Shared
Interests

Now we know humans have this strange inclination

to focus on one tiny part of the infinite variety of creation that surrounds them,

taking an intense interest in whatever it is for each individual.

And groups form around such interests,

but the essential driving force is individual,

the urge to know more,

no matter how much is known already,

always wanting to know and understand better.

Interest is what attracts us towards knowledge.

The word 'Ilm includes recognition of unity,

while at the same time it is the root of 'Alameen,

the worlds of which the Rabb ul-'Alameen is Liege.

All the worlds everywhere

past present and future,

all the worlds of knowledge,

the worlds of anatomy

astronomy biology and chemistry,

through electronics and engineering,

past law and mathematics

physics and psychology,

to the world of zoology

and whatever comes after or in-between.

The worlds of knowledge are not just the worlds of matter,

but also the worlds of spirit and emotion,

"and it is God that makes us laugh and weep" says the Qur'an,

so through them we can look to see their Maker.

The closer we look at creation

the more it appears infinite

the world that can only be imagined from a grain of sand

When being told to bow before humankind

the angels were bowing before the capacity to know the Names,

not just of material things,

but ideas and understandings

the distinction of multiplicity in the unity of creation.

Knowledge is the accumulation of all these different streams

that unify in the sea that is 'Ilm.

And so it is that muslims are told

that the quest for knowledge is an essential part of their deen,

their way of life.

And on that quest everyone knows

that it is impossible to know everything,

variety being limitless

but each point of focus has its value as part of the whole

so following disparate interests is embraced by the deen

as long as it is understood to be part of a greater unity,

and done with the best intentions,

the best motives.

In the end

when we are judged on our life's contribution

what will matter is not how much we learned,

but what were our intentions.