The Yardstick to Measure True ‘Ilm and Amal

Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) once mentioned:

Deeni knowledge is a noor (light) that motivates one towards amal (carrying out righteous deeds). Amal (carrying out righteous deeds) in turn creates the awareness and consciousness of Allah Ta‘ala within the heart of a person (thereby preventing him from committing sins). It is only when the knowledge of Deen leads to amal that it is considered as true knowledge, and it is only when amal creates the awareness and consciousness of Allah Ta‘ala that it is considered as true amal. If the knowledge of Deen does not lead to amal, then it certainly is not true knowledge, which is a light, but is rather complete darkness. Similarly, if amal does not serve to create the awareness of Allah Ta‘ala within the heart, then it is not true amal as it is very weak and deficient in creating its desired effect. Furthermore, for one to have the awareness of Allah Ta‘ala but to lack the sufficient knowledge of Deen that will guide one through the various phases of life is also extremely dangerous (as it is only through the knowledge of Deen that one will know how to please Allah Ta‘ala and fulfil His commands correctly). (Malfoozaat Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) pg. 50)