The student of knowledge assumes that the directives are for others

The questioner:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. Some of the students of knowledge, when they hear the guidance and advice of the scholars for the students of knowledge, assume that it is intended for someone else, so they do not hold themselves to account or review themselves to correct their intention. Is there any advice regarding this?

The Shaykh:
Yes, it is so. Perhaps we are all like that. When we hear the promise and the warning, when we hear the warning and the caution, we assume that it is directed at others. We do not realize that it is directed at us. We say, “This is about others; this is about the negligent; this is about the lazy.” But what about you? You are not negligent, you are not lazy, you have no deficiency. So you attribute it to others. This is the affliction.

The presenter:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success.

The Shaykh:
When we hear the warning in the Qur'an regarding the disbelievers, the sinners, and the hypocrites, we attribute it to others and do not realize that it is addressing us. It is addressing us. They have gone and met their Lord, but you are now reading the Qur'an, and it is an argument against you; it is addressing you. Yes.