To what extent you possess knowledge and do you have right to sell it?
In Arabic knowledge and science is the same word: ’Ilm, علم .Scientist Alim, عالم ,and the same written form with different pronunciation: Alem means world. Worlds or Universe is: Alemein, عالمين .Based on the miracle of Arabic language knowledge, science and universe can be deducted from each other etymologically. This unique fact alone can generate a lot of thoughts.
Why did I enter to this analysis? In recent days I was eye and ear witness of a dialog between two scientists. They publish their researches in several big journals of the world. These papers are not public and the articles are not available free of charge. I got thinking, how does this system work? Obviously, there are some sort of knowledge which are not for public due to security or strategic reasons. It is also obvious, that a scientist has to find his livelihood and he has right to get money for his results. That is all normal. However, there is also another aspect what I have to put in the balance as a Muslim. No matter how great scientist we are speaking about, beside his diligence he needed innate aptness, talent and appropriate destiny in order to reach to the gate of results. If Allah (SWT) doesn’t attributes him with qualities what make him able to accept knowledge and if He doesn’t open a small window through which he can look the world, he would have remained an average man, one from million. This is the point where knowledge is linked to the world. The Throne verses of Quran gives a very sensual description on that issue:
Allah. There is no god but He,-the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory). (Quran 2:255)
Once again: He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth!
Whatever one deserves he must get it! However, people have to be more modest. It is not obvious that the mass of knowledge what is accumulated by one person to which extent he got from his own diligence? However, beside his efforts he needed also brain and an opening world what could have been closed in front of him forever! If we are aware of that, after the statement: one has to get what deserves there is another question what we must ask: what do we owe for the favor and grace?