Muslims have been instructed in Quran to seek advise of those who know a subject better than us or in other words who are scholars in their domain:
... if ye realise this not, ask of those who possess the Message. (An-Nahl:43 and Al-Anbiya:7)
Also, we muslims have also been told to stick to our imams or the people of knowledge for the purpose of consistant guidance as even on the day of judgement we would be called upon with our respective imams in front of Allah (SWT):
One day We shall call together all human beings with their (respective) Imams ...... (Al-Isra:71)
Another place, Quran honors the ulema by the following words:
.. Among the followers of Allah Almighty and knowledgeable persons (ulema) are those who are awestruck by the greatness of Allah." (Fatir:28)
In another verse, the status of scholars is again greatly elevated by associating their testamony with that of the angels i.e. above all other creations in this entire universe. Allah (SWT) says in the Quran:
Allaah bears witness that none has the right to be worshipped but He, and the angels, and those having knowledge (Ulul-'Ilm) (also bear witness to this); (He is always) maintaining His creation in justice. None has the right to be worshipped but He, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. (Aal-e-Imraan: 18)
According to a hadeeth:
"The upright in every generation will carry this knowledge, rejecting the distortions of the extremists, the false claims of the liars, and the (false) interpretations of the ignorant." (Declared Hasan by Shaykh Saleem al-Hilaalee)
The above references clearly establish the importance and status of scholars or ulamas in Islam.
