The Ruling on Studying for the Sake of a Degree

The questioner : He says: Honorable Shaykh, what is the ruling on one who studies for the sake of a degree, but his intention is to benefit others? There is an opinion that says that a non-Shari'ah degree, or one intended for other than Shari'ah sciences, is permissible to study for the sake of the degree, unlike Shari'ah sciences, the foundations of religion, and the like. So what is your view?

The Shaykh : What I see is that a person’s studying to obtain a degree differs according to the intention. If his intention in obtaining the degree is to reach the chairs of teachers, to teach people and benefit them, and to have leadership and pioneering in society, then there is nothing wrong with it, and there is no blame. Because he wants the degree as one of the means that leads him to this praiseworthy purpose. What?
And if his intention in obtaining the degree is to gain a worldly benefit, a rank, and a salary, then this is not permissible in the sciences sought for the Face of Allah. For it has been reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) a warning against that in his saying: “Whoever seeks knowledge, and it is of that which is sought for the Face of Allah, and he does not want except to gain a worldly benefit, he will not smell the fragrance of Paradise.” And what I see is that.
The intention of the degree in this time, in order for a person to take on teaching and leadership, for this Ummah, there is nothing wrong with it. Rather, it may be praiseworthy and required. Because if you brought a person who has extensive knowledge in fiqh, tawhid, tafsir, and hadith, in order to enter the university foundations, it would not be facilitated for him because he has no degree. This would be a deficiency in the spread of his knowledge. And if such a man, or one less than him, came with a degree, he would be able to undertake teaching in the universities.