Knowledge and Humility

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وَذَكَرَ كَذَلِكَ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا الْعِلْمَ وَسِيلَةً وَغَرَضًا لِتَحْصِيلِ مَلَذَّاتِ الدُّنْيَا وَحُطَامِهَا الْفَانِي

He also mentioned those who took knowledge as a means and a goal to acquire the pleasures of the fleeting world and its perishable goods.

عُلَمَاءِ السُّوءِ الَّذِينَ قَصْدُهُم مِّنَ الْعِلْمِ التَّنَعُّمُ بِالدُّنْيَا وَالتَّوَصُّلُ إِلَى الْجَاهِ وَالْمَنْزِلَةِ عِندَ أَهْلِهَا

The corrupt scholars whose purpose in knowledge is to indulge in worldly life and attain status among its people.

وَقَدْ حَذَّرَ النَّبِيُّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَيَّمَا تَحْذِيرٍ

And the Prophet warned against that most sternly.

فَقَالَ مَنْ طَلَبَ العِلْمَ لِيُجَارِيَ بِهِ الْعُلَمَاءَ وَيُمَارِيَ بِهِ السُّفَهَاءَ وَيَصْرِفَ بِهِ وُجُوهَ النَّاسِ إِلَيْهِ أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ النَّارَ

He said: 'Whoever seeks knowledge to compete with the scholars, or to argue with the foolish, or to turn people's faces towards him, Allah will admit him into the Fire.'

وَقَدْ وَصَفَ اللَّهُ عُلَمَاءَ السُّوءِ بِأَكْلِ الدُّنْيَا بِالْعِلْمِ

And Allah described the corrupt scholars as devouring the world with knowledge.

وَوَصَفَ عُلَمَاءَ الْآخِرَةِ بِالْخُشُوعِ وَالزُّهْدِ

And He described the scholars of the hereafter as humble and ascetic.

وَأَوْضَحَ الْمُصَنِّفُ أَنَّ الْعِلْمَ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لِلْعَمَلِ فَلَا فَائِدَةَ مِنْهُ

The author clarified that knowledge without action is of no benefit.

بَلْ هُوَ وَبَالٌ عَلَى صَاحِبِهِ وَخِزْيٌ وَحَسْرَةٌ وَنَدَامَةٌ

Rather, it is a burden on the owner and a disgrace, regret, and remorse.