What is your advice for beginner students of knowledge who engage in the critique and vindication of narrators?

Question:
The questioner asks: Is there any advice for beginner students of knowledge who engage in the critique and vindication of narrators?

Answer:
The critique and vindication of narrators passed away with the great imams. The critique and vindication in the chains of hadith is not backbiting or talebearing. Speaking about people in gatherings now is backbiting and talebearing; it is not critique and vindication. So they should repent to Allah and leave off this speech. They have occupied people and divided people with this speech: "So-and-so is such and such," and "So-and-so is such and such." If they criticize a person and establish an error against him, they should advise him, but not speak about him in gatherings. They should advise him, either by writing to him, or by speaking to him face-to-face, or by calling him, and alert him to the error. If he accepts it, praise be to Allah. If he does not accept it, the sin is upon him. As for speaking in gatherings about absent people, this is backbiting. This is backbiting and talebearing, and it is not permissible. Yes.