Is it permissible to warn against a preacher for reasons that include his statements that Iblis did not disbelieve, that God will admit artists to Paradise for their art, and that Jews are not our enemies?

One must adhere to important rules when discussing and judging people: Backbiting is one of the gravest sins, and its sinfulness increases when it is directed at scholars and callers to Islam. However, it is permissible, and even obligatory, to warn against someone who is astray or an innovator. People are not infallible: 1. There are clear errors that contradict explicit texts or the consensus of the Ummah, and these must be clarified. 2. There are errors in matters of ijtihad (independent reasoning), and it is not permissible to denounce them or vilify the one who holds them, though discussing them is not prohibited.

Slandering an individual and warning against them varies depending on the person and the magnitude of their errors: If someone calls to a methodology other than that of Ahl al-Sunnah and combats them, or if they operate from innovative principles, then warning against them is obligatory. If someone affiliates with Ahl al-Sunnah, but their errors and eccentricities have become numerous, to the point of outweighing their good deeds, then warning against them is obligatory. If someone affiliates with Ahl al-Sunnah and has few errors due to ijtihad or weakness in knowledge, and their good deeds outweigh their bad ones, then their errors must be clarified without slandering their person or bringing them down.

One must consider the person's origin and intention. If they glorify Allah's Law and follow the Messenger, they are excused, and their words and actions should be weighed against the scales of the Qur'an and Sunnah.

Speech must only be about what is truly present in the person; otherwise, it is slander.

Many callers to Islam direct their da'wah (call) to the general Muslim populace, and their acceptance by them is a great good. It then becomes the responsibility of the people of truth to care for them and guide them to the methodology of Ahl al-Sunnah.