Combining the attainment of academic degrees with sincerity of intention in seeking knowledge
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
This questioner asks about a question that is frequently asked by students of knowledge, which is that seeking knowledge must end with the attainment of academic degrees. So how do we combine this with the student of knowledge’s intention to seek the Face of Allah the Exalted in his pursuit?
The Shaykh:
There is no conflict. Obtaining certificates and academic degrees while being sincere to Allah the Exalted is considered a secondary matter, not the intended goal. Attaining the certificate or the academic degree is a concomitant matter, not the objective. The objective is the Face of Allah and seeking knowledge for Allah the Exalted. If a certificate is granted or an academic degree is awarded, that is an encouragement to do good. No, there is no conflict between these two. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good. And this questioner asks: Today, people who do not have a certificate or an academic degree are unable to call people to Allah, or to teach and instruct, except with this certificate or this academic degree. So obtaining it has become necessary in order to reach the good through it.
The Shaykh:
Yes.
This questioner asks about a question that is frequently asked by students of knowledge, which is that seeking knowledge must end with the attainment of academic degrees. So how do we combine this with the student of knowledge’s intention to seek the Face of Allah the Exalted in his pursuit?
The Shaykh:
There is no conflict. Obtaining certificates and academic degrees while being sincere to Allah the Exalted is considered a secondary matter, not the intended goal. Attaining the certificate or the academic degree is a concomitant matter, not the objective. The objective is the Face of Allah and seeking knowledge for Allah the Exalted. If a certificate is granted or an academic degree is awarded, that is an encouragement to do good. No, there is no conflict between these two. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good. And this questioner asks: Today, people who do not have a certificate or an academic degree are unable to call people to Allah, or to teach and instruct, except with this certificate or this academic degree. So obtaining it has become necessary in order to reach the good through it.
The Shaykh:
Yes.
Source
الحكمة في الدعوة إلى الله — alfawzan.live (1:11:25)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.