In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Shaikh Ubaid Bin Abdillaah Al-Jaabiriy [may Allaah preserve him] says: When the people of virtue and righteousness were faced with an adversity and an intricate affair, they would go to the Senior People of knowledge to ask them and seek a Jawaab Ash-Shaafee Al-Kaafee [i.e. an appropriate answer that would bring about rectification of the religious affairs and preservation of the well-being of the people based on the Qur’aan and the Sunnah]. This is a followed path –beginning since the era of Prophet’s companions, then the Imaams of the Taabi’een and then –after them- the people of knowledge, virtue, religion and Eemaan. And how beautiful is what Ibn Mas’ood said: The people will not cease to be righteous and upright as long as knowledge comes to them from the companions of Muhammad [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] and their elders. But if knowledge comes to them from their young ones, they will be destroyed. [Ref 1]

[Source: الطيب الجني على شرح السنة للإمام المزني – page 19. Abridged and slightly paraphrased]

Ref 1: Clarification

http://www.salaficentre.com/2016/01/a-short-benefit-for-the-one-who-enquired-about-the-statement-the-blessing-is-with-your-elders-i/