The establishment of al-Walid ibn 'Uqbah drinking intoxicants and the statements of the historians

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, the claim that al-Walid drank intoxicants is recorded in some historical books, but it is not correct. Rather, the people of Iraq fabricated it against him because he was their governor and they wanted to depose him. Some historians even mentioned that he swore by Allah that he did not drink it.

Answer:
No, that is not correct. Historians are not to be relied upon. I have transmitted the hadith and I have transmitted the athar (reports from the Companions or successors); the most reliable among them are these. A person is not infallible; a person is not infallible, neither al-Walid nor anyone else. He is prone to error and prone to sin, but the door of repentance is open. The Companions have virtues that cover what may occur from some of them in the way of error or sins. Their virtues cover this. Their companionship with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) covers what may occur from them in the way of some sins. Yes.