Describing the nation as illiteracy
Q: We often read in newspapers and see advertisements on the streets denouncing illiteracy, and considering it a sign of backwardness, and God Almighty described this nation as illiterate and said: It is He who sent among the illiterate a messenger from among them. [الجمعة:2] Would you please explain that?
A: The nation of Muhammad, peace be upon him, was of Arabs and non-Arabs, who could not read or write, and for this they were called illiterate, and those who wrote and read among them were very few in relation to others, and our Prophet Muhammad did not read writing or write, as God Almighty said: And you did not recite any book before it, nor did you write it with your right hand. [العنكبوت:48] And this was one of the evidences of the sincerity of his message and his prophethood – upon him be blessings and peace. Because he came to people with a great book that the Arabs and non-Arabs were incapacitated by, God revealed it to him and sent down upon him the trustworthy spirit Gabriel, peace and blessings be upon him, and the Almighty revealed to him the purified Sunnah and many sciences from the sciences of the ancients. And what will happen on the Day of Resurrection, as he told him about the conditions of Paradise and Hell and their people, and that was among what God preferred him over others, and through which he guided people to his high status and the description of his message – peace and blessings be upon him.
Describing the nation as illiterate is not intended to encourage them to remain upon it, rather it is intended to inform about their reality and condition when God sent them Muhammad, peace be upon him. Say: Are those who know and those who do not know equal? [الزمر:9] Glory be to Him: O you who believe, when it is said to you, you will be forgiven in the council, so wipe out, God will be wiped for you, and if it is said, then they will be shaken, then they will be. verse [المجادلة:11].
Glory be to Him: But they fear Allah scientists verse [فاطر:28]. And the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: Whoever follows a path seeking knowledge, God will make it easy for him to enter Paradise Narrated by Imam Muslim in his Saheeh. And he, peace and blessings be upon him, also said: Whoever God wants good for him, He gives him understanding in religion Agreed on its authenticity, and the verses and hadiths in this sense are many. And God is the best[1].
Describing the nation as illiterate is not intended to encourage them to remain upon it, rather it is intended to inform about their reality and condition when God sent them Muhammad, peace be upon him. Say: Are those who know and those who do not know equal? [الزمر:9] Glory be to Him: O you who believe, when it is said to you, you will be forgiven in the council, so wipe out, God will be wiped for you, and if it is said, then they will be shaken, then they will be. verse [المجادلة:11].
Glory be to Him: But they fear Allah scientists verse [فاطر:28]. And the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: Whoever follows a path seeking knowledge, God will make it easy for him to enter Paradise Narrated by Imam Muslim in his Saheeh. And he, peace and blessings be upon him, also said: Whoever God wants good for him, He gives him understanding in religion Agreed on its authenticity, and the verses and hadiths in this sense are many. And God is the best[1].
- (Collections of Fatwas and Articles of Sheikh Ibn Baz: 4/142)
Fatawi binbaz.org.sa