Sincerity toward the scholars is established through various m | IlmTest

Sincerity toward the scholars is established through various means:
والنصيحة للعلماء تكون بأمورٍ منها:

1. Having love for them. If one does not love a person, he will not take that person as an example.
الأول: محبتهم، لأنك إذا لم تحب أحداً فإنك لن تتأسّى به.

2. Supporting and assisting them in clarifying the truth. This is accomplished by spreading their books through various means of media which are presently available at every time and place.
الثاني: معونتهم ومساعدتهم في بيان الحق، فتنشر كتبهم بالوسائل الإعلامية المتنوعة التي تختلف في كل زمان ومكان.

3. Defending their honour. If something detested was attributed to an esteemed scholar, it is upon the Muslim to follow the following steps:
الثالث: الذبّ عن أعراضهم، بمعنى أن لا تقرّ أحداً على غيبتهم والوقوع في أعراضهم، وإذا نسب إلى أحدٍ من العلماء الربانيين شيء يُستنكر فعليك أن تتخذ هذه المراحل:

First stage: To confirm that the disliked or incorrect issue was actually mentioned by the scholar.
المرحلة الأولى: أن تتثبت من نسبتهِ إليه،

How many lies are attributed to a scholar! Therefore, it is incumbent that one investigates concerning the issue.
فكم من أشياء نسبت إلى عالم وهي كذب، فلابد أن تتأكد،

Once that takes place and it is confirmed, then the person moves on to the second stage.
فإذا تأكدت من نسبة الكلام إليه فانتقل إلى المرحلة الثانية وهي:

One should then contemplate the issue and question himself, is this actually something that should be rebutted or not?
أن تتأمل هل هذا محل انتقاد أم لا؟

It is possible that at first the issue seems to be something that should be rebutted, but after one reflects over the matter, they come to the conclusion that it is actually a true statement.
لأنه قد يبدو للإنسان في أول وهلة أن القول منتقد، وعند التأمل يرى أنه حق،

Therefore, it is compulsory that one contemplates over the issue to conclude whether it is correct or not.
فلابد أن تتأمل حتى تنظر هل هو منتقد أو لا؟

The 3rd stage: If you conclude that the matter is not something which should be rebutted, it then becomes mandatory on you to defend the scholar and spread this defense amongst the people.
المرحلة الثالثة: إذا تبيّن أنه ليس بمنتقد فالواجب أن تذبّ عنه وتنشر هذا بين الناس،

You should clarify to the people that what was mentioned by the scholar is true, even if the people are in opposition to it.
وتبين أن ما قاله هذا العالم فهو حق وإن خالف ما عليه الناس.

The fourth stage: But on the contrary, if you conclude based on your opinion, that the matter attributed to the scholar is a mistake (by way of the scholar),
المرحلة الرابعة: إذا تبين لك حسب رأيك أن ما نسب إلى العالم وصحت نسبته إليه ليس بحق،

It then becomes mandatory upon you to contact him with good manners and humbleness.
فالواجب أن تتصل بهذا العالم بأدب ووقار،

You should say: I have heard that you have said such and such, and I would like for you to explain this issue to me, for indeed you have more knowledge than me.
وتقول: سمعت عنك كذا وكذا، وأحب أن تبين لي وجه ذلك، لأنك أعلم مني،

If he clarifies the issue for you, you then have the right to al-munāqashah (ie: debate him concerning it),
فإذا بيّن لك هذا فلك حق المناقشة،

But this should be done with good manners and reverence for the scholar according to his status and what is suitable with respect to him.
لكن بأدب واحترام وتعظيم له بحسب مكانته وبحسب ما يليق به.

Muḥammad b. Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn, Sharḥ al-Arbaʿīn al-Nawawī 1/118
ابن عثيمين، شرح الأربعين النووية ١/١١٨
https://shamela.ws/book/21812/117

@ilmtest [https://t.me/ilmtest]