what suffices him, and he is not required to sell it, because he cannot rely on people’s zakat continuing for him every year.

In al-Rawd (1), an important issue is mentioned: If a man is able to earn a living but has no wealth, and wishes to devote himself to seeking knowledge rather than working, then he may be given zakat for his maintenance, because seeking knowledge is a form of jihad in the cause of Allah. This is what the jurists state here: if someone capable of earning devotes himself to knowledge, he is to be given zakat, because seeking knowledge is a form of jihad in the cause of Allah.

This supports what Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah—may Allah have mercy on him—said concerning the permissibility of placing stakes on matters of knowledge. That is, two men may challenge one another over an issue, and one of them says: “Let us set a reward for whoever is correct: if I am correct, give me one hundred; and if you are correct, I will give you one hundred.”

The well-known view among the jurists is that this is not permissible, and that prizes are permitted only in three things: camels, horses, and arrows. However, Shaykh al-Islam—may Allah have mercy on him—said: It is also permissible in the pursuit of knowledge, because knowledge is one of the forms of jihad. Allah has made it a counterpart to jihad in His saying, exalted is He: “It is not for the believers all to go forth. So why should not a party from every group among them go forth to gain understanding of the religion and warn their people when they return to them, so that they may beware?” [al-Tawbah: 122] The correct view is that stated by Shaykh al-Islam.

Issue: If a man is able to work, but loves worship