What is your opinion if you come to know of a famous shaykh and learn of a past scandal involving him; will he fall in your estimation or not? And will you say, "May Allah forgive what is past"? Is it advisable to continue seeking knowledge, memorizing the rest of the six books (of Hadith), teaching students, and studying the science of al-Jarh wa al-Ta'deel (discrediting and accrediting narrators), or to stop to avoid fame and scandal, or to confront the blackmailer by seeking to expose him while clarifying repentance and stating that the matter occurred before the age of legal accountability?

We advise the questioner to turn to Allah Almighty in supplication, to increase in seeking forgiveness, in remembering Allah, and in sending blessings upon His Prophet. He should also inform theerring person that exposing him will harm him more, and that he will deny what was claimed and request the authorities to punish him. He should not stop seeking knowledge or doing good, but rather increase in them and excel, reviewing and correcting his intentions. He should detest fame and be watchful of his Lord. The questioner should be reminded that the best of the Companions and some scholars were in manifest error before their repentance, and that did not diminish them after their conversion to Islam and repentance.