He replied:
Praise be to Allah. According to the agreement of Muslim scholars, these words contain no disparagement whatsoever of the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, nor do they disparage Muslim scholars. Rather, their substance is reverence and respect for the Messenger, and an affirmation that nothing disparaging may be said about him. Indeed, the speaker made a general declaration that anyone who disparages the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, or says something implying disparagement of him, has disbelieved. This strongly emphasizes reverence for him and the obligation to guard against words that imply any disparagement of him.
At the same time, he explained that Muslim scholars who speak in this world according to their independent scholarly judgment must not be declared unbelievers merely because of an error in what they say. This is a sound statement with which one must agree. Allowing ignorant people to declare Muslim scholars unbelievers is among the gravest wrongs. This practice originated with the Khawārij and Rāfidah, who declare Muslim leaders unbelievers because of what they believe to be their errors in religion.
Ahl al-Sunnah wa-l-Jamā‘ah are agreed that Muslim scholars must not be declared unbelievers merely for making an error. Rather, some statements of every person may be accepted and others rejected, except those of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Not everyone whose words are partly rejected because of an error is thereby to be declared an unbeliever or an evildoer; indeed, he may not even incur sin. For Allah Most High has related the believers’ supplication:
“Our Lord, do not hold us accountable if we forget or make a mistake.”
An authentic hadith reports from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, that Allah Most High said:
“I have done so.”
Muslim scholars are agreed that none of the Muslim scholars who differ over the infallibility of the prophets are to be declared unbelievers, nor are those who say that the prophets may commit minor sins and make mistakes, but are not allowed to persist