The ruling on one who disparages a Companion in the Friday sermon

Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This question has been asked before, and this is one of them. He says: I heard a Friday preacher one day say, while on the pulpit, that Hatib ibn Abi Balta'ah (may Allah be pleased with him) committed the greatest betrayal. Is his statement correct?

Answer:
This person is not fit to be a preacher. It is obligatory that he be disciplined and removed from the mosque where he spoke about a Companion of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He is not fit to be a preacher; he should be disciplined, imprisoned, and removed from leading the prayer, so that he does not mislead the people. He spoke about the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Hatib ibn Abi Balta'ah—the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) excused him and said that he was among the people of Badr. Badr (may Allah be pleased with him), but he made a mistake in what he did, and he repented to Allah, and Allah accepted his repentance. Yes.