Who Are Those from Whom Knowledge Is To Be Acquired:
Ibn Abdul Barr (rahimahullaah) said in Jaami Bayaan Al-Ilm Wa-Fadlihi:
‘The Scholars are the People of the narrations—those who possess understanding of the (narrations) and have excelled in it with proficiency, distinction and understanding.’’
Therefore, the one from whom knowledge is to be acquired is one described with the following qualities and has fulfilled the following conditions:
[1]: He is to be one who follows that which is found in the Book and the Sunnah. He is neither one who gives precedence to views and the intellect nor to current affairs, politics or other affairs over the Book and the Sunnah.
[2]: He is to be one confined and restricted to the understanding of the Book and the Sunnah upon the understanding of the Salaf of the Ummah.
[3]: He is to be one upon obedience (to Allaah) and keeps away from disobedience and sins.
[4]: He is to be distanced from innovation, misguidance and ignorance, and is one who warns against these (affairs).
[5]: He is to be one who fears Allaah.
[6]: He is to be from the people of understanding and research (based on the Book and the Sunnah)
Source: "This Knowledge Is Deen-Religion: Benefits From Shaikh Ahmad Baazmool(may Allaah preserve him)".
Those Whom Knowledge Is Not Acquired From:
How do we know who a Scholar is if we are from the general folk?
Answer:
The (person) should ask the people of knowledge–those who are well known, such as the likes of Sheikh Fawzaan,Sheikh Luhaydaan, Sheikh Subayyil, Sheikh Rabee or other than them from the people of knowledge. We ask them(saying): ‘There is a man amongst us, he disseminates (knowledge) and his name is such and such; can we acquire knowledge from him or not; can we benefit from him?’
This was the practice of the Salaf; they (sought) to benefit themselves by inquiring about the one who disseminates (knowledge). But if the (person) is a student of knowledge and he can make a distinction between (an individual whom knowledge can be acquired from and an individual whom it cannot be acquired from), then he should look to the condition of this (individual), such as his Salaah, his path, his attitude, his statements and methodology. If he is a follower of the Book, the Sunnah and the understanding of the Salaf, then (the student) should hold onto him. But if he is a man that gives precedence to opinion, and he is one that extols the people of Desires and Innovation and directs to their books; then (the student) should avoid the people of Desires and Innovation, and this man who extols them.
Source: "This Knowledge Is Deen-Religion: Benefits From Shaikh Ahmad Baazmool (may Allaah preserve him)".
Ibn Barjas (rahimahullâh) said:
“O student! If you want knowledge from its sources then you should stick to the great scholars [Kibâr-ul-'ulama]: those who have gray beards and weak bodies and have lost their power in [pursuit of] knowledge and educating. Stick to them before they disappear and take from their treasure before they take it with them. One misses the full-moon in the dark night.” (al-’Awa’iq, p. 26)
Imâm al-Âjurrî (d. 360) said:
”The scholars are the lights of the servants, the lighthouses of the countries, the pillars of the Ummah and the sources of the wisdom. They cause the wrath of the Devil. By their help, the hearts of the faithful live and because of them, the hearts of the misguided die. Their existence on earth is likened to the existence of the stars in the heaven by which one is guided by upon the land and sea. When they extinguish, one falls into confusion. When they shine, one sees clearly.” (Akhlâq-ul-‘Ulamâ´, p.10)
al-Hasan al-Basrî (rahimahullâh) said:
“The entire world is a darkness except for the sittings with the scholars.” (Jâmi’ Bayân-il-’ilm 1/114)
‘Abdullâh Âl ash-Shaykh said:
“Allâh has made the scholars into mediators between the Messengers and the people.” (ad-Durar 4/388)
