What is the meaning of "what did he do with his knowledge" in the hadith?
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Question:
The questioner asks: The saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Does this mean that he is required to convey any knowledge he has received, or is he only held accountable for what he is asked about?
Answer:
It refers to the knowledge he possesses regarding what Allah has made obligatory upon him and what Allah has forbidden, whether he acted upon it or not.
As for other sciences that do not pertain to religious obligation, it does not harm him if they are permissible: the knowledge of carpentry, and the knowledge of shoemaking. He is not asked about them unless he was negligent in them. If he was dishonest in his shoemaking or carpentry, he will be asked about that, for that is a sin. But if he was not dishonest in it—earning his livelihood through carpentry, blacksmithing, and the like—then it is neither a merit nor a burden for him; it is permissible.
However, if he intended good with it and fulfilled the trust, he will have a reward. And if he was dishonest, he will bear a sin. But regarding his religious knowledge, did he act upon it? Did he fulfill what Allah made obligatory? Did he leave what Allah forbade, or was he negligent in that?
The questioner asks: The saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Four things about which the son of Adam will be asked on the Day of Resurrection: what did he do with his knowledge?
أربع يُسأل عنها ابن آدم يوم القيامة: عن علمه ماذا عمل فيه؟Answer:
It refers to the knowledge he possesses regarding what Allah has made obligatory upon him and what Allah has forbidden, whether he acted upon it or not.
As for other sciences that do not pertain to religious obligation, it does not harm him if they are permissible: the knowledge of carpentry, and the knowledge of shoemaking. He is not asked about them unless he was negligent in them. If he was dishonest in his shoemaking or carpentry, he will be asked about that, for that is a sin. But if he was not dishonest in it—earning his livelihood through carpentry, blacksmithing, and the like—then it is neither a merit nor a burden for him; it is permissible.
However, if he intended good with it and fulfilled the trust, he will have a reward. And if he was dishonest, he will bear a sin. But regarding his religious knowledge, did he act upon it? Did he fulfill what Allah made obligatory? Did he leave what Allah forbade, or was he negligent in that?
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.