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

The Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said: “Indeed from the signs of the hour is that knowledge will be sought from the young ones”.

Ibn Mas’ood [radiyallaahu anhu] said: “The people will not cease to be upon good as long as they acquire knowledge from their elders, their trustworthy ones and their scholars, for if they acquire it from their young ones and evil ones, they will be destroyed”.

Shaikh Abdus Salaam Burgess [rahimahullaah] stated in Awaa’iq At-Talab pages 29-35 that this ruling is not an absolute [or unrestricted] regarding the young ones, for indeed there were a group of the Sahaabah and the Taabi’een who taught and gave verdicts in their young age, whilst the elders were present. However, the likes of these people are hard to find amongst those who came after them. So, if they are found and are known for being upright- upon a sound [path], possess knowledge and their firmness is manifested, whilst there are no elders to be found, then knowledge of the Sharee’ah is acquired from them, if they are free from fitnah! So, the intent is not that the knowledge possessed by the young person is boycotted, whilst the elders are present; rather the intent is that the people are placed in their rightful positions. [1]

[1] NB: We do not speculate and make our own judgements regarding the levels of the Ulamaa and Tullaabul Ilm – be they elders or youth; rather the Tazkiyyaat given to them – specifically- by the senior scholars is well known, so we limit ourselves to that – neither exaggerating their status nor diminishing their status.