Meaning of Quran 35:28
Fatwa No: 117026

Question

"It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah." (Quran 35:28) Is this verse specifically referring to some knowledge (such as Allah’s names and attributes) or the general Islamic Knowledge? For example, learning about how to make wudoo doesn’t make one more God-fearing, does it? Please also clarify which areas of knowledge help to fear Allah more. Kindly insert the references if quoting. Jazakallahu khair.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

 

The scholars stated that the verse which you mentioned in the question states that it is only the scholars who fear Allaah, and no person can be a scholar except he who fears Him. The scholar who fears Allaah is he who knows Him with His Names and Attributes, by pondering on His great Signs in this universe, and pondering over the secrets of legislation which He revealed in His Book and the Sunnah of His Prophet . To Allaah belongs the absolute wisdom behind such legislation but not all people realize such wisdom.

Therefore, it becomes clear –in general – that it is with Islamic knowledge that one can achieve the fear of Allaah, and it is not correct to say that knowing the manner of performing ablution does not yield fruits of such fear. In addition to this, it becomes evident as well that the fields of knowledge which help achieve such fear are through pondering about Allaah’s Signs in this universe and about His Signs in His Legislation.

Allaah Knows best.

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