Is striving to achieve a prestigious academic position as a university professor or a renowned writer with the aim of pleasing one's mother considered a contradiction to sincerity, especially with the fear of falling into ostentation due to the Hadith: "Whoever learns knowledge by which the Face of Allah, theazwj, is sought, but he does not learn it except to gain a worldly عرض from it, he will not find the fragrance of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection"?

A person's desire to attain a high rank does not contradict sincerity (ikhlas), if the intention behind it is for legitimate religious purposes and not merely for worldly gain. Therefore, if your desire to attain this rank is to bring joy to your mother, to have a role in calling people to Allah, conveying the truth, and supporting the religion, then this is good. This intention itself will earn you reward. Seeking elevation in this world for a good purpose, emulating the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him), was not blameworthy; rather, it is praiseworthy and rewarded. You must strive diligently in your studies and be sincere in your intention towards Allah, for whoever struggles with their soul to achieve sincerity will be granted success by Allah. And what has been narrated from the Salaf (pious predecessors) in statements that outwardly seem to contradict this, should be understood as their encouragement to constantly attend to one's soul and not neglect monitoring one's innermost intentions.