Tuesday:Imam Jafar As-Sadiq's insightful hadith on what education really is.

Here is one of my favorite hadiths because of the groundedness it gives us in where we are heading and what we choose to feed our minds and most importantly what we call progress

Imam Jafar As-Sadiq (as) said:
I have found all knowledge to be in 4 things; to get to know your lord, know what he has given you, know what he wants from you and know what takes you away from your deen.

Now just to show the magnitude of this hadith.  Imam Jafar As-Sadiq (as) was a polymath (a master in many (all actually)) important disciplines: Mathematics, physics, astronomy, medicine, languages, chemistry -he actually founded chemistry while guiding Jabar ibn Hayan through his 100s of papers on the subject.  Lets not also forget religion and philosophy.  So to think that these four areas above are the only areas that Imam has considered all knowledges to be in tells us that all sciences can be found through the Holy Quran.  We know this, but do we understand or believe it?  If we really understood it, then why is it not our first stop in obtaining our foundation of knowledge - instead we look to the West or so called recognized scienctists and schools to teach us.

Let me leave you with one hadith that should redirect us in our thinking.
Our Holy Prophet said "The Holy Quran is Allah's University, learn as much as you can from His university"

Now, perhaps pondering on these two hadiths together we may choose to begin to think of broader more diverse ways that we can utilize the knowledge of the Holy Quran.  One hint for us is Imam Jafar As Sadiq's Father's title.  The 'Splitter of knowledges'.  I will leave you with these thoughts.

[I am trying to get the strength to put together the Tuesday's post on the heart chakra and Imams 4,5 and 6 but I have come down with sickness today so I will do my best to stay on track with the program.  Please remember us in your Duas].