Is describing certain traits as unfitting for the Messenger—may God’s peace and blessings be upon him—or as base a form of slander, and is objecting to ijtihad or scholarly inquiry into jurisprudential matters considered an objection to God?

We congratulate the questioner on her repentance and her resolve not to object to the rulings of Allah. We advise her to refrain from dwelling on matters of disbelief and to occupy her time with what is beneficial. If someone says about a matter that it is unfitting, in an attempt to absolve the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, from what has not been authentically reported about him, then there is no harm in that, and it is not considered revilement. However, what has been authentically reported about him, it is not permissible to speak ill of it. As for the jurisprudential issues that are subject to ijtihad (independent reasoning), it is permissible to research them and to object based on knowledge, not ignorance.