Then, the thing which is of the highest necessity, which is the most important fard for every Muslim, is to learn iman, the fard and the haram. There is no Islam unless these are learned. Iman cannot be maintained, the debts to Allahu Taala and to human beings cannot be paid, intentions and morals cannot be corrected and purified unless the basic principles of Islam are learned. Unless correctly intended, no fard will be accepted. It was declared in a hadith in ad-Durr-ul-Mukhtar: “Learning or teaching knowledge for one hour is more blessed than worshipping until morning.” The author of the book Hadarat-ul-quds states on the ninety-ninth page: “I studied the books Bukhari, Mishkat, Hidaya and Sherh-imawaqif under Hazrat Imam Rabbani’s (rahmatullahi alaih) supervision. He would encourage young people to acquire knowledge. ‘Knowledge first, and tariqat next,’ he would say. Noticing my shirking from knowledge and taking pleasure from tariqat, he pitied me and advised me, ‘Read books! Acquire knowledge! An ignorant pious muslim will be a plaything in the hands of the devil,’ [that is, the rank of knowledge is the highest of all ranks.]”

Endless Blıss First Fasicle: 30-31