Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah (hafizahullah) says:

“Once, Imam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) – who lived in a golden generation of Islam – overheard people having an academic discussion in the masjid. When he inquired about them, he was told: ‘They are engaging in legal discourse,’ i.e., they were discussing issues of fiqh.
He inquired further: ‘Do they have a teacher?’ They replied: ‘No.’
He declared: ‘They will never gain deep understanding (faqahah).’”

[Shaykh comments:]
He did not say, “They will not gain deep understanding.”
Rather, he stressed the word “never” to emphasize that without a teacher to guide or correct them, they would never achieve true deep understanding (faqahah)

[MA-E05-3]

Reflection

It is essential that we maintain a strong connection with our seniors and sincerely seek their counsel for as long as they are with us, so that their teachings can continue to guide us even after they depart from this world. The current trend of neglecting this is deeply concerning and will lead to a loss of barakah.
It is crucial to understand that, having our own expertise or resources does not eliminate the vital need to consult our experienced elders.