Daily Times

Sir: “Knowledge is power and it can command obedience. A man of knowledge during his lifetime can make people obey and follow him” — a famous quote by Imam Ali (AS). Knowledge is your passport to humanity and wisdom regardless of what type of knowledge you have, but wrong interpretation of knowledge and misuse of it can make you equivalent to an ignorant person.
Throughout the ages, there have been enlightened men and women who have solved the mysteries of the unknown and delivered their portion of knowledge to the world to illuminate its path. But the tables have been turned in the present situation. Instead of getting greater knowledge to ensure the welfare of mankind, we have been blinded by conceit and the passion for domination.
The misuse of knowledge is a common issue emerging in society and becoming a reason for its disintegration. Whether it is scientific knowledge, knowledge of laws and obligations or the knowledge of leadership, people are misinterpreting it for their personal gains and preaching false aspects to the common people. Knowledge is power but it does not mean that having a certain amount of knowledge can give you the power to interpret it according to your own wishes.
Knowledge itself is power, which gives you superiority over the ignorant as both are not equal, but we must not make ‘self’ a priority over others. We must know that what we thought we knew does not always turn out to be true. So always use true and unblended knowledge with a certain level of caution.
FATIMA KANWAL BAIG
Rawalpindi