Is it permissible to insult scholars or to show fanatic partisanship for or against them simply because of a disagreement with them, whether in truth or falsehood?

Given the proliferation of those who speak on matters of religion, it is imperative to respect the people of knowledge and acknowledge their rightful status, and to refrain from slandering them. Every person's words can be taken or left, except for the infallible one, peace and blessings be upon him. And whoever perceives a mistake by a scholar should offer advice, not defamation. Disagreement among human beings is a divine سنت (established way), and scholars have differed while adhering to good manners. People are divided concerning scholars into two groups: one that exaggerates about them, and another that seeks out their errors. The truth lies in the middle. Scholars engaged in issuing fatwas are of two types: those known for the prevalence of their correctness, whose statements are accepted unless they contradict evidence; and those who do not possess these characteristics, whose statements are presented to the evidence, accepting what conforms and rejecting what contradicts, all done with a solid academic approach.