’lm elevates rather than just gathering information]

A’bdullah ibn Masood reported that nabi (saw) said “A man will not be able to move on Yawmil Qiyaamah until he has answered four questions: How did he spend his life, how did he use his youth, how did he aquire wealth and how did he spend it and how did he act upon the knowledge that he had.” (BAYHAQI and similar from TIRMIDHI [No.5197])

4 Connection to the Remembrance of Allah

True knowledge is always in association with the remembrance of Allah (swt) and the true a’lim is always in a condition of remembreing Allah. And the true a’lim is able to connect all events and matters to the remembrance of Allah. Allah (swt) says “Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding [oolil albaab]. Those who remember Allah standing and sitting and lying down and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth (saying:) ‘Our Lord! You have not created this without purpose, glory to You! Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire.’” (aali I’mraan 3:190-191)