The whispering of a love for praise in the pursuit of knowledge and how to overcome it

Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner says: I want to seek knowledge until Allah takes my soul, but I am plagued by whispers and thoughts that I love praise, and that when I seek knowledge, I remember the praise of relatives and people, and I am pleased by it.

Answer:
He should not give in to these whispers; he should leave them. This is a means of Satan to discourage him. Seek knowledge, place your reliance on Allah, and no one can prevent you from being sincere in your intention for the sake of Allah. No one can interfere with your intention. So do not let Satan whisper to you, or some of the devils among humans betray you by saying, "You are seeking riya' (showing off), you are seeking fame, and you are seeking praise." Leave all of that, and resolve to seek knowledge.