Causes and Treatment of the Gap Between Scholars, Students of Knowledge, and Society

Question: We find in this time a gap between scholars and students of knowledge and the general society, and this gap is considered one of the problems. What are the solutions you see for this problem?

Answer: The gap arises from the deviation of the student or the deviation of the scholar who claims to be a scholar. If the student is poor in prayer, or displays sins, or haste and severity, the scholars dislike him and the righteous dislike him, so they do not rejoice in his seeking of knowledge. Likewise, the open sinner scholar and the negligent scholar are disliked by the good students and those striving in calling to good, who desire the reward, so there is a gap between them.
As for the righteous scholars and the righteous students, there is never a gap between them; rather, there is sincere cooperation between them in all good. But the gap is with the deviant who claims knowledge while he is with the open sinners, the smokers, the drinkers of intoxicants, those who deviate from prayer, and the like of that. So who loves this person and accepts from him, given his character, needs to be called to the truth, advised, cared for, and shown patience and perseverance until he straightens out. So the gap came from his side; he is the one who distanced himself by his words and deeds from the people of knowledge and their noble conduct. And the scholar who does not represent his knowledge with mindfulness of Allah and noble conduct, but is with the superstitious, the worshippers of graves, the sellers of intoxicants, and their like, is not a scholar and does not deserve respect; rather, he deserves that the beneficial scholars and the righteous students boycott him until he returns to the truth and straightens out with the people of truth. And there is no doubt that the students of knowledge detest him and do not rejoice in his proximity because of the badness of his conduct; rather, they are pleased with the gap that is between them and him because of the lack of benefit from him, and his harm to the society and to the students of knowledge. So he is in need of being called to Allah and advised until his knowledge benefits him, and until he benefits the people as well.
And it is obligatory upon everyone to cooperate in righteousness and mindfulness of Allah with sincerity and pure intention, and to be steadfast upon the command of Allah and to be eager for what removes enmity and narrows the gap between them, and that is through beneficial knowledge, righteous deeds, noble conduct, and patience with that. And Allah is the One who grants success.