When Knowledge Lacks Faith, Danger Looms
Reflections on the inseparable bond between insight and belief
In a recent address to graduates of AhlulBayt International University, Ayatollah Reza Ramazani delivered a stirring reminder: knowledge, in and of itself, is not enough — without faith, it can become perilous.
He began by noting that human learning has no bounds. No matter how intensive one’s studies, what we grasp is but a sliver of truth. Yet even that slender portion matters: it is the foundation upon which societies are governed.
Ayatollah Ramazani challenged Muslim nations not to remain mere consumers of knowledge, but to become its producers. He reminded his audience that in earlier eras, Muslim thinkers stood at the vanguard of scientific progress, freely sharing their discoveries with others. In contrast, he argued, today’s Western society tends to hoard knowledge — withholding what is beneficial from Muslim communities.
Drawing a connection between decline and ignorance, he urged Islamic nations to strive to rank among the globe’s top scientific powers. He emphasised disciplines like nuclear science, nanotechnology, and drone technology as tools not for imitation, but for genuine independence and dignity.
For him, “beneficial knowledge” is that which shapes humans who are faithful, free, and just. In his view, knowledge severed from faith becomes destructive. He cited grave examples—historical injustices in Gaza, the subjugation of Indigenous populations, the transatlantic slave trade—as testament to how knowledge untethered from ethics and spiritual grounding can transform into instruments of oppression.
In Ayatollah Ramazani’s eyes, the divide between religious and secular societies lies in purpose: a religious society does not lift up knowledge for its own sake, but uses it in the service of humanity. He warned that in the hands of the irresponsible, knowledge becomes a threat, and that universities must nurture not only intellect, but moral responsibility.
He also addressed the glaring inequities of the modern world: why a tiny fraction of people control most of the earth’s wealth, why children still die for lack of basic nourishment. He insisted that when knowledge produces such outcomes, it is not a triumph — rather, it is a disgrace.
True tranquility, he argued, finds its roots in religion. In surrendering to a monotheistic system and forging a connection with the Divine, humanity can find peace, justice, and dignity.
If knowledge is to illumine and uplift, it must never be severed from faith. Otherwise, it risks becoming a guiding light that leads astray.
Source: ABNA