Acquiring knowledge is a communal obligation.

Abstract

The concept that acquiring knowledge is a communal obligation (Fard al-Kifayah) asserts that while basic moral and religious literacy is an individual duty, the pursuit of specialized expertise—such as medicine, law, engineering, and advanced theology—is a collective responsibility of the society. This principle ensures that a community remains self-sufficient and intellectually robust; as long as a sufficient number of individuals master these essential fields to meet the public’s needs, the obligation is fulfilled for the entire population. However, if a critical field is neglected to the point of societal detriment, the entire community shares the burden of that shortcoming. Ultimately, this framework elevates the pursuit of professional and academic excellence from a mere personal ambition to a vital spiritual and civic duty, ensuring the holistic progress and welfare of the civilization.

Keyword: Avoidance of Doubt, Academic Specialization, Aim of the Heart, Application and Outreach, All-Round Preparedness.

Introduction

Allah Almighty said in Quran:

وَمَا كَانَ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ لِيَنْفِرُوْا كَاۗفَّةً  ۭ فَلَوْلَا نَفَرَ مِنْ كُلِّ فِرْقَــةٍ مِّنْھُمْ طَاۗىِٕفَةٌ لِّيَتَفَقَّهُوْا فِي الدِّيْنِ وَلِيُنْذِرُوْا قَوْمَھُمْ اِذَا رَجَعُوْٓا (Alquran,Altaubah:122)اِلَيْهِمْ لَعَلَّھُمْ يَحْذَرُوْنَ ۔

With all this, it is not desirable that all of the believers take the field [in time of war]. From within every group in their midst, some shall refrain from going forth to war, and shall devote themselves [instead] to acquiring a deeper knowledge of the Faith. and [thus be able to] teach their home-coming brethren, so that these [too] might guard themselves against evil.

Interpretation

(And the believers should not all) it is not permissible for all the believers to (go out to fight) and leave the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) alone in Medina. (Of every troop of them, a party only should go forth) while another party should stay in Medina, (that they (who are left behind) may gain sound knowledge in religion) that they may learn the religion from the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) (and that they may warn) and that they may inform (their folk when they return to them) from their military expedition, (so that they may beware) in order to know that which they have been commanded to do and that which they have been prohibited from doing. It is also said that this verse was revealed about the Banu Asad who came to the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) in Medina after being hit by drought. Their arrival caused prices in Medina to rise and all the streets became filthy with excrement. And so Allah prohibited them from this.

Holy Prophet(صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم)said:

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْجَعْدِ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ أَبِي جَمْرَةَ قَالَ کُنْتُ أَقْعُدُ مَعَ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ فَيَجْلِسُنِي عَلَی سَرِيرِهِ فَقَالَ أَقِمْ عِنْدِي حَتَّی أَجْعَلَ لَکَ سَهْمًا مِنْ مَالِي فَأَقَمْتُ مَعَهُ شَهْرَيْنِ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ وَفْدَ عَبْدِ الْقَيْسِ لَمَّا أَتَوْا النَّبِيَّ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ مَنْ الْقَوْمُ أَوْ مَنْ الْوَفْدُ قَالُوا رَبِيعَةُ قَالَ مَرْحَبًا بِالْقَوْمِ أَوْ بِالْوَفْدِ غَيْرَ خَزَايَا وَلَا نَدَامَی فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا لَا نَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ نَأْتِيکَ إِلَّا فِي الشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ وَبَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَکَ هَذَا الْحَيُّ مِنْ کُفَّارِ مُضَرَ فَمُرْنَا بِأَمْرٍ فَصْلٍ نُخْبِرْ بِهِ مَنْ وَرَائَنَا وَنَدْخُلْ بِهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَسَأَلُوهُ عَنْ الْأَشْرِبَةِ فَأَمَرَهُمْ بِأَرْبَعٍ وَنَهَاهُمْ عَنْ أَرْبَعٍ أَمَرَهُمْ بِالْإِيمَانِ بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ قَالَ أَتَدْرُونَ مَا الْإِيمَانُ بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ قَالُوا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ شَهَادَةُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَإِقَامُ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَائُ الزَّکَاةِ وَصِيَامُ رَمَضَانَ وَأَنْ تُعْطُوا مِنْ الْمَغْنَمِ الْخُمُسَ وَنَهَاهُمْ عَنْ أَرْبَعٍ عَنْ الْحَنْتَمِ وَالدُّبَّائِ وَالنَّقِيرِ وَالْمُزَفَّتِ وَرُبَّمَا قَالَ  (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Hadith 52)الْمُقَيَّرِ وَقَالَ احْفَظُوهُنَّ وَأَخْبِرُوا بِهِنَّ مَنْ وَرَائَکُمْ

Narrated Abu Jamra (RA): I used to sit with Ibn ‘Abbas (RA) and he made me sit on his sitting place. He requested me to stay with him in order that he might give me a share from his property. So I stayed with him for two months. Once he told (me) that when the delegation of the tribe of ‘Abdul Qais came to the Prophet, the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) asked them, “Who are the people (i.e. you)? (Or) who are the delegate?” They replied, “We are from the tribe of Rabi’a.” Then the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) said to them, “Welcome! O people (or O delegation of ‘Abdul Qais)! Neither will you have disgrace nor will you regret.” They said, “O Allah’s Apostle (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) ! We cannot come to you except in the sacred month and there is the infidel tribe of Mudar intervening between you and us. So please order us to do something good (religious deeds) so that we may inform our people whom we have left behind (at home), and that we may enter Paradise (by acting on them).” Then they asked about drinks (what is legal and what is illegal). The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) ordered them to do four things and forbade them from four things. He ordered them to believe in Allah Alone and asked them, “Do you know what is meant by believing in Allah Alone?” They replied, “Allah and His Apostle (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) know better.” Thereupon the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) said, “It means:

1. To testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) is Allah’s Apostle.
2. To offer prayers perfectly
3. To pay the Zakat (obligatory charity)
4. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan.
5. And to pay Al-Khumus (one fifth of the booty to be given in Allah’s Cause).

Then he forbade them four things, namely, Hantam, Dubba,’ Naqir Ann Muzaffat or Muqaiyar; (These were the names of pots in which Alcoholic drinks were prepared) (The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) mentioned the container of wine and he meant the wine itself). The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) further said (to them): “Memorize them (these instructions) and convey them to the people whom you have left behind.”  

Conclusion

Based on the Quranic principles and the Hadith of the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) you provided, here is a powerful and beneficial paragraph tailored for modern-day students:

The Student’s Calling: A Balance of Faith and Excellence

In the modern era, the pursuit of knowledge must be viewed not merely as a career path, but as a sacred communal obligation (Fard al−Kifayah) that sustains the very fabric of society. Just as the Quranic verse highlights that even in times of conflict, a group must remain behind to gain “sound knowledge” and guide their people, today’s students are the intellectual guardians of the community. Inspired by the delegation of ‘Abdul Qais—who sought clear guidance to convey back to their tribes—modern students should strive to bridge the gap between spiritual values and professional mastery. Whether studying medicine, technology, or theology, the goal remains the same: to internalize truth and “convey it to those behind them.” By prioritizing the purity of the heart and the discipline of the mind, a student transforms their academic journey into a form of worship that protects society from ignorance and leads to collective success both in this world and the hereafter.