Shaykh ʿAllāmah Rabīʿ bin Hādī (رحمه الله) said:
I repeat to you: Abandon (these) reckless bigotries (towards people).
I know that some people in the Gulf states, I do not wish to name the country, they become angry when their students travel to the scholars of those countries, saying, ‘How can you abandon me?! You are doubting me! You... you!’
O fool! A single man from the scholars of ḥadith had a thousand or two-thousand teachers. Ibn Hibban, I believe, had two-thousand teachers, from the east of Asia to its west.
So, having many teachers is a sign of sincerity to Allāh and seeking the truth. His teachers don't get upset (if he goes to) another, rather, they support him so that he reaches the station of his brother.
But that you say, ‘Don't go to the (other) shaykhs, because then you doubt me!’ This is reckless bigotry and rash ignorance, which must be combated, and its adherents must be brought down if they refuse to return to the clear path.
Notes
01 It is not known from the great scholars that they become upset when their students go to other shaykhs to take knowledge from them, when they are known for Tawḥīd, Sunnah and Salafiyyah and have commendations. Rather, it would please them.
02 It is not considered “abandoning a particular shaykh” when one takes knowledge from and refers to other shaykhs, so long as they are upon istiqāmah (uprighness) and have the knowledge and comprehension that is being sought from them, in the affairs (of knowledge, rulings and guidance) that are sought from them.
03 Taking from many scholars and shaykhs is a sign of sincerity in religion and pursuit of truth. By the grace of Allāḥ, over the past few decades there have been many great scholars that the Salafīs have taken from and who have been instrumental in calling to, aiding and supporting the Salafī daʿwah, and they are:
—Shaykh ʿAllāmah ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz bin Bāz (رحمه الله)
—Shaykh ʿAllāmah Nāṣir al-Dīn al-Albānī (رحمه الله)
—Shaykh ʿAllāmah Ibn ʿUthaymīn (رحمه الله)
—Shaykh ʿAllāmah Rabīʿ bin Hādī (رحمه الله)
—Shaykh ʿAllāmah Muqbil bin Hādi al-Wadiʿī (رحمه الله)
—Shaykh ʿAllāmah Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān (حفظه الله)
—Shaykh ʿAllāmah Aḥmad al-Najmī (رحمه الله)
—Shaykh ʿAllāmah Zayd al-Madkhalī (رحمه الله)
—Shaykh ʿAllāmah Ṣāliḥ al-Luḥaydān (رحمه الله)
—Shaykh ʿAllāmah ʿAbd Allāh al-Ghudayān (رحمه الله)
—Shaykh ʿAllāmah ʿUbayd al-Jābirī (رحمه الله)
Likewise, these scholars have students who are proliferated in various lands, and they are returned to for knowledge, guidance, rulings and clarifications, so long as they remain upon istiqāmah in the Salafī methodology and what it necessitates.
The Salafīs never restricted themselves to just one or two shaykhs, whether that be in the field of al-jarḥ wal-taʿdīl (disparagement and commendation) or other than it. Rather, they took from all the shaykhs, even if some of them were prominent in some areas over others. They consider all of the shaykhs together.
04 Accusing people of “abandoning a shaykh” because they acquire knowledge from other shaykhs and refer affairs regarding rulings, clarifications, events etc., from those who are competent is incorrect and may be emanating from reckless bigotry.