The Ruling on Seeking Knowledge for the Sake of a Job and This World

Question:
I am a student of knowledge, and my seeking of this knowledge is in order to get a job or earn money. If I were to graduate from my studies for the sake of a job, I would not strive for it as I do when a job is available. Is it permissible to combine the intention of religion and the world, meaning: one studies for money...?

Answer:
It is obligatory to purify the intention and make it for Allah alone, to learn the ruling of Allah and that for which you were created, and so that you act in accordance with the Shari'ah of Allah with understanding. The second matter should be a consequence. Indeed, provision is with Allah, and one must work to seek provision, but the intention must be pure for Allah alone in seeking knowledge. Then, once you have obtained the knowledge, there is no harm in getting a job or doing independent work that has no connection to official positions.
As for seeking knowledge for the sake of a job, this is a great loss and a serious error. However, a believer may intend this, and then be granted success in having a righteous intention. As some of the Salaf said: "We sought knowledge for the world—and in another version: we sought knowledge for other than Allah—but it refused to be for anything but Allah." So the student may seek knowledge for a job or for other reasons, and then be helped and granted success in sincerity. He is granted success in sincerity and becomes sincere for Allah.
So the conclusion is that the student of knowledge must strive, and he must struggle with himself so that his seeking is for Allah. This intention that haunts him and disturbs him, he must fight it according to his ability, until his seeking is for Allah alone. Then the job will come, and the world will follow after that as a consequence. And Allah is the One to be asked for help.