Safety In Religion

Al Salamu `Alaykum.
Qadi Bishr ibn Walid said, "We would be with Sufyan ibn 'Uyayna when a problematic juristic question would be raised. He (Imam Sufyan) would ask, 'Is there someone from the Companions (Ashab) of Imam Abu Hanifa here?' My name would be taken. He would say to me, 'Answer!' I would then answer. He would then remark, 'Safety in religion is to refer to the jurists (Fuqaha').'"
Qawa'id fi 'Ulum al-Hadith, pg.330.