How can the pursuit of knowledge be combined with reforming society?

Question:
We find many—regrettably—of the students of Islamic knowledge whose pursuit of knowledge occupies them so much that they are prevented from reforming society and engaging in it. When you discuss this with them, they say, “I will call people to Allah after I have sought knowledge.” What is your opinion of this statement?

Answer:
It is obligatory for him to fulfill his share in reforming society, while paying attention to the pursuit of knowledge. His pursuit of knowledge should not prevent him from participating in reforming society, guiding, advising, and calling people to Allah according to his knowledge. This statement is not an excuse in general, although it may be an excuse in some respects for not devoting oneself entirely to this matter. However, he should work according to his capacity. As for devoting oneself entirely, that comes after acquiring knowledge and completing the task of formal study, moving to implementation and action, and with knowledge as well; because the student of knowledge is always in the pursuit of knowledge, even if he obtains a doctorate, and even if he seeks knowledge for fifty years, he remains a student of knowledge forever until he meets his Lord. He should know this, and what is hidden from him is greater than what he has learned.
Therefore, the student of knowledge must know that he is still in need of knowledge, even if he reaches a thousand years of age, and even if he lives longer than the lifespan of Noah, he is in need of seeking knowledge. So it is not permissible for a job or an academic degree to prevent him from further seeking knowledge, and from being diligent in consulting scholars, studying, reviewing books, and reflecting on the Qur'an, so that he may increase in knowledge.
But along with that, he should also participate in reforming society according to his capacity: on his way to school, on his way to the university, on his way to prayer, on his way to his needs in the market, in his travel, in the car, in the airplane, in the train, in the ship, in the boat. He has no excuse to say, “I am only a student of knowledge.” He must participate, but with knowledge, not with ignorance. He must participate with knowledge, not speaking without knowledge. If he does not have knowledge, he does not speak, and if there is knowledge and insight, let him speak. He should not say, “I am still in the pursuit of knowledge!” All people are in the pursuit of knowledge. If Imam al-Haramayn Ibn Taymiyyah were present now, he would be a student of knowledge until he dies, and so were the Companions in the pursuit of knowledge until they died. Everyone is in the pursuit of knowledge; no one is free from the need for seeking knowledge forever, even if he is whoever he is in terms of attainment.
So the conclusion is that it is not permissible for seeking more knowledge to prevent him from participating in reforming society, whether he is in secondary school, intermediate school, university, graduate studies, or in any department. He must participate according to his capacity: with his family, with his neighbors, with his relatives, with his companions, on his way, in any place. He participates in seeking knowledge, and he participates in guiding people to good, and he participates in reforming society. But he should seek out good methods, seek out gentleness, seek out good words, and a good style that benefits and does not harm, that brings people closer and does not repel them, that causes knowledge to enter the heart of the person and be accepted by him. And let him always beware of violence, wherever he is.