What is your opinion regarding someone who believes in the ability of the righteous to access the unseen and the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz), supports the Ash'ari school of thought, and criticizes scholars without conditions? Is obedience to the mosque's leader (amir) obligatory unless he commands disobedience? Is it permissible to break ranks (of the congregation) in case of disagreement? What are the conditions that must be met by someone permitted to teach and deliver sermons in the mosque? And does the imam have the right to prevent someone from doing so if he deems it necessary?

No one is permitted to believe that a righteous person can look into the Preserved Tablet (al-Lawh al-Mahfuz), as this is part of the Unseen (al-Ghayb) which Allah reveals to none but His prophets through revelation (wahy), or to the saint (wali) through inspiration (ilham), and this does not entail looking into the Preserved Tablet.

The Ash'ari school of thought (madhhab) is based on the views of Imam Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari during a certain period of his life. He later retracted many of these views in his later writings. They differ from the Salaf in major issues such as faith (iman) and divine decree (qadar). The claim that the Hanafi, Shafi'i, and Maliki schools of thought are generally affiliated with the Ash'aris is incorrect.

Criticism of scholars is permissible for specialists, provided it is based on evidence and proof, intended to clarify the truth and not to undermine them, while respecting their virtue. Sheikh Ibn Baz was a great scholar; he could be right and he could be wrong, but his errors are overshadowed by his good deeds.

The imam of a mosque is responsible for its staff and students, and they are obligated to obey him in administrative and operational matters. However, the right to obedience, to which one pledges allegiance (mubaya'ah), belongs to the ruler (amir), not to any official. Muslims must strive for harmony and shun disunity.

Teaching should be entrusted to those who are proficient among the students of knowledge (talabat al-'ilm) known for their sound belief ('aqidah) and conduct (sirah). The imam is responsible for choosing who teaches and preaches in his mosque, and he has the right to prohibit anyone who is unsuitable for that.