Seeking knowledge to obtain status and honor

The questioner : Our Shaykh.

The Shaykh : If a person

The questioner : knows that among the fruits of knowledge is the attainment of status and influence, does this affect the intention? That is, he knows that knowledge leads to the attainment of status and honor. Is this a religious intention or a worldly one?

The Shaykh : Is this a low intention? That is, if he knows that if he is a scholar, he will be respected by people and Allah the Exalted will raise him, and if he does not intend anything but this, then this is a low intention. But if he wants the knowledge and knows that among its effects is that Allah raises the scholar, then there is no harm in this. Allah the Exalted did not mention the things that encourage obedience except so that they would be among our intentions. It is not limited to days. It is absolutely not forbidden, except if he does not intend anything but this, for the warning has been established regarding it. Whoever seeks knowledge and he is among those who seek the Face of Allah, and he does not want except to obtain a worldly display, he will not enter Paradise.