allow it to be lost, for the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Whoever recites the Quran and then forgets it will meet Allah maimed.”

Reported by Abū Dāwūd.

He also said:

“The deeds of my community—both good and bad—were presented to me. Among their evil deeds, I saw a man whom Allah grants a verse of the Quran, but who then neglects it until he forgets it.”

And he said:

“Whoever learns archery and then forgets it is not one of us.”

Reported by Muslim.

The same applies to embarking upon jihad itself. When Muslims line up for battle against an enemy or lay siege to a fortress, they may not withdraw until they have gained victory. Hence the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“It is not fitting for a prophet, once he has put on his armour, to remove it until Allah judges between him and his enemy.”

Those assigned to the pursuit of knowledge owe it to the Muslim community to preserve religious knowledge and convey it. If they fail to convey religious knowledge to the community or neglect to preserve it, this constitutes one of the gravest wrongs against Muslims. For this reason, Allah Most High says:

“Indeed, those who conceal the clear proofs and guidance We have sent down, after We have made them clear to people in the Scripture, are cursed by Allah and by those who curse.”

The harm caused by their concealment extends even to animals and other creatures, so those who curse them include even the animals. By contrast, Allah bestows blessings upon the one who teaches good, and His angels pray for him. Everything seeks forgiveness for him, even the fish in the depths of the sea and the birds in the sky.