The ruling on young people saying that the scholars do not fulfill their role

Question:
We hear some of the youth repeating that the scholars of today do not fulfill their role as they should. What is Your Eminence the Shaykh’s opinion of this statement?

Answer:
This is a general statement, but shortcoming does exist. Shortcoming exists in every age. However, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, , I believe that a great number of our scholars in every era have a tremendous role in rectifying conditions, in advising the rulers, and in fulfilling the obligation. No one is free from error; error may occur, and shortcoming may occur. But the victory for the religion and the fulfillment of what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, that a group will remain, this exists, praise be to Allah. However, one who does not know the matters and does not know the realities may think otherwise. Not everyone is aware of the realities, and the scholar is not commanded to tell people, "I did such and such, and I did such and such." There are also matters that should not be publicized, and the scholar should not say, "I did it," or "I said it," or "I advised regarding it." Rather, it is obligatory for the scholar to do what is best and to take the path that is best in advising the general Muslim population, the rulers, and others who deserve advice. Not everything should be displayed to people or spread among them. This person may think that such and such a scholar did not fulfill the obligation, while he has erred in his assumption. The scholar may have fulfilled the obligation, but he is not one who spreads that among people and says, "I did it and I did it." So the result is that shortcoming is inevitable; every person is exposed to error, and every human being errs. But the obligation that Allah legislated and made obligatory upon His servants must be fulfilled by someone, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "A group from the people of truth will remain victorious." So not everyone has been short in knowledge or short in the obligation in the entire world. There must be someone who fulfills the obligation and gives the obligatory advice, in this kingdom and elsewhere. Yes.