"Woe to such Knowledge that..."

Know that craving after status and position inevitably causes great harm before its attainment due to the striving necessary to attain it, and also afterwards due to the person’s strong desire to hold onto it which produces injustice, haughtiness and other evils. Abu Bakr al-Ajurri, who was one of the wise Scholars and teachers at the start of the fourth century, wrote a treatise about the manners and the sentiments of the Scholars and it is one of the best works on this topic. One who studies it will know from it the way of the Scholars of the Salaf, and will know the innovated ways contrary to their way.

So he describes the evil scholar at length, from this description is that, “He has become infatuated with love of this world, and with praise, honor and position with the people of this world. He uses knowledge as an adornment just as a beautiful woman adorns herself with jewelry for this world, but he does not adorn his knowledge with action upon it.” He then mentions a lengthy speech and then says, “So these characteristics and their like predominate in the heart of one who does not benefit from knowledge, so whilst he carries these attributes his soul will come to have love of status and position – so that he loves to sit with kings and the sons of this world. Then he loves to share in their opulent lifestyle, sharing their lavish attire, their comfortable transport, servants, fine clothing, delicate bedding and delicious food. He will love that people throng to his door, that his saying is listened to, and that he is obeyed – and he can only attain the latter by becoming a judge (qadi) – so he seeks to become one. Then he is unable to attain it except at the expense of his Deen, so he debases himself to the rulers and their helpers, serving them himself and giving them his wealth as a tribute. He remains silent when he sees their evil actions after entering their palaces and homes. Then on top of this he may praise their evil actions and declare them good due to some false interpretation in order to raise his position with them.

So when he has accustomed himself to doing this over a long period of time and falsehood has taken root in him – then they appoint him to the position of judge (qadi) and in so doing slaughter him without a knife.” (Alluding to the saying of the Prophet (saws), “He who is appointed as a judge has been killed without a knife,” [Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and at-Tirmidhi who declared it hasan]

Then they have bestowed such a favor upon him that he is obliged and has to show his gratitude to them – so he takes great pains to make sure that he does not anger them and cause them to remove him from his position. But he has no concern about whether he angers his Lord so he misappropriates the wealth of orphans, widows, the poor and the needy, and wealth bequested as waqf (endowment) for those fighting Jihad and the nobles of Makkah and al-Madinah, and wealth which is supposed to be of benefit to all the Muslimeen – but instead he uses it to satisfy his clerk, chamberlain and servant. So he eats that which is Haraam and feeds with that which is Haraam and increases that which is a proof against him. So woe to the one whose knowledge causes him to have these characteristics.

The Prophet (saws) used to say, “Allahumma, I seek Your refuge from knowledge which does not benefit; from a heart which does not fear; from a soul which is never satisfied; and from a supplication which is not heard.” [Ahmad, Abu Dawud and others]

And he (saws) used to say, “Allahumma, I ask you for beneficial knowledge, and I seek Your refuge from knowledge which does not benefit.” [Reported with this wording by al-Ajurri and Ibn Hibban]

That was said by Imaam Abu Bakr al-Ajurri who lived at the end of the fourth century and corruption increased and multiplied greatly since his time – and laa hawla wa laa quwwata illaa billah.

From the subtle afflictions caused by love of status is seeking after and aspiring positions of authority – this is something whose reality is hidden and obscure. It is not understood except by those who have knowledge of Allah, those who love Him and who are at enmity with those ignorant ones from His creation who desire to compete with Him with regard to His Lordship and Divinity and right to worship, despite their despicability and the contemptible position they have before Allah and in the eyes of His chosen servants who have knowledge of Him. It is just as al-Hasan (al-Basri) said about them, “Even if the hooves of mules clatter for them and riding beasts strut for them, yet still the humiliation of sin rests upon their necks. Allah has refused except that He will humiliate those who are disobedient to Him.”

[Evils of craving wealth and status - By al-Hafidh Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (rahimahUllah)]