Should I Memorise Quraan or Seek Knowledge?

Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan was asked a question by a youth who had reached 16 years of age and for the last 18 months had been memorising the Quraan in a hifdh program. He wanted to focus on seeking knowledge, however he was advised against this by the supervisor of the hifdh program; saying that the youth requires tarbiyyah (islamic cultivation) and that if he was to seek knowledge without tarbiyyah, it would be detrimental to him. The young man then asked Shaykh Saalih (hafidahullah) for his advice:

Seeking knowledge is tarbiyyah, there is no difference between tarbiyyah and seeking knowledge. Memorise the Quraan and seek knowledge this IS tarbiyyah.

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MUHAADARAT FEE AL-AQEEDAH WA AD-DAWAH; AL-MAJMOO’A ATH-THAANIYA VOL.1 PGS. 180