To what extent is the hadith "Our Lord laughs, so we will not be deprived of good from a Lord who laughs" authentic? Is seeking non-Sharia knowledge, such as chemistry and physics, better than increasing in supererogatory acts of worship? What are the best ways to seek Sharia knowledge in Egypt, considering an upcoming university enrollment?

The aforementioned Hadith (definition) was narrated by Ahmad, Ibn Majah, Al-Tayalisi, and others, and was authenticated by some scholars. There is no contradiction between performing supererogatory acts of worship (Nawafil) and seeking beneficial worldly knowledge. The default is that supererogatory acts of worship are better and more beneficial than engaging in worldly matters. However, the ruling on permissible acts changes according to circumstances and intentions. If a student of worldly knowledge has a good intention and is capable of mastering it, then their study elevates to the level of استحباب (recommendation), and it may even become واجب (obligatory) if society needs it and they are qualified for it. In this case, if they dedicate themselves to it and their supererogatory acts of worship decrease, they are still upon great goodness. Learning worldly sciences is obligatory upon Muslims if it conforms to Islamic law and helps to elevate the word of Allah and benefit Muslims.