The Salaf used to seek knowledge for the sake of Allāh, and they were ennobled and then became Imāms of Guidance, by whom the people guided themselves.
If we were to say that there is no rejection to be shown in issues of difference in an unrestricted manner, then the religion as a whole would disappear...
If the person intends the issues of differing (khilāf) [that no rejection is shown towards them], then this is false, it opposes the consensus of the ummah.
The issues of khilāf are broader than the issues of ijtihād and it is permissible to differ in the issues of ijtihād where there is more than one view being supported by evidence.