Blameworthy Learning

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Anyone who seeks (sacred) knowledge to vie with scholars, argue with fools, or win people’s hearts will go to hell.” [Tirmidhi]

The purpose of seeking knowledge of the Deen – Islam – should only be to become dearer to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) with it. Learning sacred knowledge for the sake of this world means that if not for this-worldly reasons, a person would not have bothered to learn it.