The Excellence of Knowledge
Allaah did not command His prophet عليه الصلاة والسلام to seek (an increase in) the worldly life, he was only commanded with to seek an increase in knowledge:
وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدۡنِى عِلۡمً۬ا
And say: “My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.”
(20:114)
He did not say: Say “Increase me in wealth”, or in worldly possessions or in authority rather:
وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدۡنِى عِلۡمً۬ا
And say: “My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.”
This is from the clearest of proofs to show the excellence and nobility of knowledge and it’s station with Allaah. For the prophet عليه الصلاة والسلام is the most knowledgeable of all the scholars and even with that he is being instructed by his Lord to seek an increase in knowledge.
[Marhabn yaa Taalib al-‘ilm by ‘Allaamah Rabee’ bin Haadee ‘Umayr al-Madkhalee حفظه الله, pg.74]