Islam and Knowledge
The religion of Islam encourages all people to seek and increase their knowledge. It disparages and warns against ignorance. Allah says: 
Allah will exalt in degree those of you who believe and those who have been granted knowledge
(58:11)
It regards striving to seek, learn, and teach knowledge as a means which leads to Jannah. The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad 
said: “Whoever seeks a path in search of knowledge, Allah would make easy for him a path leading to Jannah.” (Abu Dawud)
He forbade that knowledge be concealed, as it is an obligation for each person to seek it. The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad said: “Whoever conceals knowledge would be muzzled on the Day of Resurrection with a muzzle of Fire.” (Ibn Hibbaan)
Islam regards scholars with the highest esteem and demands that they be paid their due respect. The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad said: “He is not from my followers, he who does not respect his elders, who does not show mercy to the young, and does not give due right to a scholar.” (Ahmad)
The Prophet Muhammad informed us of the status of the scholar in his sayings: “...the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth and even the fish in the depth of the oceans seek forgiveness for [the scholar]. The superiority of the learned man over the devout worshipper is like that of the full moon to the rest of the stars. The scholars are the heirs of the Prophets who bequeath neither silver or gold, but only that of knowledge; and he who acquires it, has in fact acquired an abundant portion.” (Tirmidthi)