Eesaa Ibn Yoonus (rahimahullaah) said: ”We have neither seen the likes of Al-Amash in our time nor amongst the generation before us. We have never seen the wealthy and the rulers being more lowly in a gathering than a gathering of Al-Amash, even though he was in need of Dirham (i.e. money) [Hilyatul Awliyaa: 5/47-48]
It was reported from Al-Hasan Al-Basri (rahimahullaah) who said: ”Ayyoub is the leader of the youth of Basra.” [Hilyatul Awliyaa: 3/3]
When Ayyoub (rahimahullaah) used to narrate a hadeeth to Ibn Seereen (rahimahullaah), he (Ibn Seereen) would say: ”The truthful one has narrated to me.” [Hilyatul Awliyaa: 3/4]
Ibn Shawzab (rahimahullaah) said: When Ayyoub (rahimahullaah) used to be asked a question and he had nothing about it, he would say: ”Ask the people of knowledge.” [Tabaqaat Ibn Sad: 7/247]
Ayyoub (rahimahullaah) said:
Al-Hasan (rahimahullaah) used to speak with a speech as if it was a stream. And a people after him spoke with a speech from their mouths as if it was vomit. [Siyar A’laam Nubulaa: 4/577]
Ibn Shihaab (rahimahullaah) said:
”Had you seen Taawoos (rahimahullaah), you will know that he does not lie.” [Siyar A’laam Nubulaa:5/43]
Maalik Ibn Maghool (rahimahullaah) said: It was said to Shabee: ‘’O scholar’’; so he said: ‘’The scholar is one who fears Allaah.’’ [Hilyatul Awliyaa: 4/311]
Abee Ishaaq (rahimahullaah) narrated from Shabee who said: No one abandons something of the worldly life except that Allaah will give him what is better for him in the hereafter.’’ [Hilyatul Awliyaa: 4/312]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
A refutation of a doubt spread by the people of (religious) innovations who say: “Take the truth and leave the falsehood from the statements and the books of people of (religious) innovations!”
Sheikh Khâlid Dahwî Ad-Dufayrî refutes this doubt by saying:
“And from the means to be safe from tribulations is to keep away from the people of (religious) innovations, to be cautious of them and to warn against them. This is a salafi foundation stated by the people of knowledge and it has been indicated by the Qurân, the Sunnah and by the statements of the pious predecessors: the Companions, their successors and others.
The people of knowledge agree upon leaving people of (religious) innovations and keeping away from them and this consensus has been reported by many scholars.
They all agree upon keeping away from the people of (religious) innovations and not to read their books nor look into them, except for the one who[1] wants to refute them. As for the general people then they should not read nor listen to anything except from the people of knowledge and they should keep away from the people of desires; they listen to people of Sunnah and keep away from people of (religious) innovations and we do not utter that misguided and innovated rule which is: “Take the truth and leave the falsehood”.
There is no doubt that we have been commanded to take the truth and to leave the falsehood but we have not been commanded to seek the truth from the people of (religious) innovations and people of desires!
We take the truth from the pure sources and we take it from the place where there is neither doubt nor any (religious) innovation!
Translated by Abu Abdir-Rahmaan Mehdi Al-Maghribee with the assistance of Abul Husayn (Yusuf Mcnulty Al-Irlandee) and Abu Tasneem (Mushaf Al-Banghaalee)
Source:http://www.sahab.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=124793
[1] Trans. Note: This is for the scholars of Ahl As-Sunnah and its conditions have been explained by the scholars.
Hishaam Bin Hassaan (rahimahullaah) said: A family member of Ibn Seereen (rahimahullaah) said to me, ”I have never seen Ibn Seereen speak to his mother, except that he was humble.” [Hilyatul Awliyaa: 2/273]
Abdul Hameed Bin Abdillaah Ibn Muslim Ibn Yasaar (rahimahullaah) said: When Ibn Seereen (rahimahullaah) was confined in prison, the prisoners said to him: Go to your family when night falls and come back when morning arrives. So Ibn Seereen said: By Allaah, no. I will not help you in deceiving the ruler. [Taareekh Baghdaad: [6/334]
Ibnul Mubaarak (rahimahullaah) said:
”After Prophethood, I do not know of (anything) more virtuous than disseminating knowledge.” [Source: Taareekh Dimashq: 33/455]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Abu Ma’shar (rahimahullaah) said: ‘‘I asked Ibraaheem An-Nakha’ee (rahimahullaah) about these desires (i.e. newly invented affairs in the religion; so he said: