What is the meaning of the supplication: "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from taking knowledge as a craft and religion as merchandise," and is it permissible to supplicate with it?

The content of the aforementioned supplication is sound, and its intent is to seek refuge in Allah from a situation where a servant's share of knowledge is limited to memorizing and disseminating it without acting upon it, or from sacrificing a part of their religion to gain some worldly عرضًا ( عرضًا: a fleeting worldly gain). Therefore, there is no objection to supplicating with it, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "Let each of you choose the supplication most pleasing to him, and then supplicate Allah, the Mighty and Exalted." It is preferable, however, to seek out and suffice with the supplications found in the Quran and Sunnah.