Taken from the Jewel of the student of knowledge by sheikh Bakr Aboo Zaid explained by Sheikh Muhammad Bin Saalih Al-Uthaymeen

From the manners of the student regarding himself:

First: Knowledge is worship

From the principle of all principles in this jewel (writing) rather every affair required is your knowing that verily knowledge is worship, some of the scholars have said that knowledge is the secret prayer and worship of the heart.

Sh.Saalih al-Uthaymeen: “ Knowledge is worship and there is not doubt regarding this, but rather it is the most exalted form of worship and the best form of worship, until the degree that Allaah made it in His Book from a type of Jihaad in the path of Allaah, as a armed jihaad and Allaah the Most High

وَمَا كَانَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لِيَنْفِرُوا كَافَّةً فَلَوْلا نَفَرَ مِنْ كُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِنْهُمْ طَائِفَةٌ لِيَتَفَقَّهُوا فِي الدِّينِ وَلِيُنْذِرُوا قَوْمَهُمْ إِذَا رَجَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَحْذَرُونَ

“And it is not (proper) for the believers to go out to fight (Jihaad) all together, of every troop of them, only of group of them should go forth, (so that) those who left behind may gain understanding of the religion and that they warn their people when they return to them, so that they may beware.” 9:122

“So they may gain understanding,” means by that the remaining (sitting) group may gain understanding (knowledge) of the religion and they warn their people when they return to them so that they may be aware, and the prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said “ Whoever Allaah desires good for He gives him understanding of the religion.” So it is Allaah who provides you with understanding of the religion and understanding here means knowledge of the legislation of Islaam and what enters into this is knowledge of the creed and the Oneness of Allaah and other than that. So if you have seen that Allaah has granted you with this then consider this a glad tiding of good, because Allaah desires for you good. And Imaam Ahmad said, “the knowledge nothing compares to it for the one who corrects his intention” (with regards to the knowledge), They said “ how do you correct the intention O Aba Abdillaah? He said “ It is when one intends to remove ignorance from himself and other (than himself).”

translated by Atif Hasan