يُؤْتِي الْحِكْمَةَ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَنْ يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا
He grants wisdom to whom He pleases, and whoever is granted wisdom, he indeed is given a great good
Sura al Baqarah, verse 269
Often we confuse knowledge with wisdom. The two are quite different. Knowledge is information, facts, an acquired accumulation which is worthy but not a goal in itself. Wisdom is the application of knowledge, an understanding of deeper insights beyond the outer knowledge of things. Wisdom means the ability to have control over emotions, to apply knowledge to specific situations, and to discern and distinguish correctly.
The goal of a believer is wisdom, not just knowledge. It is better to have less knowledge but be wise. Wisdom allows you to have a correct perspective in life, and see things for what they actually are. It helps you handle life’s difficulties without a lot of fuss, and give you correct understandings of relationships. Wisdom makes life pleasant even if circumstances are not so pleasant.
How does one acquire wisdom? There is no school for it, no degrees, and no qualifications. It can be got through gradual application of all the truths that you learn. Through discipline and control of emotions. Through reading and reflecting. Through taking time off from the busy world we live in, to slow down and take stock.
Recite this verse often to remind yourself of the importance of being wise. Read up on wisdom and practice it daily. Take doses of wisdom from wherever you can; books, newspapers, lectures, discussions, talks with others, media, technology . . . It is after all, the lost property of the believer.