Shaykh ‘Abdullāh al-Bukhārī:
This one asks: How can he advise someone who is more knowledgeable or one of his shaykhs?
This is also an important question! This is an important question! This elder brother, or someone who is more knowledgeable than you, or one of your shaykhs, is still your brother in the Islamic Legislation and in the religion, yes. Sincere advise is also given to him, and sometimes it may even become obligatory. But it must be done with good manners and gentleness. Gentleness is required with everyone, and good manners is required with everyone! But with regard to these individuals, it could be more emphasized. Don’t offer advice with the condition that you are the one saying it, but rather offer it in the form of a question or inquiry. In this way, he will understand the point.
This once happened between me and one of our major shaykhs, may Allāh preserve him, who is still alive. I wanted to advise him on a certain matter, so I said to him (in a respectful way): "Our shaykh, the proper structure of the pursuit of knowledge depends on the advice that the shaykh gives to his student and the questions that the student asks his shaykh.." I didn’t say, "the advice given to him (the shaykh)", because people's souls are sometimes receptive and sometimes not. The meaning is the same. [I said:] "Isn't that so?" He replied, "Yes." Then I presented what I had (of advice) in the form of a question, and he understood the point. During the conversation, I said to him, "Our shaykh, this and that happened—what is the correct interpretation of this?" Isn't that the intented point? And it worked.
In any case, this is a significant matter that requires understanding. "If you have a task and are sending someone to fulfill it, send a wise person and do not counsel them."
Translation: Yasin ibn Jamal