Table of Contents
Introduction
This article is the second in our series, “In the Brightened Corridors of the Prophet’s Life Story“. It explores the connection between knowledge and faith, reflecting on how even a scholar might turn away from belief if their soul resists embracing the truth. The piece draws on specific moments from the Prophet’s life to illustrate these insights. Click here to to read the complete series, ALLAH willing.
The First Encounter with Divine Truth
When the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) received the message, Lady Khadijah (may ALLAH be pleased with Her) sought out her cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal, for guidance. Waraqah, a learned man who had studied ancient scriptures, embraced Christianity, and read Hebrew texts, was well-versed in the teachings of the People of the Book.
After Khadijah described what had occurred, Waraqah wished to hear the Prophet’s experience firsthand. Upon listening to the Prophet’s account, Waraqah spoke with profound understanding, saying, “It is the Namus (Angel) which ALLAH sent down to Moses. Would that I were a young man during your prophetic career! Would that I might be alive when your people expel you!” Surprised, the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) asked, “Will they expel me?” Waraqah confirmed, “Yes; no man has ever brought anything like what you have brought without meeting hostility“1.
Recognition Through Knowledge
Here, we observe that Waraqah ibn Nawfal seemed to know parts of the Prophet’s journey even before the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) Himself did. Waraqah understood that the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) would call people to faith, endure persecution, and eventually be driven from Makkah. He expressed a longing to be young and strong enough to stand by the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) on that difficult day. Shortly after this encounter, Waraqah embraced belief in the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) and soon passed away (may ALLAH be pleased with him), making his faith in the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) one of his final acts in life.
When Knowledge Leads to Different Paths
This illustrates how knowledge led Waraqah to faith. His understanding of the ancient scriptures and the foretold coming of a Prophet guided him to belief. Similarly, in Madinah, there was a Jewish scholar named Abd ALLAH ibn Salam. When he met the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) and recognized the signs of prophethood, he immediately embraced Islam. His knowledge helped him realize that this truly was the awaited Prophet.
Following his conversion, Abd ALLAH approached the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) with a concern, saying, “O Messenger of ALLAH, Jews invent such lies as make one astonished, so please ask them about me before they know about my conversion to Islam“. The Jews came, and the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) said, “What kind of man is Abd ALLAH ibn Salam among you?” They replied, “The best of us and the son of the best of us and the most superior among us, and the son of the most superior among us”.
The Prophet (Peace be upon Him) said, “What would you think if Abd ALLAH ibn Salam should embrace Islam?” They said, “May ALLAH protect him from that”. Then Abd ALLAH came out to them and said, “I testify that None has the right to be worshipped except ALLAH and that Muhammad is the Messenger of ALLAH!” On this, the Jews said, “He is the most wicked among us and the son of the most wicked among us”. So they degraded him2.
Contrasting Responses to Divine Truth
In this situation, we see how knowledge can lead to different paths. For those with open, humble hearts, knowledge guided them to faith, while for those with hardened hearts, it led to rejection—may ALLAH protect us. Knowledge alone doesn’t guarantee faith; the heart must remain free of arrogance toward the truth. This theme appears repeatedly in the Prophet’s (Peace be upon Him) life, with one of the most notable examples being Huyayy ibn Akhtab.
Huyayy, a Jewish scholar, had his story recounted by his daughter, Safiyyah bint Huyayy ibn Akhtab, one of the Mothers of the Believers (may ALLAH be pleased with Her). She shared, “I was my father’s and my uncle’s most beloved child“. When news of the Prophet’s (Peace be upon Him) arrival in Madinah reached them, her father Huyayy and her uncle Abu Yasir went to see Him.
After observing the Prophet (Peace be upon Him), they returned home, where she eagerly went to greet them, as usual, only to find them distant. She overheard her uncle asking, “Is it Him?” Huyayy replied, “Yes, by ALLAH, it is Him”. “Do you recognize and confirm it?” he asked. Huyayy affirmed, “Yes, I recognize and confirm it”. Then her uncle asked, “So, what will you do?” Huyayy’s response was chilling: “Oppose Him for as long as I live”3.
