Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "The God-fearing are the chiefs, the jurists (fuqaha', that is, those who have knowledge of the religion) are the leaders, and sitting with them brings increase (in knowledge and goodness)."
(Allamah Haythami says:) I say: This is mentioned in a long hadith which Tabarani recorded in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, and its narrators have been declared trustworthy.
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب العلم / 520
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسنادہ حسن۔
Hadith Takhrij«اخرجه الامام الطبراني فى معجمه الكبير 8553»