Knowledge for Material Gain

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) said that the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Whoever seeks knowledge that should be sought seeking the Face of Allah, but he only seeks it for the sake of some worldly gain, he will not smell the fragrance of Paradise on the Day of Ressurrection." (Hasan) [The Book of Knowledge: Sunan Abu Dawud]

This hadith reminds us to acquire knowledge for the pleasure of Allah alone. If a religious scholar acquires it to make it a means of worldly gains, then it turns into such a serious crime that such an alim/scholar will not even smell the fragrance of Jannah, although its fragrance can be smelt from a very great distance. This means that he or she will not enter Jannah along with the saved. May Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) save us from such an end. 

However, if a scholar gains wealth or other worldly gains through it without that being his or her intention, then it is a different matter. In that case, it is not harmful for him or her, as long as he or she uses the wealth or power gained, in a manner pleasing to Allah.

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