The ruling on the hadith "The scholars are the heirs of the prophets" if they do not follow the ruler

Question:
What is the authenticity of the hadith: "The scholars are the heirs of the prophets if they do not follow the ruler" or if they do not follow the world, if they follow the world...?

Answer:
As for the hadith , it is well known, has multiple chains of narration, and is good. As for the addition: "if they do not follow the ruler," or something similar, this has no basis; it is an invalid addition with no basis in the hadith.
However, it is well known that visiting the ruler and maintaining contact with the ruler falls into two categories: the visit from which good, guidance, direction, and advice are expected, which is required, and the visit for flattery, desire, agreeing with falsehood, and other things that harm the Muslims, which is not permissible.
So visiting rulers, princes, and kings falls into two categories. Whoever visits them for guidance, direction, and advice, to direct them to good, guide them to it, and warn them against its opposite, is rewarded, and this is obligatory upon him. The people of knowledge have visited rulers from the time of al-Siddiq, to the time of the Umayyads, to the time of the Abbasids, and others. The people of knowledge have continued to visit them and maintain contact with them for guidance, direction, advice, intercession for the oppressed, and removing oppression, among other things.
As for visiting princes and rulers for the sake of money, desires, food, and eating, this is blameworthy.