Is it appropriate to learn ilm (knowledge) in order to boast and debate? Will you explain the hadith "…not to praise yourself in the presence of scholars, to argue with ignorance people…"?

"Do not learn ilm (knowledge) in order to praise yourself in the presence of scholars, to argue with ignorance people or to sit in the distinguished places in meetings. A person who does so deserves Hell." Will you explain this hadith?

Dear Brother / Sister,

It is makruh to learn ilm (knowledge) in order to boast and to show that you are superior to others. The aim to learn ilm especially religious ilm should be to be useful to yourself and to others. It is necessary to see it as a means of attaining the consent of Allah. However, if a person aims to learn ilm in order to boast and debate or to gain respect, and if he does not aim to attain the consent of Allah and to be useful to himself and to others, it means he aims to satisfy some of his desires, to brag and to be conceited. It is definitely not appropriate to learn ilm with these purposes.

The religion of Islam gives great importance to ilm, reading and knowledge. Reading, pen, education and training are mentioned in the first revelation sent down to the Prophet (pbuh):

"Proclaim! (or Read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created― Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood: Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful― He Who taught (the use of) the Pen―Taught man that which he knew not." (al-Alaq, 96/1-5)

Islam is a religion that is in compliance with the nature of man; therefore, it renders ilm fard for all Muslims. It is fard for every Muslim to obtain ilm that will be enough for him to differentiate between halal and haram, and the right and the wrong. As a matter of fact, the Prophet (pbuh) stated the following:

"It is fard for every male and female Muslim to learn ilm." (Ibn Majah, Muqaddima, 17)

It is fard al-kifayah to learn all kinds of knowledge that is necessary for the community like medicine, mathematics and technology. If some members of the community learn them, this fard is regarded to have been fulfilled. If nobody learns them, all members of the community will be held responsible in the eye of Allah.

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