What is the ruling on insulting the Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and does this ruling differ according to times and circumstances, such as in the Medinan and Meccan periods?

The fair trial of one who insults the Prophet (peace be upon him) is the view of the general body of scholars, because they agree that the implementation of legal punishments (hudud) is the prerogative of the Imam, the ruler, or his deputy. He does not implement them except by the judgment of a judge. The Sharia interest necessitates this to prevent chaos and bloodshed. A number of imams and respected schools of thought have affirmed this matter, stating that hudud are not to be implemented except through judicial process, such as Al-Kasani Al-Hanafi, "Mawahib Al-Jaleel" Al-Maliki, "I'anah Al-Talibin" Al-Shafi'i, and Ibn Qudamah Al-Hanbali. Furthermore, incidents from the Prophetic biography (Seerah) and Sunnah are consistent with this principle, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) was the one who would command the implementation of the legal punishment after it was proven, and he did not implement hudud based solely on his own knowledge, but rather based on evidence or confession. The Companions who killed apostates did so with his prior permission or subsequent endorsement (peace be upon him).