With regards to having the correct niyyah (intention) when seeking knowledge,  Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah states:

And the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said:

“Whomever Allaah intends good for, He grants him fiqh (understanding) of the Religion.”[1]

 So if Allaah bestows fiqh of your religion upon you – and what is meant by fiqh (understanding) here is knowledge of the Legislation, so this includes knowledge of the issues of ‘aqeedah and tawheed and other than that – so if you see that Allaah has blessed you with this, then receive glad tidings of good because Allaah, the Most High, wished good for you.

And Imaam Ahmad said:
Al ‘ilm (knowledge) – nothing is equal to it, for the person who makes his niyyah  correct.

They said:
How is the niyyah made correct, O Aboo ‘Abdillaah?

He said:
(The person) has as his intention, removing ignorance from himself and from other than himself.


(Sharh hilyah taalib il ‘ilm p13 of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah, translated by Nasser ibn Najam )

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[1] Reported by al Bukhaaree (71), Muslim and others from the hadeeth of Mu’aawiyyah radi Allaahu ‘anhu.