‘Ilm (Science) And Knowledge (Ma'Arifah) Or (Abstract Knowledge And Practical Science)

 ‘Ilm (Science) and knowledge (Ma'arifah) OR It equals Sum + Sum + Sum + ... or lifetime1 +
(Abstract Knowledge and Practical Science)Lifetime2 + L3 +....    (3)     
Prof. Hasan Yahya, Professor of PhilosophyOR  1000 sums  (of 'ILM) = 1000  lifetime   
Introduction  Knowing other language or languages is   (4)  
always a benefit for human being. It is -I believe- an    BUT     'ILM  never  comes  to an end,
important factor to enhance understanding amongwhich means that all human race lives from Adam to
individuals as well as groups. Sometimes, however, the Day of Judgment will not pay for a complete
the  second to mother tongue language reducespossession of the unlimited 'ILM (such 'ILM is only
disability to understand  the real meaning of thepossessed by Allah-ST, which is the belief of the
written language. Because knowing languages withoutoriginal author.)
understanding the culture behind that language gives THEN  we can deduce the following equation:
sometimes misunderstanding of the meaning of the All sums  of 'ILM    =  All human's lifetime in all
concepts used . In this paper, illustration of suchgenerations   (5)
misunderstanding is given, then the two Arabic Furthermore, here is another example: It is like
concepts " ‘ILM and Ma'arifah" are explained. Whatsomeone lived 100 years, and wanted to buy a cat
exactly was misconceived in translation, with nowhich cost for example ( US$200.00), how much ten
intention of making that misconception. Some rulesbills he needs to pay the full price of the cat? Suppose
concludes the argument about the two concepts.each piece of the ten bill, equals one's lifetime, (in the
‘ILM (unlimited knowledge) and Ma'arifah (practicalabove example), and the cat (as in the
limited knowledge about something)  example-means 'ILM). If you understand this reasoning,
 The Problem of Translation: Rosenthal brought theTHEN you will understand the statement. In conclusion
following saying about knowledge (Ilm) in the forwardto the above argument, Rosenthal's translation was
of his book "Knowledge Triumph ", he says: "AL-'ILMUincomplete, and may misleading to the point made by
shay'un la yu'tika ba'dahu hatta tu'tiyahu kullaka,the one who said that wisdom.
fa-idhá  a'taytaho  kullaka fa-antá min i'ta'ihi laka According to  the above reasoning, it would be
l-ba'da, 'ala khatarin." (an-Nazzam as quoted byunderstood that the concept of ‘ILM cannot be
al-Jahiz). Rosenthal Translated the above statementobtained in one's lifetime, because it needs to be
as follows: "KNOWLEDGE  is something that will notobtained in full not parts, so it will take a number of
give part of itself to you until you give your all to it. Andhuman lifetimes to be completed, and it will never will,
when you give your all to it, then you stand a chancebecause Human beings might discover something
but you cannot be sure that it will give you that part."today, or tomorrow, they will remain disabled to get to
. If you do not the original language, which is in thisthe end of knowledge-‘ILM. Such ability far from
case Arabic, you might accept Rosenthal translation,achieving in one's or several or all lifetimes .So, after
and you might understand what the translation meansthis reasoning, I will provide my own understanding for
to you or you might not if you do not understand  thethe above statement in Arabic to mean in English, the
meaning, which knowledge do you think was lacking?following:
Yours or the translator's? Which one you consider to‘Ilm is (like something does not give you some of it,
be wrong? Is it the original writer or the reader? Thinkunless you give him back your whole life - efforts and
of this?  When I have read the Arabic saying fivecommitments-. When  you acquire more over your
years ago, I did not understand it immediately, even Ilimits, (and are already give your lifetime for it, another
have a degree in Arabic literature, I read it again slowly,some of ‘ILM needs another person to continue
and asked myself: What did the author means? Thegetting another some of knowledge-‘ILM. To
statement was written in English, therefore, I began toacquire another chunk of ‘ILM you don't have your
transform it into Arabic, I read it ten times, and everylifetime available after your death, in this case another
time I discovered a new broader meaning that that,lifetime is needed to continue with knowledge, In such
the  one before it. At last I-THINK- I understood thebargain , you want to have another some, but you
statement. Therefore, I want to explain it. Anyway,cannot get it, because you cannot provide your lifetime
Rosenthal himself was guessing that he was wrong inagain, you are dead, as human who have only one
the translation especially the last part of the statement.lifetime - it is a weak position), THEN you are in danger,
 Explanation:     The English translation havesomeone else will replace you to give his lifetime for
missed an important ingredient in the Arabic meaning.another sum of knowledge."   
To explain what was missing, I will give the followingThis saying can be explained as a wisdom provided
simple question composed into mathematical equations,for human beings, to learn about their limitations in
to illustrate the meaning.terms of time and ability to acquire knowledge-"ILM, as
IF exchanging sum of ('ilm)  = all man's lifetimehumans compared to the  unlimited ‘ILM of Allah
       (1)(SWT). ** [ From a long research paper on the
      THEN  All ( 'ILM )    =    concept of "Ilm (Science) by the author.
(What?)                (2)