The ruling on one who studies for the sake of this world and then makes his intention sincere

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah protect you. Many people are studying now for the sake of the degree and for the sake of the job. Perhaps we fell into some of this during our university studies, seeking to obtain the degree and a professional benefit. We have graduated, praise be to Allah. So how do we make our intention sincere in this pursuit now? And what do you advise us? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
Yes, this happens. A person may study while seeking this world, and then Allah grants him repentance and sincerity. If he repents and makes his intention sincere for Allah, what came before does not harm him. The one who studied for the sake of a job, then made his intention sincere for Allah afterward, repented to Allah, and intended the Face of Allah in his learning, is not harmed by what came before. The issue is with the one whose intention to seek this world continues. If it continues, that is the one to whom the verse applies: If it continues, all his work from beginning to end is done while he seeks this world and seeks the job, and there is no good in that. But if he fell into an intention to seek this world and greed for it at the start, and then repented to Allah, made his intention sincere for Allah, and sought knowledge for the sake of Allah, then what came before does not harm him, if Allah wills. Likewise, if he began studying with a good intention, then an intention for this world arose in him, but he rejected it and returned to the good intention, that does not harm him. It is only the persistence in the intention to seek this world that is harmful. As for the one who does not persist, it does not harm him. Some of the Salaf said, “We sought knowledge for the sake of this world, but it refused to be anything other than for the Hereafter.” By this, they meant that they had an intention of greed for this world, but when knowledge entered their hearts, and they heard the texts, the verses, and the hadiths, and heard the encouragements and warnings, their intentions became sincere for Allah the Exalted and Majestic, and their intention for this world was repelled. This does not harm them, if Allah wills. Yes. Allah is not concerned with the study itself; He does not ask about the study. If his intention is sincere, he is rewarded for it. If his intention is sincere, whether by persistence or by becoming sincere in the end and the outcome, he is rewarded for his study. But if his intention is not sincere and he continues to seek this world, then he has nothing except what Allah the Exalted has threatened him with.