Those Students You Could Take Knowledge From By Shaikh Muhammad Bin Haadee

Q: We’re asking about students of knowledge here in Libya, as we are youth from the common folk among the salafis. Here there are students of knowledge that studied with sheikh Muqbil in Yemen, some of them have tazkiyah, while others are not known to have tazkiyah. Do you advise us to take knowledge from them?

A: Sheikh Muhammad ibn Haadi: The one known for knowledge whose effect you see among the people, take from him. As for he who is not known for neither knowledge nor seeking it, and he has no traces (effect) among the people, do not take from him. 

As for he whom the people of knowledge recommend and they bear witness that he is qualified to teach and benefit the people then this is higher (in degree). That’s because knowledge is only taken from its people. The people are known by way of the scholars and their attestation of a person specifically, or by way of this affair spreading with regards to the person seeking knowledge and he becomes renowned for knowledge. Whenever a person becomes well known for knowledge and this is what is circulated concerning him, then knowledge is taken from him.

Note: The last part of the sheikh’s speech is clearly referring to the person who sought knowledge from the scholars and does not have a tazkiyah, and not the self taught individual, as is understood from the question and in the answer.

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