The Correct Methodology in Selecting the Scholar from Whom Knowledge Is Sought

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. This questioner says: Some people, when they want to learn and benefit from a scholar, go directly to him and attend his lessons without first asking about him. They say: If I look at his speech and his conduct, and I like it, I take knowledge from him. The question is: Is this approach correct according to the Salaf?

The Shaykh:
Yes, that is correct. Listen to his speech. If you find it upright and beneficial, praise be to Allah, seek knowledge from him. If you find his speech to be deviant, or containing ignorance and misguidance, then avoid him. This is more eloquent than asking about him; his speech is more eloquent than asking about him. Yes.

The presenter:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. This questioner from France says: Sometimes some deviant groups come to us asking for financial assistance?

The Shaykh:
To complete the answer: Especially in our time, there has been much slander against scholars and students of knowledge, and discord, cursing, and partisanship have arisen among them. So you must not accept this talk immediately. Listen to the man about whom such things are said. Listen to him first, then judge him by his speech, not by the speech of people.