Little knowledge or lack of knowledge is extremely perilous – By: Adil Ahmad
Little knowledge or lack of knowledge in every walk of life either it is the lack of religious knowledge or the lack of knowledge in the field of science and other fields of study, is extremely perilous. In my view, it is a fact that a lack of knowledge or little knowledge leads to extremism. There are numerous reasons that are directly or indirectly liable for the lack of knowledge in individuals and a large part of society.
I mentioned one reason in detail in my previous article which was published in The Friday Times. It was about education in a second language which is how education in a second language impedes acquiring knowledge. Today I don’t discuss the reason for lacking knowledge; however, I discuss how is lacking knowledge dangerous to society and individuals. As I mentioned above it leads to extremism in society. Now I write down in detail how is it dangerous to individuals and society.
If we look back into the past tragic events that created many troubles for Pakistan and became the reason for abashment to Pakistan at the national level and international level all that because of extremism. A large part of our population is still extremist in any way whether knowingly or unknowingly.
Religious extremism is one of the top-rooted accoutrements that is present in every citizen of Pakistan. This religious extremism in a lot of individuals is because of a lack of religious knowledge. Every individual doesn’t study religion, and the only way they get religious knowledge is from religious scholars and their elders. Religious scholars are respected very much by society. Every student of Madressa is considered one of the most read, learned and intellectual whether they study religious books profoundly or just have time passed in Madras in the name of becoming a religious scholar.
If they don’t study religious books very keenly with profound understanding, then how can they guide society? Our society is always ready to act on its point without thinking or confirming whether it is in our religion or not. What is the context of it? In which our religion has explained it. If I am not wrong, most of the so-called religious scholars lack religious knowledge, because of not studying the religious books profoundly. They narrate those points in their jumma’s speeches and just in other events that they have heard either from their teachers or other renowned religious scholars. Most of the Molvi only narrate the story of famous Sofies or buzuruks. They don’t educate society in the light of the teachings of the Holy Quran, Sunna and Hadiths.
Somehow, we can say that most people follow their ancestor’s path by considering it a part of religion. Actually, it isn’t part of religious teachings but part of their traditions. This not only harms religion but also puts society in a menace. The lack of knowledge of religious scholars not only makes them extremists but also makes society extremists.
In my opinion, the second thing is the lack of scientific knowledge in our society makes it a perilous society. Especially, the lack of scientific knowledge in women put in menace the life of their families. In most families, a woman cooks meals. When someone gets ill and goes to the doctor for a checkup, and the doctor prescribes him to prevent some sorts of foods, because of their harmful effects, his household women present him with the same food which is being prevented for him by the doctor. When someone tells her that it is harmful to him, she says it is in his fate. Allah protects him. Why should he stop his subsistence? It’s the trouble from Allah. Actually, Allah orders prudence from harmful things.
This type of lack of religious knowledge as well as scientific knowledge makes our society menacing and vulnerable. We should be serious about coping with these problems. And use new techniques to educate our society in a real manner.
