Which is better: a devout worshiper who perfectly performs acts of worship, or a civil engineer who studies with the intention of gaining knowledge? And does the hadith, "The scholars are the inheritors of the prophets... and the superiority of the scholar over the worshiper is like the superiority of the moon over the rest of the stars," apply to the latter?

Reciting the Quran, prayer, fasting, and night vigil are acts of righteousness. The Lawgiver (Allah) encouraged the acquisition of beneficial knowledge. Scholars have differed on which is superior: devoting oneself to worship or earning a livelihood and acquiring beneficial knowledge. There is no doubt that what has a far-reaching benefit is better than what has a limited benefit, especially since Sharia (definition) knowledge instills the fear of Allah and provides understanding of the religion. As for worldly sciences, they are a communal obligation (fard kifaya), and one is rewarded for learning them with the intention of serving Muslims and the religion. The preferred approach is to combine seeking knowledge with worship.