Reference: Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen – Kitaabul-‘Ilm
The Shaykh (rahima-hullaah) mentions:
There is no comparison between one who has knowledge and one who does not, just as there is no comparison between the living and the dead, and one who hears and one who is deaf, and one who can see and one who is blind.
Knowledge is light with which one is guided, and with it removes one from the darkness [of ignorance] to the light [of knowledge, i.e. Islaam].
With knowledge, Allaah raises the ranks of whom He wishes from His creation:
{Allaah will exalt in degree those of you who believe, and those who have been granted knowledge}, [Soorah al-Mujaadilah, Aayah 11].
