Knowledge is bliss

"Seek knowledge.
Seeking it purely for Allah’s sake is fearing Him
Pursuing it is worshipping Him;
Discussing it is remembering Him;
Searching for it is Jihad;
Imparting it to others is charity
And spending it for the benefit of the family is affinity.

All this is because knowledge is the borderline between the lawful and the unlawful;
The light to the inroads to heaven;
The friend in isolation;
The companion in travel, the person to discuss with in solitude, the guide in happiness and sorrow;
Bringer of peace to the enemy, and an ornament to the intimate friend.

With the power of knowledge Allah raises a people
And makes them leaders of virtues.
Their footsteps and deeds are imitated
And people conclude with their opinions.

The angels show anxiousness in their friendship
And spread their wings for them.
Every animate and inanimate prays for their salvation;
the fish and creatures in the sea,
the animals and beasts on the land all ask for repentance for the learned.

This is so because knowledge is equivalent to praying through the night.
Knowledge brings one closer to his relative
and verses him with the facts of the lawful and the unlawful.

Knowledge remains the leader while actions remain the followers.
It inspires the fortunate and deprives the wicked."


-- Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
Reported by Mu’adh Ibn Jabal from Ihya ulumud Deen Abu Hamid al Ghazali