The Role of Students of Knowledge Toward Disagreements Among Scholars

Question:
May Allah reward you. Honorable Shaykh, what should students of knowledge do regarding the disagreements that occur among scholars, whether they are scholarly or related to da'wah? And does differing in adopting one of the two opinions lead to loyalty and disavowal?

Answer:
Students of knowledge are still in the process of seeking knowledge; they do not prefer some opinions over others because they are still students and have not yet mastered the subject. As for preferring one opinion over another, that is the concern of the scholars, not the students. This is the concern of scholars who are capable of determining the stronger position from the weaker one. As for the students, they are like the common people; they are still on the path, within the scope of ignorance, and have not yet emerged from ignorance. Therefore, they should follow their moderate shaykhs. A student follows his shaykh, unless that shaykh is not trustworthy, or he has a deviation in religion or creed, or he is lax in a matter of the Shari'ah. In that case, he should not follow him, but rather follow someone better than him. So a student of knowledge is a follower (muqallid) and remains a follower, but he chooses a shaykh who is trustworthy and has an understanding of fiqh, and he follows him, unless he knows that he contradicts the evidence, in which case he does not follow him.
Yes. May Allah reward you. Honorable Shaykh, and may Allah reward you with good. Do not occupy yourselves with disagreements to the neglect of seeking knowledge. Engage in seeking knowledge and acquiring it, and do not occupy yourselves with disagreements, such as so-and-so said this, and so-and-so said that, and so-and-so is correct, and so-and-so is wrong, and so-and-so is an innovator, and so-and-so is an open sinner, and so-and-so. Your time will be spent on these matters. Leave these matters and turn to seeking knowledge and understanding knowledge. Yes.