The importance of 'ilm
Allah has created the Human kind and Jinn for the sole purpose of worship. One of the greatest ways of worshipping Allah is through ‘ilm (knowledge). It is for this reason we find encouragement to acquire ‘ilm in the Quran, Sunnah, and the practice and teachings of the early Muslims.
Quran: Allah witnesses that there is no deity except Him, and [so do] the angels and those of knowledge - [that He is] maintaining [creation] in justice. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise. (Chapter (3) sūrat āl ʿim'rān (The Family of Imrān) v18)
Sunnah: Whoever treads a path to seek knowledge therein, Allah will make easy for him a path that will lead to Jannah. (Ibn Majah, Abu Dawood and others).
Ibn abi al-Dunya said: know that ‘ilm is the most noble to acquire, the most virtuous thing to seek. It is also more valuable than what anyone can earn, because its honor has its direct fruits upon the companion of knowledge and its virtue increases upon the seeker of knowledge.
Therefore let us all continue in acquiring Islamic knowledge and other beneficial knowledge that helps us in this world and the hereafter. In this way we will sincerely worship Allah more correctly and also contribute and enhance the lives of those around us, as the early Muslims had done through their contribution to the world civilization, in sha Allah.
O my Lord, increase me in knowledge
O Allah I ask you for beneficial knowledge and seek your protection from knowledge that does not benefit.