Is there any advice for students of knowledge who are preoccupied with the mistakes of others without looking at their own mistakes?

Question:
Is there any advice for students of knowledge who are preoccupied with the mistakes of others without looking at their own mistakes?

Answer:
This is a sign of evil if they are occupied with the faults of people and do not seek knowledge, and their only concern is saying "so-and-so said this" and "so-and-so said that." Seeking out faults is a sign of evil, a sign of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) for the student of knowledge. He should focus on seeking knowledge and distinguishing truth from falsehood, so that he knows, learns, and benefits, and does not get involved in gossip and talking about people. This is not permissible because it causes fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and evil. You are ignorant of the matters of your religion. How can you be occupied with what so-and-so and so-and-so said when you do not know the conditions of the prayer, or the things that invalidate the ablution, or the pillars of faith, or the things that invalidate Islam, or tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and shirk (associating partners with Allah)? Pay attention to these matters, learn them, and know them. And leave off talking about so-and-so and so-and-so.