The Meaning of the Hadith: "The World is Cursed" and the Ruling on Learning Worldly Sciences

Question:
May Allah reward you, our Shaykh and our father, and may Allah forgive you. The brothers have many questions, and this is the first one. The questioner asks: What is the meaning of the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and a student? And does one who learns medicine, aviation, engineering, and other sciences with a good intention receive the reward mentioned in the hadith for one who takes a path?

Answer:
The meaning of his saying (peace and blessings be upon him) is that it is blameworthy. The intended meaning of "cursed" here is sin, so it is blameworthy because it is a little enjoyment, a temporary enjoyment. So the one who limits himself to it is blameworthy. As for the one who takes it to help him in working for the Hereafter, he is praiseworthy. As for the one who limits himself to the world, he is blameworthy. This is the meaning of "cursed, cursed is what is in it": the one who limits himself to it and considers it his goal, as if he was not created except for the world, becomes one of those about whom Allah said: As for the one who learns non-Shari'ah knowledge such as medicine, engineering, industry, and military affairs, these are matters that Muslims need. If he intends by learning them to benefit Muslims and serve Muslims, he is rewarded for this, because this is from cooperation in righteousness and piety, and from helping Muslims and making them independent of disbelievers, so he is rewarded for this. But he must learn his religion first.
He does not go to these matters while he has no knowledge of the matters of his religion. He must learn the necessary knowledge of the matters of his religion. He learns the pillars of Islam. Tawhid (the oneness of Allah). Prayer. Zakah (the obligatory alms). Fasting. Hajj (the major pilgrimage). He learns these acts of worship and their rulings, what makes them valid, what invalidates them, and what diminishes them. Then after that, he goes to the other specializations. And if he continues and persists in seeking Shari'ah knowledge, then he is the best of people. Yes.