Virtue of Knowledge
علم کی فضیلت
الْعِلْمُ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْمَالِ، الْعِلْمُ يَحْرُسُكَ وَأَنْتَ تَحْرُسُ الْمَالَ؛ وَالْمَالُ تَنْقُصُهُ النَّفَقَةُ، وَالْعِلْمُ يَزْكُو عَلَى الْإِنْفَاقِ.
علم مال سے بہتر ہے، کیونکہ علم تمہاری حفاظت کرتا ہے اور مال کی حفاظت تمہیں کرنی پڑتی ہے۔ مال خرچ کرنے سے گھٹتا ہے، جبکہ علم صرف کرنے سے بڑھتا ہے۔
“Knowledge is better than wealth: knowledge guards you while you have to guard wealth. Wealth decreases by spending, while knowledge increases by spending (teaching).”
Reflections: Imam Ali ؑ establishes a logical hierarchy between the mind and material possessions. Money is a physical burden that creates anxiety because of the constant need to protect it. Knowledge, however, is an internal asset that acts as a shield for its owner. Furthermore, knowledge defies the laws of economics: the more you give away (teach), the more your own understanding deepens and “grows.”