The Characteristics of the Scholars Who Are Followed

Question:
The questioner asks: What are the characteristics of the scholars who are followed?

Answer:
The characteristics of the scholars who are followed are those who possess knowledge of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), who have understood the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and who are adorned with beneficial knowledge. They are also adorned with righteous deeds. That is, those who are followed are those who combine both: beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds. One does not follow a scholar who does not act upon his knowledge, nor does one follow an ignorant person who has no knowledge. One follows only the one who combines both: beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds. As for those who are followed in our lands, and whose tapes and lessons are taken, they are many, and praise be to Allah, they are known to the people. No one is ignorant of them, neither the city dwellers nor the Bedouins, nor the old nor the young. The people of knowledge from whose words rulings are issued and whose actions are followed are those who carry out the affairs of this Ummah, such as issuing fatwas, judging, teaching, and so on. Those who are known for their knowledge, piety, and scrupulousness. At the head of our scholars is Your Eminence, Shaykh 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn Baz (may Allah preserve him). He is a man to whom Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has granted abundant knowledge, righteous deeds, calling to Allah, sincerity, and truthfulness, which is not hidden from anyone. And praise be to Allah, much good has come from him in the form of writings, books, tapes, and lessons. Also, the scholars who speak on the program "Light on the Path"—these people too, praise be to Allah, the Ummah is convinced by their fatwas and acts upon their fatwas because of the correct fatwas and beneficial statements that have been tested in them. Your Eminence, Shaykh 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn Baz, the Honorable Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-'Uthaymeen, and the honorable judges. This is because one does not engage in judging and the people do not trust them with their blood, wealth, and chastity unless they trust their knowledge and their conduct. So the judges in the courts are also among those who are trusted, because the one in authority has entrusted them, and the Ummah has also entrusted them with these matters. Also, among the prominent scholars who have a standing in da'wah are the Honorable Shaykh 'Abd al-Muhsin al-'Abbad, the Honorable Shaykh Rabee' Hadi, the Honorable Shaykh Salih al-Sa'idi, and the Honorable Shaykh Muhammad A'aman al-Jami. These people have efforts in da'wah, sincerity, and responding to those who want to deviate the da'wah from its correct path, whether intentionally or unintentionally. These people have experience, expertise, and a sifting of statements, knowing the correct from the defective. So their tapes and lessons should be circulated and benefited from, because they contain great benefit for Muslims. And every scholar in whom no error has been tested and no deviation in his conduct or his thought has been tested, he is to be followed.