Huyayy was a man who knew, without doubt, that this was the Prophet (Peace be upon Him), yet his soul rejected the truth. Arrogance clouded his heart, leading him to choose a path of opposition against the Prophet (Peace be upon Him). He remained steadfast in his hostility, inciting others against the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) until his end, when he was defeated and killed with Banu Qurayza.
As he faced his execution, the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) asked him, “What do you think of yourself now?” Huyayy responded defiantly, “I do not blame myself for opposing You”, adding, “This is a battle ALLAH decreed for the Children of Israel, and whoever challenges ALLAH will be defeated”4. Despite his knowledge—knowing that this was the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) and that those who opposed Him would face defeat—his arrogance drove him to persist in his opposition until his death, ultimately sealing his fate in the Fire.
A More Peculiar Case of Rejection
An even more curious story is told by Salamah ibn Salamah ibn Waqsh Al-Ansari, one of those who later fought at Badr. This incident took place before the Prophet’s mission. Salamah, who belonged to the Madinah tribe of Banu Abdul-Ashhal, recalls a Jewish neighbor who spoke to them one day.
Salamah, the youngest in the gathering, recounts, “The Jewish man came out to us and began talking about the Day of Resurrection, Judgment, the Scale, Paradise, and Hell“. Speaking to people who were still polytheists and didn’t believe in such things, the man’s words stirred surprise among them. They asked him, “Is what you’re saying true?” He answered, “Yes, by ALLAH, it is true. Indeed, anyone among you who sees the Fire of the Hereafter would wish to return to this world and be placed in the largest fire that could close upon him”. He meant that one would rather endure the most intense fire in this world than face the Fire of the Hereafter.
Salamah recalls, “I was the youngest in the group that day, sitting with them in our family’s courtyard. They asked the man, ‘What sign do you have for what you’re saying?’—referring to his talk about Paradise, Hell, Judgment, and the Scale“. The man gestured toward Makkah and Yemen, saying, “A Prophet will come from this direction”. When they asked, “When will He be sent?” he glanced at the group, saw me as the youngest, and said, “If this youth lives a full life, he will see him”.
Salamah continues, “By ALLAH, only a short time passed before ALLAH sent HIS Prophet (Peace be upon Him) while this man was still with us”. Yet, despite his own predictions, the man rejected the Prophet (Peace be upon Him). We asked him, “Weren’t you the one telling us to believe in the coming Prophet? Weren’t you the one who described Him?” He responded, “Yes, but this is not Him”5—meaning he refused to accept that this was the prophet he had spoken of.
Arrogance kept him from belief. Here was someone who understood the realities of the Day of Judgment, the descriptions of Paradise and Hell, and knew about the coming of a Prophet, including His country and time. Yet, when the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) was sent during his lifetime, he couldn’t bring himself to believe.
The Summary and Important Lessons
The conclusion here is that knowledge alone is not enough. One should not fall into self-deception simply because they possess knowledge. Knowledge can serve as evidence for a person or against them. If someone does not commit themselves to follow the truth—even when it is uncomfortable, inconvenient, or contrary to their desires—then that knowledge may become a burden or even a source of harm. We’ve seen such examples throughout the Prophet’s life and continue to see them in our world today. Only by aligning knowledge with a sincere and humble pursuit of truth does it become a true benefit.
A person might recognize the truth, yet when it conflicts with their interests, challenges their desires, contradicts their position, affects their status, reduces their wealth, or disrupts their comfort, they may still reject it. They may knowingly choose falsehood, even when aware that such a path leads to Hellfire, simply to avoid the sacrifices truth demands.
These situations remind us of the importance of self-awareness and discipline. One must carefully observe their soul, its inclinations, and strive to turn knowledge into action—dedicating themselves to the truth, no matter the personal cost or consequences.
I ask ALLAH, the Blessed and Exalted, to teach us what benefits us, to make what HE teaches us beneficial, and to increase us in knowledge.
Sources:
- Mohamed Elhamy. محمد إلهامي | في أروقة السيرة | 2. العلماء الكفار. YouTube Video.
