Giving Knowledge and Its Relationship to Karamah and Religion

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah reward you with good. You mentioned that Allah mentions in faith those He loves and those He does not love. Many people pay attention to this, and they become students of knowledge and scholars, taking knowledge and the Sunnah. Yet you find that some of them are among the most prone to backsliding, and some leave this religion and are expelled from it. Which category do these people belong to? And can we rule that the people of knowledge are among those whom Allah tests with another trial?

Answer:
Giving knowledge is not the same as giving religion. Knowledge may be given as a trial, a test, or a fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). Giving knowledge is not considered giving religion unless it is acted upon. If it is acted upon, it is a blessing. But the mere giving of knowledge: the Jews were given knowledge, and they are the worst of creation. It is an argument against them, establishing the proof against them. So the mere giving of knowledge is not proof of a person's karamah (a miracle granted to a righteous person); rather, knowledge may be given to establish the proof against him and for the sake of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). And Allah the Exalted knows best, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad.