What is beneficial knowledge in Islam?
Not every kind of knowledge is beneficial. Al-Ghazali divided the sciences into praiseworthy and blameworthy, and the line he drew is the line most Muslims today have never seen.
10 passages from 8 books in the library
Beneficial knowledge, in al-Ghazali's framing in the Ihya, is the praiseworthy knowledge, which he distinguishes sharply from the blameworthy. The measure he applies is the end a science serves: "what leads to praiseworthy ends is praiseworthy," so knowledge that draws a person toward Allah, obedience and self-examination is the knowledge worth pursuing. He points to the beneficial knowledge Allah grants as guidance, and treats sciences that lead only to worldly ambition or distraction as blameworthy. The line, he notes, is one most people never see drawn.
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 8 books by Imam al-Ghazali and Ibn Kathir — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"is the blameworthy knowledge, not the praiseworthy, and we have explained the praiseworthy and"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Nafi reported that Ibn Umar would pray during the night, then ask, O Nafi, has dawn arrived?"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"because what leads to praiseworthy ends is praiseworthy. Based on this, it is not forbidden"
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"lament of David, peace be upon him, was praiseworthy, as it was accompanied by continuous grief and"
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"from his lamentation gatherings. He did this with his words and melodies, and it was praiseworthy,"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"acting neither hastily nor with delay except for reason. If the servant had not noticed praiseworthy hidden qualities that warranted"
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
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"Then he said drawing his father's attention to the guidance and beneficial knowledge given to him by Allah"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"If he considers himself ascribed with praiseworthy qualities, he might be guided to self-examination."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Ignorance of others' praiseworthy traits can also be a blessing, as the person might unintentionally"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"of people known for their patience and forgiveness and the praiseworthy acts of restraining anger,"
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