Is it better, in times of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), to limit oneself to reading books rather than attending the gatherings of scholars?

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. A questioner says: Some people mention that in this time, which is a time of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), the best course is to limit oneself to reading the books of the scholars of knowledge and not attending the gatherings of the scholars. Is this statement correct?

Answer:
This is a false statement. It is obligatory to attend the gatherings of the scholars and benefit from them. The scholars are not other than the scholars. The true scholars are those who hold fast to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), from whom the attendees benefit. These are the scholars whose gatherings one attends and whose words one strives to hear.