THE IMPORTANCE OF READING

A Person Reaches Perfection by Reading

Aperson reaches perfection by reading because reading is the sustenance of the soul, the source of development. When a person reads he realizes his lack of knowledge, and while studying a person’s desire to learn increases. Basically, every book that is read whispers the need for reading and stimulates even more reading. Therefore, reading and studying become a way of life to the extent that a person must read on a daily basis.

Our past is vibrant, so to speak, with people devoted to studying. Here are a few examples:

When the great scholar Hammad ar-Rawiyah was asked if he would ever be satisfied with the knowledge he had attained he replied, “I used all my resources but never reached the limits of knowledge. As I passed over one mountain another appeared before me.”

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The Abbasid caliph Al-Ma’mun had an elderly uncle who had grown tired of attaining knowledge and asked, in shame, “Is it befitting for us to study at this age?” The caliph answered, “It is better for you to die acquiring knowledge than to live being content with ignorance.”

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On his death bed Abu Yusuf, one of Imam Azam’s students, lost consciousness; then he opened his eyes and began to discuss a topic of knowledge with a man at his bedside. One of those present said, “While you are in this state, try to rest.” Abu Yusuf replied, “If only my fate would come to me while I was occupied with learning and depart from this world attaining knowledge.”

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Qatadah ibn Di’amah, one of the great scholars and successors of the Companions, strived throughout his entire life to attain knowledge. One of his students, Matar al-Warraq, conveyed this in these words: “Qatadah continued to learn until the time of his death.”

Astronomer Pierre Simon Laplace: On his death bed at the age of seventy-eight, his last words were: “What we know is little, and what we are ignorant of, is immense.”

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Samuel Johnson, who died at the age of seventy-five and wrote the first English dictionary, began to learn the Dutch language just a few years prior to his death.

Indeed, a person should strive to utilize and benefit from every moment and regret time wasted on things of no avail to the soul, mind and heart. As for those who do not put the time they possess to good use, for them there is no present; they always focus on the future. To those who say, Let’s wait and see, it is still early, we will fulfil our duties in the future, the best reply is surely, If now is not the right time, when is? The phrase “Tomorrow begins today” summarizes this nicely.