The Virtue of Knowledge and the Duties of Its Bearers

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.To proceed: This is the two hundred and thirteenth session of the sessions known as "The Open Door," which take place every Thursday. This Thursday is the twenty-ninth of the month of Jumada al-Ula, in the year 1420 AH.
We begin this session with what we should begin this academic year with. In this academic year, people are starting their academic work, from primary school to postgraduate studies. What it should be begun with is, first, sincerity of intention for Allah (Mighty and Majestic), by intending in one's seeking of knowledge the pleasure of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and obedience to His command; for Allah commanded knowledge and encouraged it, saying (Mighty and Majestic): [Muhammad: 19] And Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said: [Al-Mujadilah: 11] Encouraging something necessitates commanding it, and there is no doubt that this Islamic Shari'ah is established upon knowledge and action.