Continuous Learning Process
Holy Qur'an 96/1 to 5
 
Dear Viewers, We wish and pray for peace, serenity and tranquility for all our esteemed viewers and a blissful and prosperous life, with dignified provisions and all good things of the world. May the peace and blessings of ALLAH be on all of us!
 
 

Through this traditional greeting we assure and express our regards, reverence and good wishes for you and for all mankind. May the CREATOR and SUSTAINER of the Universe shower HIS bounties on all HIS creatures on this earth!
 
Now we take recourse to the Last Book of our LORD in order to reform and develop our actions, emotions and attitudes in conformity with the Glorious Qur’an, the Divine Book of Guidance. We profess and testify the Oneness of our LORD and strive for purification and perfection of our own life. We strongly believe that no course on this earth can promise a more comprehensive development of our personality than the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the practice of Prophet (s.a.w.s) who has set the highest standards of piety and righteousness.
 
Today we shall ponder over verses first few verses of Chapter 96 and find out what message do they contain for us and for the whole mankind.
 
 
 
 
It is not at all possible to render the Heavenly words in any human language, as the words of Man can never be a match for the diction of GOD ALMIGHTY. And so this is only an attempt to get closer to the contents and spirit of the original verses and to seek guidance from GOD’s commandments that guarantees success of both the worlds. May the LORD of the worlds help us in this effort! According to my understanding, the meaning and gist would be:
 
O Mohammed (s.a.w.s): “Read, recite and proclaim in the Name of your Sustainer, Who has the Might to Create!”
“HE Created Man out of a germ-cell!”
“Proclaim - for your Sustainer is the Most Generous and Bountiful.”
“So Bountiful that HE taught Man the use of the pen.”
“HE educated man what he did not know!”
 
The revelation of the Last Message of the CREATOR and Master of the Universe in the form of Holy Qur’an began with these verses, which deals with the process of teaching and learning, the faculties that distinguish man from other creatures spread over the globe. These small verses are compact with meanings and lay stress on the significance of pen in the process of acquiring knowledge. It urges every human mind to seek knowledge that can never at any given moment be complete.
 
And the history is a witness to the fact that theses glorious verses caused such a tremendous impact on the illiterate tribes dwelling through the length and breadth of the Arabian Peninsula, that the multitudes that had been reeling under the dark ages, became the leading lights in every branch of knowledge. Every one felt a thirst for knowledge. The humanity realized the importance of education that makes him distinct from animal.
The ignorant and unlettered race that did not care even for elementary education, who, by and large, did not know how to read and write, got completely transformed. And the human history experienced a revolutionary change in every field of human activity. Man realized the unlimited power of brain, the importance of three inputs hearing, vision and instincts of heart. He began to comprehend the functioning of human mind as a computer and analyzing agency. The human mind analyzes every information that it receives through eyes or ears. And the same quality enables him to make learning a continuous process.
 
This process of learning in fact started right from the creation of Adam. GOD ALMIGHTY informs us in chapter 2/31.
 
 
“And GOD ALMIGHTY imparted unto Adam the qualities and name of all things……”
 
The ALMIGHTY CREATOR ornamented man with common sense and Bestowed upon him the power to hear, vision, intellect, and brain like faculties. Further more he was imbibed with the sense of acquiring knowledge and the power to think and ponder over the mysteries of Nature. The constant evolution and progress of Man is mainly because of this insatiable desire to learn more and more. It leads him to strive for newer and newer things.
 
But with the advancement in every sphere of life, a smart person can earn the bounties of unending pleasures and luxuries in the life to come if he is well versed with the Final Testament of his LORD who says in chapter 2/201 & 202:
 
 
“But among the mankind there are such who (struggle and) pray (for it in words like): "O our Sustainer! Grant us good in this world and good in the life to come, and keep us safe from suffering of the Hell-fire. Such will have their portion (in both the worlds as) they (tried to) earn it. And ALLAH is swift in reckoning.”
 
Humanity at large learns and refreshes their knowledge at every stage. ALLAH in his Infinite Mercy has given man the faculties to subdue the forces of nature and to penetrate through high mysteries with his power of reason and insight.
 
This process of learning continues from the mother’s lap to the grave. Every passing day adds to his study, research, knowledge, experience and development. But it is the learning process in right direction that develops his personality and sharpens his senses. It in fact brings man closer to his CREATOR. GOD ALMIGHTY appointed HIS Prophets and Messengers on this earth to educate human mind on this line. They did so in all ages and among all nations. GOD ALMIGHTY being The Fountain-Head of all knowledge, reminded Man to seek and pray for knowledge in chapter 20/114:
 
 
“….. and ask: "O my Sustainer, cause me to grow in knowledge!”
 
Thus it is the will of our LORD that we should always be in pursuit of knowledge and wisdom and also pray to GOD ALMIGHTY to grant it, as HE is the ultimate sources of all knowledge. If we seek improvements in the realm of knowledge, in accordance with the norms and ethics set by our CREATOR, it will be a development in the true sense of the term, beneficial to ourselves, our society and our nation.
 
