—“Do not rush with the Qur’an before its revelation is completed to you; and say: My Lord, increase me in knowledge.”

Our Lord addresses the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) with the command: “And say: My Lord, increase me in knowledge.” If the Prophet himself is instructed to seek more knowledge, this alone demonstrates the nobility of knowledge. Notice that he was not told, “My Lord, increase me in wealth,” or “in wives,” or “in children.” Instead, he was told:

“And do not strain your eyes toward the fleeting bloom of the life of this world which We have allowed some pairs of them to enjoy. The provision of your Lord is better and more enduring.”

Another proof of the excellence of knowledge is Allah’s statement:

“Say: Are those who know equal to those who do not know?”

This is a universal declaration directed at all people. The answer is obvious: the knowledgeable and the ignorant can never be equal. That inequality is a matter of human nature and innate disposition. Yet Allah expressed it in the form of a question to serve as a challenge—no one can credibly claim that those who possess knowledge are the same as those who do not. Such equality is impossible, even in purely worldly matters.

Allah the Exalted also says:

“Allah will raise in rank those of you who believe and those who have been given knowledge.”

Here again the virtue of knowledge is made manifest. He then says:

“O you who believe, when you are told, ‘Make room in your gatherings,’ then make room, and Allah will make room for you; and when you are told, ‘Rise up,’ then rise…”—meaning: stand up and give way.