Question Summary:
What is the purpose behind worldly knowledge?

Question Detail:

What should be the real purpose behind gathering worldly knowledge? Should it only be used for earning a livelihood? What is the correct explanation of the hadith regarding gathering ilm? Someone quote the phrase “if you need to go as far as China to gather ilm then go”. Should this be solely for worldly knowledge or should it also be for Deeni knowledge? Please help me, I am utterly confused. 

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu `alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Knowledge is to acquire information about something that was not known to you before.
This could be of worldly issues or of religious issues.
Both forms of information are praiseworthy.
We are living in a world of asbaabs (world of means). We can only fulfill our needs through the correct information.
All the basic information of worldly needs commenced through revelation.
It is permissible for one to acquire worldly information to earn an income if it complies with Shariah.
It is a necessity for one to earn an income and he may adopt a means for doing so by acquiring knowledge.  Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasalam) says seeking an income comes next in line after performing obligatory acts.[1]
Therefore one can become a Doctor, an Engineer or undertake any profession that is in line with the principles of Shariah.
Another form of information is regarding Deen.
One should learn how to worship Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) as He should be worshipped.
This involves educating oneself  on  

One should seek knowledge on how best to serve and fear Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala ) adequately, so that he may get closer to Allah and gain the pleasures of Allah.[2]
The hadith in the enquiry is in reference to Deeni Knowledge.
And Allah knows best.
Mawlana Saeed Ahmed Golaub
Westmoreland, Jamaica, West Indies
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
daruliftaa.net