Having a good intention is extremely important in the pursuit of knowledge. The seeker of Islamic knowledge should seek it sincerely for the sake of Allaah the Mighty and Majestic: to act upon what he learns, revive the Shareeʿah, enlighten his heart, purify and refine his inner self, draw closer to Allaah the Mighty and Majestic, and attain Jannah and the tremendous blessings that Allaah has prepared therein.
Al-Imaam Sufyaan ath-Thawree رحمه الله said:
مَا عَالَجْتُ شَيْئًا أَشَدَّ عَلَيَّ مِنْ نِيَّتِي، إِنَّهَا تَتَقَلَّبُ عَلَيَّ.
“I have not dealt with anything more difficult for me than my intention, because it keeps changing on me.”
(This statement is reported from Sufyaan ath-Thawree رحمه الله by al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee in Al-Jaamiʿ li-Akhlaaq ar-Raawi wa Aadaab as-Saamiʿ and by Abu Nuʿaym in Hilyat al-Awliyaaʾ.)
The seeker should not pursue knowledge for fleeting worldly objectives such as leadership, status, reputation, or wealth. Nor should he seek it to compete with his peers, to gain people's admiration, to be honoured by them, or to be given prominence in gatherings. To do so would be to exchange something far more valuable for something inferior.
Ibn Jamaaʿah رحمه الله says that the learner should not seek knowledge for such worldly purposes, lest he “exchange that which is inferior for that which is better.”
Abu Yoosuf رحمه الله said:
يَا قَوْمِ، أَرِيدُوا بِعِلْمِكُمُ اللهَ تَعَالَى، فَإِنِّي لَمْ أَجْلِسْ مَجْلِسًا قَطُّ أَنْوِي فِيهِ أَنْ أَتَوَاضَعَ إِلَّا لَمْ أَقُمْ حَتَّى أَعْلُوَهُمْ، وَلَمْ أَجْلِسْ مَجْلِسًا قَطُّ أَنْوِي فِيهِ أَنْ أَعْلُوَهُمْ إِلَّا لَمْ أَقُمْ حَتَّى أَفْتَضِحَ.
“O people, seek Allaah through your knowledge. For I have never sat in a gathering intending to humble myself except that I did not rise until I was elevated above them; and I have never sat in a gathering intending to elevate myself above them except that I did not rise until I was exposed and disgraced.”
(The statement is cited by Ibn Jamaaʿah in Tadhkiratus-Saamiʿ wal-Mutakallim and by al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee in Al-Faqeeh wal-Mutafaqqih.)
Knowledge is an act of worship and one of the means of drawing closer to Allaah. When the intention behind it is sincerely for Allaah, it is accepted, purified and blessed, and its blessings continue to grow. But when knowledge is sought for other than the Face of Allaah, a person risks losing its blessing—and may even fail to attain the worldly objectives for which he pursued it in the first place. Ibn Jamaaʿah رحمه الله expresses this beautifully:
وَالْعِلْمُ عِبَادَةٌ مِنَ الْعِبَادَاتِ وَقُرْبَةٌ مِنَ الْقُرَبِ، فَإِنْ خَلُصَتْ فِيهِ النِّيَّةُ قُبِلَ وَزَكَا وَنَمَتْ بَرَكَتُهُ، وَإِنْ قُصِدَ بِهِ غَيْرُ وَجْهِ اللهِ تَعَالَى حَبِطَ وَضَاعَتْ وَخَسِرَتْ صَفْقَتُهُ...
“Knowledge is an act of worship and one of the means of drawing closer to Allaah. If the intention behind it is sincere, it is accepted, purified and its blessing grows. But if something other than the Face of Allaah is intended by it, it is rendered fruitless and wasted, and the person loses his bargain.”
To be continued, inshaa Allaah.
