Knowledge

Definition:
Knowledge is to apprehend a thing as it truly is, with decisive certainty—for example, realizing that the whole is greater than the part and that intention is a condition for valid worship.

Our phrase “to apprehend a thing” excludes the total absence of apprehension, which is called jahl basīṭ (simple ignorance). An illustration would be asking someone, “When did the Battle of Badr take place?” and he replies, “I do not know.”

Our words “as it truly is” exclude perceiving something in a way that contradicts reality; this is termed jahl murakkab (compound ignorance). For instance, when asked the same question, a person answers, “In the third year after the Hijrah.”

Our expression “with decisive certainty” excludes a non-decisive perception in which one admits the possibility that things might be otherwise; such a perception is not called knowledge. If one possibility outweighs the other, the stronger is ẓann (conjecture) and the weaker wahm (delusion); when both possibilities are equal, it is shakk (doubt).

Accordingly, the ways in which perception relates to things may be summarized as follows:
1 – Knowledge: apprehending a thing as it truly is, with decisive certainty.
2 – Jahl basīṭ (simple ignorance): the complete absence of apprehension.