Useless Knowledge

Not all knowledge is useful… علم لا ينفع

Don’t waste your time acquiring useless knowledge, thinking all knowledge is useful.

The scholars say about some knowledge:

هذا علم لا ينفع وجهالة لا تضر
“Knowing this doesn’t benefit,
and being ignorant of it doesn’t harm.”

Acquiring certain types of knowledge is an OBLIGATION: like knowledge about religion.

Acquiring certain types of knowledge is RECOMMENDED: like knowledge about medicine and technology. [this could become a communal obligation]

Acquiring certain types of knowledge is USELESS, like some people enquiring about the: name, breed or colour of the dog that was with the ‘People of the Cave’: لون كلب أهل الكهف

Acquiring certain types of knowledge is SINFUL and FORBIDDEN, like knowledge of: ‘sihr’ سحر.

Sometimes knowledge is a curse while ignorance is bliss.

Don’t waste your time learning things that don’t benefit you in this world, nor in the next…. always ask: what is the fruit ‘ثمرة’ of this knowledge that I’m learning?

The Prophet said:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُ
“O Allah, I seek refuge with You from knowledge that is of no benefit.”
[“Nasai”, 5470 – صَحِيح].
https://sunnah.com/nasai:5470