Verifying matters and not dismissing a scholar's right due to an error

Question:
It is observed that many people dismiss their trust in a caller to Islam, or a scholar, because of an error he made, or a rumor spread about him, without verifying the matter, or considering the many good aspects of their lives. What is your Eminence's comment on that?

Answer:
It is obligatory to verify matters; it is obligatory to verify. If a scholar or a caller to Allah errs in an issue, he should be pointed out, and his right regarding what he got right should not be dismissed. Rather, it is obligatory to be fair and just: point out his error, show compassion regarding his error, and accept the truth in what he got right. It is not befitting for a person of intellect to leave the truth when a caller or scholar states it, just because he erred in an issue. The truth takes precedence over Paradise. If he has truth and falsehood, the truth is taken and the falsehood is discarded. If he errs in one of the issues, he is pointed out, and it is said to him: "You erred in such and such, and the evidence indicates such and such." His right is not denied in its entirety, but he is thanked for the truth he got right, and he is pointed out regarding his error in any of the issues. This is like the four Imams and others; each one has errors in issues. Yes.