Imam sheds light on the matter as following:
A knowledge which would draw man closer to God, in a worldly soul brings him far distant from the place of the Almighty.
Even the knowledge of divine unity (tawhid), if it is for anything other than God, it becomes a cover of darkness, for it is a preoccupation with that which is other than God.
If one memorizes and recites the Noble Qur’an in all fourteen different canonical methods of recital, if it is for anything other than God, it will not bring him anything but covering and distance from Haqq Ta‘ala (God).
If you study, and go to some trouble, you may become an ‘alim, but you had better know that there is a big difference between being an ‘alim and being refined.
The late Shaykh, our teacher, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “That which is said, ‘How easy it is to become a mullah; how difficult it is to become a man,’ is not correct. It should be said, ‘How difficult it is to become a mullah, and it is impossible to become a man!”
The acquisition of the virtues and human nobilities and standards is a difficult and great duty which rests upon your shoulders.
Do not supposed now that you are engaged in studying the religious sciences, and learning fiqh (jurisprudence) which is the most honorable of these sciences, that you can take it easy otherwise, and that your responsibilities and duties will take care of themselves. If you do not have a pure intention of approaching God, these sciences will be of no benefit at all.