How can it be correct to elevate people like Ibn Taymiyyah above the Four Imams, or to claim that there are present-day imams better than Ibn Taymiyyah?

Prophets and scholars differ in rank and knowledge, but the preference in status with Allah is a matter of the Unseen into which one should not delve. The judgment on the difference in knowledge among scholars belongs to specialists, not to the common folk or bigots. It has not been observed that people of knowledge engage in classifying scholars except for a specific benefit or occasion. The wise among scholars recognized the virtue of the predecessors and did not involve the common folk in the labyrinth of preferencing. Some ignorant contemporaries imagine that extensive classification indicates scientific superiority, which is an error and a belittling of the righteous predecessors. Ibn Taymiyyah holds that engaging in preferencing between schools of thought and shaykhs and disparaging others is among the foundations of the people of innovation. The Muslim's duty is to intend the Oneness of Allah and obedience to His Messenger, and their loyalty should be to the truth brought by the Messenger and his companions. It is not permissible for a Muslim to engage in classifying and preferencing scholars; they should leave that to the specialists, as it leads to disparaging others and wasting time.