The Superiority of Seeking Knowledge over Other Works of Little Benefit
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The questioner: May the Shaykh be honored! Is it better for a Muslim to remain in his job, even if its benefit in terms of calling people to Allah is small, or to devote himself to seeking knowledge and keeping the company of scholars, if he knows that he has a desire for that? And is seeking knowledge limited to study circles and mosques? I ask for guidance toward the best of both matters. May Allah reward you with good.
One must look at the work he intends to leave in order to seek knowledge. If it is a job that anyone can do and it has no role in directing the community, then there is no doubt that seeking knowledge is better. However, if the position is a sensitive and important one that should be filled by people of good and righteousness, then what I see is that he should remain in his position. He can seek knowledge while in his position; he can obtain tapes or booklets, or learn from people in his workplace who are more knowledgeable than he is.
This applies, for example, to the army. The soldiers may have many discouragements, they may neglect their duties, and they may violate some of the forbidden things. So if we tell the person of good to abandon this, that means we have eliminated the good in this area. But if we tell the person of good: remain in this and call to Allah as much as you can, that is what is preferable. So the important thing is that the work he intends to leave for the sake of seeking knowledge must be examined, along with its importance.
One must look at the work he intends to leave in order to seek knowledge. If it is a job that anyone can do and it has no role in directing the community, then there is no doubt that seeking knowledge is better. However, if the position is a sensitive and important one that should be filled by people of good and righteousness, then what I see is that he should remain in his position. He can seek knowledge while in his position; he can obtain tapes or booklets, or learn from people in his workplace who are more knowledgeable than he is.
This applies, for example, to the army. The soldiers may have many discouragements, they may neglect their duties, and they may violate some of the forbidden things. So if we tell the person of good to abandon this, that means we have eliminated the good in this area. But if we tell the person of good: remain in this and call to Allah as much as you can, that is what is preferable. So the important thing is that the work he intends to leave for the sake of seeking knowledge must be examined, along with its importance.