What is the ruling on one who insults the Companions?

The questioner : For example, if someone declares the Companions disbelievers, for instance, saying Yazid ibn Mu'awiyah is an open sinner or a wicked person, and the same for his father, is this person a disbeliever, a wicked person, or an open sinner?

The Shaykh : This, my brother, varies depending on this person. Is he ignorant? Is he knowledgeable? Has the argument been established against him from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)? Is he stubborn? Is he one who engages in figurative interpretation? All this detail prevents the scholars from rushing to say that he is a disbeliever, or that he is not a disbeliever. It is necessary to apply these conditions so that we can then say whether he is a disbeliever or not. Yes.

The questioner : Spending zakah funds on purchasing scholarly and legal books and legal tapes, and spending them on a student of knowledge, and the ruling if...