What does the Quran say about knowledge?

The first word

Revelation opens on reading, the pen, and teaching a person what they did not know.

• Al-Alaq 96:1✦ skyread

  ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ

  Recite in the name of your Lord who created -

• Al-Alaq 96:4✦ skyread

  ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ

  Who taught by the pen -

• Al-Alaq 96:5✦ skyread

  عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ

  Taught man that which he knew not.

Increase me in knowledge

The one thing the Prophet is instructed to ask to be given more of.

• Taa-Haa 20:114✦ skyread

  فَتَعَٰلَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱلْحَقُّ وَلَا تَعْجَلْ بِٱلْقُرْءَانِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يُقْضَىٰٓ إِلَيْكَ وَحْيُهُۥ وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِى عِلْمًا

  So high [above all] is Allah, the Sovereign, the Truth. And, [O Muhammad], do not hasten with [recitation of] the Qur'an before its revelation is completed to you, and say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge."

Those who know

The question is asked rather than answered: are those who know equal to those who do not?

• Az-Zumar 39:9✦ skyread

  أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَٰنِتٌ ءَانَآءَ ٱلَّيْلِ سَاجِدًا وَقَآئِمًا يَحْذَرُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُوا۟ رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِۦ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ

  Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding.

• Al-Mujaadila 58:11✦ skyread

  يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمْ تَفَسَّحُوا۟ فِى ٱلْمَجَٰلِسِ فَٱفْسَحُوا۟ يَفْسَحِ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَإِذَا قِيلَ ٱنشُزُوا۟ فَٱنشُزُوا۟ يَرْفَعِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ دَرَجَٰتٍ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ

  O you who have believed, when you are told, "Space yourselves" in assemblies, then make space; Allah will make space for you. And when you are told, "Arise," then arise; Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do.

Where it falls

Every verse on this subject, placed across the book in reading order. This subject leans Meccan, the earlier and more urgent material.

Densest by share of their own length: Al-Jaathiya (6), Az-Zumar (12), Al-Israa (16), Al-Qasas (11).

How it sounds

These verses measured against the whole book, so the difference is what matters rather than the number.

Nearest the heart of it

The verses the measurement ranked closest to this subject, beyond the ones already quoted above.

• Al-Baqara 2:242✦ skyread

  كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

  Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you might use reason.

• Al-Anbiyaa 21:10✦ skyread

  لَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ كِتَٰبًا فِيهِ ذِكْرُكُمْ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

  We have certainly sent down to you a Book in which is your mention. Then will you not reason?

• An-Nisaa 4:82✦ skyread

  أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا۟ فِيهِ ٱخْتِلَٰفًا كَثِيرًا

  Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction.

• Muhammad 47:24✦ skyread

  أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَآ

  Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?

• Al-Ankaboot 29:49✦ skyread

  بَلْ هُوَ ءَايَٰتٌۢ بَيِّنَٰتٌ فِى صُدُورِ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ وَمَا يَجْحَدُ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ إِلَّا ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ

  Rather, the Qur'an is distinct verses [preserved] within the breasts of those who have been given knowledge. And none reject Our verses except the wrongdoers.

• Muhammad 47:14✦ skyread

  أَفَمَن كَانَ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ كَمَن زُيِّنَ لَهُۥ سُوٓءُ عَمَلِهِۦ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓا۟ أَهْوَآءَهُم

  So is he who is on clear evidence from his Lord like him to whom the evil of his work has been made attractive and they follow their [own] desires?

• Al-Anbiyaa 21:50✦ skyread

  وَهَٰذَا ذِكْرٌ مُّبَارَكٌ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ أَفَأَنتُمْ لَهُۥ مُنكِرُونَ

  And this [Qur'an] is a blessed message which We have sent down. Then are you with it unacquainted?

• Ar-Room 30:29✦ skyread

  بَلِ ٱتَّبَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ أَهْوَآءَهُم بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ فَمَن يَهْدِى مَنْ أَضَلَّ ٱللَّهُ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّٰصِرِينَ

  But those who wrong follow their [own] desires without knowledge. Then who can guide one whom Allah has sent astray? And for them there are no helpers.