Explanation of the Sunnah Part 4: Categories of Knowing

Issues of spiritual and corporeal guidance and misguidance are known [in the texts of the Qur'an and Sunnah], and there is no excuse to be upon misguidance. Ignorance of our Creator is something that separates us from our Creator, and prevents us from great reward in this life and the next.

This is why seeking spiritually beneficial knowledge is mandatory upon a Muslim. It is part of our worship to seek authentic knowledge of Monotheism, and not to fabricate or innovate what we desire.

Knowledge, is divided into 6 categories*:

1. Knowledge or comprehension of a real thing, with certainty.
2. Settled belief. Comprehension of something,while contrary positions exist which are less likely to be true.
3. Slight ignorance, or absence of full comprehension.
4. Doubt. To think that you comprehend something, yet you are aware of contrary positions which could possibly be true.
5. Delusion, or to think that one comprehends something despite the presence of that which should cause you to realize that you are incorrect.
6. Compounded ignorance, or comprehension in a way contrary to true reality. You may not know that you are in ignorance.

[*Uthaymin, Usool ath Thalatha]

The Qur'an and Sunnah are sources which bring an individual out of ignorance and towards the settled belief, and real knowledge of the meaning of this life. This evidence, (The Qur'an and the Sunnah) is available, and gaining knowledge of it is worship; Using these tools in sincerity, and without innovating new methods of worship is liberating because it brings one closer to our Creator. That is the freedom of Islam.