Knowledge That Does Not Benefit

This is the story of al-Māʾidah, and most of the scholars agree that the Māʾidah was sent down. Now, some of the books of tafsīr — the old books of tafsīr — mention, for example, the type of food that came down. They said it was a fish that came down from the sky, and the fish was surrounded by five loaves of bread; one bread had olives, and one bread had cheese. And subḥān Allāh, this is al-ʿilmu alladhī lā yanfaʿ: this is knowledge that doesn't benefit.

And as is the tradition that we have been following throughout the series of the lives of the prophets, we stay away from the knowledge that does not benefit; we stay away from the things that aren't verified. If something isn't confirmed by an ayah of the Qur'an or by the hadith, we stay away from it. What's the use of knowing whether it was fish, or meat, or olives, or bread? What is the benefit? The Qur'an didn't mention it, because there's no use in knowing such information. And that is taraf al-ʿilm: that is luxury of knowledge. And that is knowledge that doesn't benefit: knowledge that wouldn't make you ignorant if you don't know it, and knowledge that won't make you knowledgeable if you do know it.

And there are a lot of stories that were attributed to Sayyidunā ʿĪsā that would fall under this category, and we're going to stay away from all of them. If it isn't confirmed strongly by an ayah of the Qur'an or by the hadith, then it's better to refrain from it. Why? Because Allah (swt) would not hide away from us knowledge if it's beneficial for us — if it's going to provide us with hudā, guidance.