Sincere Learners
and Teachers
A learner should also be a sincere listener. He should listen attentively and should take it in the sense in which the speaker wants it to be taken.
According to a tradition, the Prophet of Islam once observed: “Knowledge is like a treasure to which the key is asking questions. God may be merciful to you, but you should keep questioning. Because there are three types of people who are rewarded for knowledge: one, the speaker, the other, the hearer and the third, the taker.” (Al-Adab al-Duniya wal-Din lil-Mawardi, p. 110)
The world of knowledge has no limits. This world is a treasure house of knowledge. There is no single person who has a monopoly of all the knowledge relating to the sciences. This knowledge is shared by many people.
Then how can you find this treasure which is stored in people’s minds? There is only one way to do this and that is to become a seeker of knowledge. In your heart you have an unlimited interest in acquiring it. When this happens, you will start making enquiries and so you will be able to add to your information. You will read the books of scholars so that you may share in the knowledge which is available in their writings.
A person’s value is commensurate with the knowledge he has. One who is more knowledgeable will have greater value. All progress in life is directly linked with knowledge. The greater the knowledge, the greater the progress.
In matters of knowledge, people may be divided into these three categories – those who share knowledge, those who are the listeners and those who accept knowledge and add to what they already know.
A person ought to be sincere in whatever category he finds himself. If he has the opportunity to speak, he should say only what is proper to say, and remain silent on what is not in accordance with reality. Whatever he says should be an expression of the truth rather than an expression of his own self-glorification. Similarly, one who listens should also be a sincere listener. He should listen attentively and should take it in the sense in which the speaker wants it to be taken.
