Home
Discover Islam
Quran Recitations
Lectures
Fatwa
Articles
Fiqh
E-Books
Women
Boys & Girls 
Enter Question
View By Subject
Fatwa Of The Week
Selected Fatwa
Fatwa CenterSharia Texts Indicating the Obligation of Seeking All Kinds of Knowledge
Question
I look for verses or hadiths that urge Muslims to seek beneficial knowledge, especially concerning the computer and the internet. Is there a certain verse or hadith forbidding or allowing the use of the computer and the internet, especially in education?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
There are many Quranic verses and hadiths that urge seeking knowledge. Almighty Allah says (what means):
· {And say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge."} [Quran 20: 114]
· {Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding.} [Quran 39: 9]
· {Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees.} [Quran 58: 11]
· {Allah witnesses that there is no deity except Him, and [so do] the angels and those of knowledge – [that He is] maintaining [creation] in justice.} [Quran 3: 18]
· {And no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allah. But those firm in knowledge say, "We believe in it. All [of it] is from our Lord."} [Quran 3: 7]
· {Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Forgiving.} [Quran 35: 28]
It was narrated on the authority of Anas 
that the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, “Seeking knowledge is an obligation on every Muslim.” [Ibn Majah and At-Tabarani. As-Suyooti: authentic]
It was narrated on the authority of Katheer ibn Qays that he said:
I was sitting with Abu Ad-Darda’ in the mosque of Damascus. A man came to him and said, “O Abu Ad-Dardaa’, I have come to you from the town of the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, for a hadith that I was told that you relate from the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. I have come for no other purpose.” He said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, say, “Whoever follows a path in the pursuit of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise. The angels lower their wings in approval of the seeker of knowledge, and everyone in the heavens and on earth prays for forgiveness for the scholar, even the fish in the sea. The superiority of the scholar over the worshipper is like the superiority of the full moon over all other heavenly bodies. The scholars are the heirs of the Prophets, for the Prophets did not leave behind dinars or dirhams, rather they left behind knowledge, so whoever takes it has taken a great share.” [Abu Dawood. Al-Albani: authentic]
Knowledge raises one's position in the two worlds. It is only with knowledge that Allah favored Adam 
over the angels and ordered them to prostrate themselves before him. It is only with knowledge that Allah raised the position of slaves to be leaders to be followed and imitated by others.
The proofs that we mentioned are sufficient to indicate the virtue of knowledge and the honorable position of the knowledgeable people. But this refers to religious knowledge.
As for learning about computers, internet and other advanced sciences in the field of technology and microelectronic sciences, it is a communal obligation nowadays. It is because the Muslims are in need of them in all their worldly affairs and need it to prepare and confront the enemies of Allah in all aspects. There is no particular text from the Quran and the Sunnah indicating this obligation. However, the general texts and rules of Islam indicate that the Muslims are required to seek all means of power and qualification to face their enemies. Almighty Allah says (what means): {And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy…} [Quran 8: 60]
We cannot attain this power if we do not use technology and benefit from it.
Allah knows best.
Search Fatwa
Fatwa Subject
