Knowledge is life, and ignorance is death

The father of Imam Aḥmad Razā Khān, the scholar Naqī ꜤAli Khān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه said:

No virtue in this world or the hereafter can be acquired without Islamic knowledge. In fact, the absence of such knowledge results in deficient faith.

Scholars say, الْعِلْمُ بَابُ اللہِ الْاَقْرَب - Knowledge is the closest door which leads to the court of Allah; وَالْجَہْلُ اَعْظَمُ حِجَاب بَیْنَکَ وَ بَیْنَ اللہ - Ignorance is the greatest veil between you and Allah. Knowledge is life and ignorance is death.^[1] 

May Allah grant us all the passion to gain Islamic knowledge. Let us now listen some hadith of the final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم which discuss the virtues of Islamic knowledge. 

1. Such a Time will Come…

The Companion Ḥakīm bin Ḥizām رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ reports, the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم explained:

You are indeed living in a time of many scholars and few speakers (i.e. those who narrate false stories), and of many givers and few askers. Good actions are greater than knowledge in this era. A time will soon come upon people in which there shall be less scholars and more speakers, along with less givers and more askers. In that time, seeking knowledge will be greater than performing good actions.^[2]