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

Abu Hurairah [may Allaah be pleased with him] said, “The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Love your beloved one modestly, for it may be that he will become hated to you someday. And hate the one whom you hate modestly, for it may be that he will become your beloved one someday”. [Saheeh Sunan Tirmidhee 1997]

Imaam Ibnul Atheer [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “This means that you should love your beloved one with moderation and do not go beyond bounds (i.e. outside the boundaries of the what Allaah has legislated). Do not go into extremes in your love and hate, for it may be that one day you’ll hate the one you used to love and love the one you used to hate. Therefore, neither exaggerate in your love and become regretful, nor exaggerate in your hatred and thus become shy in the presence of the one you used to hate after you stop hating him”. [An-Nihaayah 5/284]

A man said to Imaam Maymoon Ibn Mehraan [may Allaah have mercy upon him], “The people will not cease to be upon good as long as Allaah keeps you (alive) for them”. He replied, “The people will not cease to be upon good as long as they fear their Lord”. (1)

Imaam Sufyaan Ibn Uyaynah [may Allaah have mercy upon him] used to say, “Indeed, the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] is the greatest criterion [i.e. amongst mankind and Jinn] and all affairs are presented to him [i.e. for judgement and judged] based on his manners, path and guidance; so whatever is in agreement with this is truth, and whatever is in opposition is falsehood”. (1.1)

Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadi Al-Mad’khali may Allaah preserve him] said, “And (with regards to) the person with the proofs, it is obligatory to take his speech (on the grounds) of following Allaah’s Legislation and Proofs, and not (due to) the personality of that person”. (2)

Al-Allaamah Rabee also said, “The seeker of truth is not diverted from the truth, fairness and justice due to admiration of the big personalities and being amazed by them, for indeed the truth is more worthy to be followed. It is not permissible to drop the proofs for the sake of this or that great man. The principle [rule] of the Muslim – the unbiased one, the seeker of truth – is always: [قُلْ هَاتُوا بُرْهَانَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ -Say, bring forth your proofs if you are truthful]. [Surah An-Nahl. Verse 64] (3)

Imaam Muhammad Bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] interrupted a person who was reciting a poem and mentioned him in it! He objected and told him not to attach truth to personalities; rather he should say that as long as the Qur’aan and the Sunnah are present, the truth will remain. [Listen to audio in the link: https://safeshare.tv/x/5MCyl5iX03k

Question to Al-Allaamah Saaleh al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him], “What is the meaning of the principle, ‘The truth is not known by way of men, rather men are known by way of the truth?'”

Answer: Its meaning is that we do not merely blindly follow anyone, for it may be that one is blindly followed based on error; it may be that the Mujtahid is mistaken and the one who makes [a statement or holds an opinion] is mistaken, so we do not take [his statement, opinion etc] and say, “This is the statement of such as such; this is truth, because such and such is good, he is a scholar; such and such is Taqiy [i.e. one who fears Allaah]”. We do not say this because he is not infallible and he can make a mistake; so we know men by way of the truth – those who know; those who take [or adhere to] the proofs and indeed they are known to be scholars. As for those who do not give concern [or importance] to the proofs, they are not scholars; they are not people of [sound] understanding and they are not people of knowledge, so their statement is never taken straight away. It is imperative that the proof is presented, so if the proof is established as witness to [what he says or holds etc], then it is the truth; but if he opposes the proof, then indeed [his statement or opinion] is rejected; however if he is a Mujtahid and he is mistaken, he is rewarded [once] due to his Ijtihaad; but if he deliberately holds on to error, he has sinned. [Paraphrased. Refer to video here: https://video.link/w/9famb ]

NB: The Permissible and Prohibited Forms of Taqleed

https://salaficentre.com/2012/06/the-permissible-and-prohibited-forms-of-taqleed-salafipublications-com-article-id-mnj060005/

[Ref 1: Siyar A’laam An-Nubulaa. 5/75]

[Ref 1.1: Al-Jaami Li-Akhlaaq Ar-Raawi Wa Aadaab As-Saami’  page 8]

[Ref 2: Majmoo 9/40) 3rd paragraph]
[Ref 3: All-Mulakh-khasul Jameel Fee Bayaani Manhaji Ash-Shaikh Rabee Fid-Da’wati Wal-Jarhi Wat-Ta’deel. Page 87]