Does the virtue of scholars mentioned in the book "Tanbih Al-Ghafilin" include only religious scholars, or does it also include worldly scholars?
Islam elevates the status of beneficial knowledge and raises the rank of those who possess it. This is evident in the Quran's commendation of knowledge and scholars. Verses that speak of natural phenomena such as rain, plants, mountains, the sun, and the moon are followed by a mention that scholars are those who fear Allah and comprehend His signs, indicating the importance of beneficial worldly sciences like astronomy and mathematics.
Nevertheless, sciences vary in their standing in Islam. The noblest among them is the science of revelation (the Book and the ), which is the primary subject of discussion regarding the virtue of knowledge and its people. This type of knowledge is of two kinds: 1. Fard al-Ayn (Individual Obligation): What every accountable individual must know, such as prayer and fasting. 2. Fard al-Kifaya (Collective Obligation): What the Ummah (community) must acquire, and if some individuals undertake it, the sin is lifted from the rest. This includes both religious sciences (like the funeral prayer) and worldly sciences (like mathematics, physics, and industries).
Some scholars believe that Fard al-Kifaya is superior to Fard al-Ayn. In summary, all beneficial sciences are intended for commendation in Islamic law, and their importance varies.
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