Therefore, the scholars of Jarh wa Ta’dil are the guardians of the earth. Sufyan Ath-Thawri, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

الْمَلَائِكَةُ حُرَّاسُ السَّمَاءِ، وَأَصْحَابُ الْحَدِيثِ ‌حُرَّاسُ ‌الْأَرْضِ. “The angels are the guardians of the heavens, and the people of hadith are the guardians of the earth.” They are its burning meteors against the people of disbelief and heresy. Without them, every renegade would have attacked the religion, and every vile, deviant person would have boasted of his disbelief and perversity. Ibn Al-Jawzi quoted Imam Al-Shafi’i as saying: لَوْلَا الْمَحَابِرُ، ‌لَخَطَبَتْ ‌الزَّنَادِقَةُ عَلَى الْمَنَابِرِ. “Were it not for the inkstands (of the scholars), the heretics would have preached from the pulpits.” Al-Fudayl ibn Ahmad said: سَمِعْتُ أَحْمَدَ بْن حَنْبَلٍ وَقَدْ أَقْبَلَ أَصْحَابُ الْحَدِيثِ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ الْمَحَابِرُ، فَأَوْمَأَ إلَيْهَا، وَقَالَ: هَذِهِ سُرُجُ الْإِسْلَامِ، يَعْنِي الْمَحَابِرَ. “I heard Ahmad ibn Hanbal, as the people of hadith came with their inkstands, point to them and say: ‘These are the lamps of Islam,’ referring to the inkstands.” The merit of this science is immense, by Allah. The religion has not been preserved nor the Shari’ah protected by anything like Jarh wa Ta’dil. It will not cease and will only be lifted shortly before the Hour when the worst of creation will remain, and upon them the Hour will occur. As for who are the scholars of this science, then: اعرف الحق تعرف أهله know the truth and you will recognise its people. Observe who categorises people, clarifies their status, says: "This man is from the people of the Sunnah, and this one is a Hizbee," with evidence and proof. Consider who refutes the people of deviation and their deviations, and who takes on the task of defending and purifying the Shari’ah—these are the scholars, may Allah bless you, for these are their characteristics. Source: https://t.me/BOT_9_9_1/19865 @almanhajussalafi