The Ruling on Criticizing Scholars and Pursuing Their Mistakes

Question:
The second question, the second question. May Allah preserve you, O Shaykh. We are seeing now on some social media platforms that some of our brothers, may Allah guide them, are criticizing great scholars like Shaykh 'Abdullah ibn Jibrin, may Allah have mercy on him, and Shaykh 'Abd al-Rahman al-Barak, may Allah preserve him and prolong his life in obedience. They impose on them obligations that were not imposed on them, they pursue their slips and say, "These people said such and such, and their intention was such and such." So what is your guidance? May Allah suffice you? Especially since they have many followers on these platforms.

Answer:
This is not permissible. This is backbiting, which is forbidden, and backbiting scholars is more severe, and I seek refuge in Allah. So it is not permissible to backbite scholars or speak about them, or to track their mistakes. You must advise these people if you see it in them or know of someone among them who does this, advising them about it. As the people of knowledge said, "The flesh of the people of knowledge is poisoned; their flesh is poisoned." So it is not permissible to backbite them or speak about them. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you,