[The Best Deeds in the Month of Ramadan]

The answer—and Allah is the One who grants success—is that the supererogatory prayer gathers recitation of the Quran, remembrance, glorification, and praising, along with humbling oneself before Allah and submissiveness; therefore, the supererogatory prayers are better than remembrance, glorification, praising, supplication, and seeking forgiveness.
And the comparison remains between supererogatory prayers and reading the books of knowledge. What is known, in general, is that seeking knowledge—by reading the books of knowledge, or by studying it, or by teaching it—is better than any type among the types of worship.
Proofs have come regarding that from the Book and the Sunnah; among that is His, the Exalted, saying: "Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge by degrees." [Al-Mujadila:11]; and: "Say, 'Are those who know equal to those who do not know?'" [Az-Zumar:9]. And the hadiths regarding this are many. However, there is a point that must be paid attention to: the purpose of knowledge is action, so the supererogatory acts should not be neglected—of prayer, remembrance, glorification, recitation of the Quran, and other than that.
And perhaps the superiority of knowledge over the rest of the supererogatory acts is not realized except along with regularly maintaining the supererogatory acts of prayer, recitation of the Quran, glorification, remembrance, and other than that—because that illuminates the heart, purifies it, directs it to Allah, binds it to Him, and strengthens the connection with Allah. Allah, the Exalted, has said: "Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts find rest." [Ar-Ra'd:28]; and He, the Glorified, has said: "So remember Me; I will remember you." [Al-Baqarah:152].
It can be said: merit differs according to the differing states of the human being. The human being may, in some states, be energetic for seeking knowledge and have mental readiness for acquiring knowledge—so seeking knowledge in such a state is better. And the human being may be in a state of tightness of chest, closed understanding, and anxiety, feeling the need for Allah—so supplication and turning to Allah is better, because in such a state the human being finds himself looking toward Allah and turning to Him for the relief of his distress.
And the human being may feel the abundance of sins, the abundance of heedlessness, and the abundance of neglect—so seeking forgiveness in such a state is better, because seeking forgiveness with this feeling and this awareness has value with Allah. In every case, worship becomes superior due to the occurrence of its cause.

Source: Min Thimār al-ʿIlm wa al-Ḥikmah vol.3