Can a student of knowledge be content with books and encyclopedias for seeking knowledge, or is a shaykh indispensable for him?

Relying on books without taking from scholars involves pitfalls and dangers. Some of the predecessors said: "He whose shaykh is his book, his errors will be more than his correctness." We advise acquiring video and audio recordings from the lessons of trustworthy shaykhs, as they are akin to direct oral transmission and suffice the student of knowledge in various aspects of seeking knowledge. If you feel you have insight in knowledge and can distinguish right from wrong, then there is no fear in relying on books rather than shaykhs.