'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) encouraging people to work, and whether seeking knowledge is included among the trades

Question:
In the previous episode, we reviewed some of the questions from the questioner in Algeria, and these questions remain for him. He says: Honorable Shaykh, in his first question, when 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) saw a young man, he asked about him and said to him: Does he have a trade, meaning a job? He was told that he had a trade, so he left him alone. And when he asked if he had a trade, and was told that this person did not have a trade, he would fall from his eyes. The question asks: Is seeking knowledge included in this statement? May you be rewarded?

Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. Yes, 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was keen to encourage people and urge them to seek sustenance, and he forbade them from laziness and dependence, and from being a burden on people. This is what our religion brought; this is what our religion brought: the urging to seek lawful sustenance, the prohibition of laziness, and the prohibition of being a burden on people. This is a matter known from the religion, and known from the actions of 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). Indeed, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) urged work and earning. His saying (peace and blessings be upon him): “It is better for one of you to take his rope, go to the mountain, bring a bundle of firewood, tie it up, and sell it, so that Allah covers his face with it, than for him to ask people to give him or withhold from him.” And the hadiths on this are numerous. As for seeking knowledge, this is not among the trades; this is worship. Seeking knowledge is worship, one of the best of worships. Seeking religious knowledge is worship, one of the best of worships, because it is the inheritance of the Prophets (peace and blessings be upon them), and because through it one knows what Allah has made obligatory upon him and what He has forbidden, and because through it he benefits other Muslims; his benefit extends to others. So seeking knowledge is worship, and it is the best of the types of voluntary worship, as the scholars have mentioned. It is not among the trades unless the intention is to learn trades, crafts, and skills; in that case, it is permissible. Learning trades, crafts, and skills is among the permissible things; indeed, it may be among the recommended things if the intention is to benefit oneself and benefit the Muslims. Yes.