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Question: I sought knowledge for a number of years, and despite that, I have not retained any of the information, and nor do I feel I have benefited; So what do you advise me with? [and] may Allaah reward you with good. Response: Do not say "I do not feel I have benefited"; Because [the act of] seeking knowledge is in itself [an act of] worship. And that which is intended by seeking knowledge, is for the servant [of Allaah to seek] the Pleasure of Allaah - Jalla wa 'Alaa [by doing so]. And [as] you [all] know [the story of] the man who came repenting [to Allaah]: «...the angel of death came to him; So the angels of mercy and the angels of wrath began to argue over him. The angels of mercy said: He had repented and was seeking Allaah. The angels of wrath said: He never did any good thing. [Then] an angel in the form of a human came to them, and they asked him to decide the matter. He said: Measure the distance between the two lands (his home town and the town he was headed towards), and whichever of the two he is closest to, is the one to which he belongs. So they measured the distance, and found that he was closer to the town for which he had been headed towards, so the angels of mercy took him.», [Saheeh Muslim 7008] So this repenting man was forgiven; Because his act [of heading towards the land of good] was taken into consideration. So the act of the student of knowledge is [an act of] worship, just like the act of this repentant man, making hijrah to the land of good. So, [know that] seeking knowledge is better for you, than [simply engaging in] voluntary prayers, or some of the [other] voluntary acts of worship. [What] is imperative [however, is that you maintain a pure and] truthful intention. In addition, the benefit [of seeking knowledge] is split/divided, and what is not intended [when embarking upon the path in search of knowledge] is either to be a scholar, nor [is it that you should] not be a student of knowledge! Rather, that which is intended from your [act of] seeking knowledge, is that: i) You remove ignorance from yourself, and Allaah - Jalla wa 'Alaa - said: {The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail, Except him who comes to Allaah with a clean heart [clean from Shirk (polytheism) and Nifaaq (hypocrisy)}, [Soorah ash-Shu'araa, Aayahs 88-89] ...and Allaah - Jalla wa 'Alaa - said: {Verily, as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, certainly We shall not make the reward of anyone who does his (righteous) deeds in the most perfect manner to be lost}, [Soorah al-Kahf, Aayah 30] And even if none except yourself and your family benefited [from your act of seeking knowledge], then, therein is a major benefit.
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