What is the ruling on one who speaks ill of earlier scholars who were criticized for matters that contradict the methodology of the Salaf, such as Ibn Hajar, al-Nawawi, Ibn al-Jawzi, and others?

The questioner : Shaykh, I have another question, and it is the last one. There are people who are very harsh in their speech toward scholars, such that they do not respect the old or the young. For example, anyone who is described as an Ash'ari, or whose belief is said to be Ash'ari, you will find that he is targeted in his books with the worst of words. We want, therefore, advice for this man, especially since many people have been deceived by him, or they say that he has the characteristics of the righteous. So we want you to advise him, Shaykh. Please direct some advice to him.

The Shaykh : Yes, may Allah reward you with good. I believe that justice is to mention every Muslim with the good and correctness in him, and to mention the error in him. I do not say "evil," because evil is more specific than error. I believe that the person referred to in the question is not a jurist. He may be righteous, but righteousness is one thing and jurisprudence is another.