One Degree Below the Prophet: The Reward for Those Who Die While Seeking Knowledge

In Islamic teachings, seeking religious knowledge holds a very noble status. Even a person who dies while still on the journey of seeking knowledge is said to attain a very high rank in the sight of Allah SWT. A person who pursues knowledge is believed to be walking on the path of Allah or fi sabilillah. The knowledge obtained will guide a person to live correctly, guard one’s honour, and keep people away from actions that corrupt morals and life. But what if someone dies before finishing the learning process? In the book At-Targhib wat Tarhib, a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, narrated by Ath-Thabrani, is mentioned regarding the nobility of a person who dies while pursuing knowledge. وَقَالَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : مَنْ جَاءَهُ أَجَلُهُ وَهُوَ يَطْلُبُ الْعِلْمِ لَقِىَ اللَّهُ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ النَّبِيِّيْنَ إِلَّا دَرَجَةُ النُّبُوَةِ Wa qāla shallallāhu ’alaihi wa sallam: man jā`ahu ajaluhu wa huwa yathlubul ’ilmi laqiyallāha wa lam yakun bainahu wa bainan nabiyyīna illā darajatun nubuwwah. “Whoever death comes to him while he is pursuing knowledge, then he will meet Allah with a high rank, and there will be no distance between him and the prophets except one degree of prophethood.” The hadith demonstrates how great the nobility of a person who spends their life seeking knowledge is. Even though they have not yet achieved the ultimate goal of the learning process, their effort and diligence remain highly valued in the sight of Allah SWT. Scholars explain that a person who dies while pursuing knowledge attains a noble rank because their life is spent in seeking guidance and drawing closer to Allah. Their rank is said to be very close to the prophets, although still one level below the rank of prophethood. Therefore, Islam places the seeker of knowledge in a highly honoured position. Not only because of the knowledge learned, but also because of the sincerity, sacrifice, and intention in seeking the path of truth.