The Importance of Acting Upon Knowledge

Second: A student of knowledge must be adorned with what he has learned, for he is the first one responsible for applying his knowledge; because knowledge is either for you or against you.As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (The Qur'an is an argument for you or against you) There is no middle ground where it is neither for you nor against you; rather, it is for you if you act upon it, and against you if you do not act upon it. So, if you are a student of knowledge, you are like a person holding a weapon: either you must aim it at your own chest, or it is for you to defend yourself with it.
It is obligatory for a student of knowledge, when he learns something from the matters of religion, to be the first to act upon it: if it is a command, he performs it, and if it is a prohibition, he avoids it. Also, when a person acts upon his knowledge, Allah blesses him in his work, preserves it for him, and increases him in it.As Allah the Mighty and Majestic said: [Muhammad:17] Also, when a student of knowledge acts upon his knowledge, people trust him, and he becomes a model for Muslims in his speech and his actions. Many people imitate the scholar in his actions more than in his words, and many people criticize the scholar more and more when they see that he does not apply his knowledge.For they say: If this person were sincere in his knowledge, he would be the first to act upon it. So, my brother, you must act upon what you have learned so that Allah may bless you in your knowledge and benefit people through you more.