The desire to acquire knowledge puts the human genre on the path of progress and development. Once they taste the fruit, their thirst for knowledge is always unquenchable. To start this process, age is no bar. Neither is there any pre-requisite for it. Though it is commonly assumed that that education or learning is a matter of childhood. And the knowledge acquired in school or college is sufficient. This thinking is not positive. It reflects an immature mind. For, the education of childhood may remain limited to learning certain basic skills and obtaining a certificate or a degree. But the degree that is awarded after completion of a course can never touch the pinnacle of knowledge. Learning is a life long process. For those who have the faculty of learning, the Universal School of Knowledge is always open. It knows no holidays. The only condition to get enrolled in this school is that one should ever regard himself as a student. No other certificate required, no special qualification is asked for. The basic eligibility is that one should have a strong urge to learn or acquire knowledge. There is no age limit either. There is also no barrier for any religion, color, language, region or race. But the learner has to adopt the syllabus prescribed by his CREATOR and SUSTAINER in verse chapter 2/164.
 
 
“Verily, in the creation of the heavens and in the creation of earth, and the succession of night and day: and in the ships that speed through the sea, fulfilling the needs of mankind, and in the waters which ALLAH sends down from the sky, giving life thereby to the earth after it had been lifeless, and causing all manner of living creatures to multiply thereon: and in the change of the winds, and the clouds that run their appointed courses between sky and earth: (in all this) there are messages, signs and proofs of the Creative Powers and Might of the LORD for all the people who use their reason.”
 
Our surroundings, the Earth beneath our feet, the Sky sprawling overhead and every other sign that nature offers; if we receive these signals, then every natural object and every natural phenomenon, every event and every occurrence may give us some lessons in the Divinity of our LORD. A continuous process in this direction may transform not only our personality and character but also our inner self and our entire earthly affair.
 
Our CREATOR has linked the learning process of human being with pen. Man is perhaps the only creature who can hold pen in his fingers with ease. Human hand, his palm, and his fingers are so designed that he is able to further his knowledge and education with the use of pen. The pen also enables him to pass on his knowledge and experience, his thoughts and feelings on white sheets that may benefit his progeny. It also enables him to pass on the knowledge to every coming generation, or those living at great distance.
 
At a certain period in human history, the education and knowledge was a monopoly of a particular group of people. Today every man regardless of caste, creed, color, nation and religion can learn and acquire knowledge. This is now an age of IT explosion, Internet, and computer. Here also the matter rests with the keyboard. It is again our finger that operates the keyboard. The Merciful LORD has even prescribed the formula to use the pen. In chapter 68/1.
 
 
“NOON, consider the pen, and by it the mankind wrote and inscribed ever!”
 
We have more than one input - our vision, our hearing, our heart and brain. But in comparison our CREATOR has given us only one output – the expression. It can be either by our tongue or by our pen. So we can safely draw this conclusion that our LORD wants us to use so many inputs but be cautious and selective while using our output. The use of output should be limited, regulated, and with precision. Negative attitude can never bring positive result. The man who travels disorderly does not reach his destination.
 
The people with fickle mind face confusion in their decision and action. And a confused mind cannot perform extraordinary feats. To improve upon ones own character, one need to have courage and conviction, determination and devotion and clarity in thoughts and action. And to achieve all these traits and targets, one needs to have patience. It is not something to be accomplished immediately. One can achieve these moral standards only by exercising highest patience and self-restraint.
 
As our LORD states in chapter 41/34 & 35
 
 
“And never can be equal the good and evil. Hence repel evil with something that is better - and note, how someone, who is at odds from you because of enmity, will become a close friend! But this can be achieved only by those who discipline themselves by patience in adversity. And it can be achieved by those only who have great portion of good.”
 
Hatred begets hatred. It can only be overcome with love. To cure an ailment we do not need poison but an antidote. Similarly ignorance can be repelled with knowledge. These are the essential traits for the grooming of a balanced personality. That can lead him through thick and thin, through sun and shower. While facing any crisis it works as a ray of hope. He can win even his enemy not with any traditional weaponry that is employed to capture man and territory but it enables us to win the hearts of multitudes. It turns even the bitterest foes into bosom friends. With the weapons of courage, determination and patience negative is wiped out by positive. Such a temperament that turns the opponents into supporters enlightens the darkness as a fool moon does. It appears like the comforting clouds in the hot sun, like the drops of rain on a parched land.
 
Let us strive hard to bring into our character such noble traits, today and now. Let us be a student, a seeker of knowledge all through our life. Let us repel evil with what is better. May Our LORD help us in this endeavor. May all our efforts lead us to the achievement of salvation in the life to come. May our LORD save us from all forms of sin and impiety and make our life on this earth graceful and our life in the hereafter beautiful. Aameen.
 
Thank you very much, GOD Bless you.