Questions on the Explanation of the Book of Nullifiers of Islam

Question:
The questioner: In the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) , is the intended meaning the religious knowledge, or does it include medicine and other things?

Answer:
The Shaykh: No, this is the religious knowledge, the religious knowledge. As for learning medicine and worldly matters, that is permissible. It is permissible; there is no reward or punishment in it. The one who does a permissible act is not rewarded, and the one who leaves it is not punished. So knowledge of medicine, engineering, and worldly things is permissible; it is not a place of reward or a place of punishment. What is intended is the religious knowledge that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) brought. The context of the hadith indicates that the intended meaning is the religious knowledge. And they inherited the knowledge, so whoever takes it takes a great share. What the messengers brought is the knowledge of the Shari'ah. As for worldly knowledge, people grasp it without prophets; they do not need the messengers in worldly matters. The messengers did not come to teach agriculture, teach planting palm trees, or teach trade. They came to teach matters of religion and matters of creed.