The Ruling on Some Scholars Attending Mawlid Gatherings

The questioner: He also says: We see in Islamic Egypt that the honorable scholars and shaykhs attend these celebrations?
The Shaykh: Yes, that is so. The fact that some scholars witness some religious innovations is not to be condemned. Is it not the scholars of evil and the scholars of ignorance who have destroyed the people? Did the Jews perish except through the scholars of evil among them? Did the Christians perish except through the scholars of evil among them and their errors? And this Ummah is the same; most of them perished because of the scholars of evil and the scholars of ignorance. A scholar, even if he is great and eminent, may err, and some people may be deceived by his error. The slip of a scholar carries great danger, as the Companions and others have warned to be cautious of the slip of a scholar.
If a scholar slips in his action or his speech, even if he is pointed to as a scholar, but he errs in one of the issues, such as attending celebrations, or he interprets it in a certain way, or he intends to advise them or clarify some matters of religion, so he attends, and it escapes him that his attendance may be cited as evidence, then this does not become a proof of its permissibility. If a scholar attends some of the blameworthy gatherings or some of the blameworthy celebrations, this does not serve as a proof of their permissibility. He may have an excuse, or he may have been ignorant of this matter at the time of his attendance, even if he possesses knowledge and virtue. It is not permissible to be deceived by the errors and slips of scholars, whether in speech or action. We ask Allah for guidance and success for everyone. Yes.