Advice for Students of Knowledge and Their Role Regarding Ideological and Methodological Disturbances

Question:
Perhaps some of the questions relate to this issue, so we will, if Allah wills, raise the first question. This questioner says: Honorable Shaykh, what is your advice for students of knowledge and the youth in the present time, given the intellectual and methodological turmoil that the Ummah (Muslim community) is experiencing? What is the role of the student of knowledge toward these conditions?

Answer:
Yes. I mentioned in my speech that, especially in this time when ideas have multiplied and methodologies have multiplied, and groups and divisions have grown, I advise them, first and foremost, to fear Allah the Exalted and to revere and dread Allah the Mighty and Majestic. And they should be careful with their tongues regarding speech that will be a burden upon them. I also advise them to be diligent in reconciling people, to strive for reconciliation among people, and to unite their words. Allah the Exalted said:
I also advise them to seek knowledge from its sources, seeking knowledge from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), under the guidance of the people of knowledge and insight. This is the only way: seeking knowledge from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and that must be under the guidance of scholars to whom Allah has granted knowledge and insight. For seeking knowledge under the guidance of scholars is the only way to know the truth. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed [the people] about the division among the Ummah, he said, "You will see much disagreement" They asked, "Who are they, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "They are the ones today and their companions." So there is no salvation except by following what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions were upon. And how do we know that? We do not know what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions were upon unless we seek knowledge under the guidance of scholars. Otherwise, everyone claims to be upon the methodology of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and the methodology of his Companions. Everyone makes this claim, but only the truth is worthy of it. So we cannot know what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions were upon unless we seek knowledge under the guidance of sincere scholars who are devoted to their religion and give sincere advice to their Ummah.
And Allah the Exalted says, "And He has not sent down upon you any reminder for a knowledgeable one." Matters are not taken from fortune-tellers or claimants, but only from the people of expertise and knowledge. The people of expertise and knowledge in the religion of Allah are the scholars alone. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Indeed, whoever knows . " He informed that the way out of the fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) is only by following his Sunnah (the Prophet's way) and the Sunnah of his Rightly Guided Caliphs. And this is not possible except by learning knowledge under the guidance of the scholars who know the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and know the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs and explain it to the people. So there is no way out of the fitnah, divisions, groups, and methodologies except through this.
The correct methodology is one; there is no division in it and no disagreement. The disagreements and divisions are in the methodologies that contradict the methodology of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The methodology of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is unified; there is no fracture in it and no disagreement. All the divisions and disagreements are in the methodologies that contradict the madhhab (school of jurisprudence) of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). For this reason, Allah the Exalted says: He spread His path, His straight path, and He added to it, Glorified and Exalted is He, an addition of honor, in a single reading. And when He mentioned the paths, He mentioned them many times: Many paths, meaning each has a methodology, each has a way, each has a school. Who follows among these? Who follows the people of the deviated amusements? Who follows the people of the methodologies? Who follows the groups? Restriction. Whereas. So there is no escape for us from following the methodology of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), which is a stable methodology with no division and no disagreement. So whoever submits his heart to Allah has been guided to a straight path. Yes.