Al-Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī wrote:[1]
Muḥammad bin ʿAbd Allāh al-Shāfiʿī, the Jurist, al-Ṣayrafī, the author of al-Uṣūl, addressing the students of al-Shāfiʿī’s madhhab: “Consider these two, Ḥusayn al-Karābīsī and Abū Thawr. Ḥusayn, for his knowledge and memorisation, and Abū Thawr was not even one-tenth as knowledgeable as him. But Aḥmad bin Ḥanbal spoke about him in the subject of the pronunciation (al-lafḍh) of the Qurʾān, and he fell. And he praised Abū Thawr for his adherence to the Sunnah and he became elevated.”
Allāh raised the mention of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) (94:4-), and he is the greatest of all of the people of the earth in being remembered for the truth that he conveyed, that of Tawḥīd and Sunnah, and the honour he was granted through prophethood and messengership. It is Allāh’s Book, and the Sunnah of His Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) that raise (and lower) people, and this is the rule in His creation.
So whoever speaks truth and abides by it, he has a share of that elevation and honour, and whoever opposes it and abandons it, then he is stripped of it and is lowered. Allāh raises and lowers whom He wills (3:26-), through His justice and wisdom, and every day He brings matters forth (55:29-).
Husayn al-Karābīsī was a towering figure in knowledge and memorisation, but that availed him nothing when he got caught up in the speech of Ibn Kullāb, and the doubt regarding the pronunciation of the Qurʾān that was used as a stepping stone to the saying that the Qurʾān is created. So he was spoken against by Imām Aḥmad for his misguided speech and opinion which opposed the Sunnah, and so he fell. And as for Abu Thawr, then he was small in knowledge, but he spoke with the truth and conformed with the Sunnah, so he was raised and elevated by that.
Likewise, the case of al-Ḥasan bin Ṣāliḥ bin Ḥayy, who was a great scholar, of tremendous standing, But he merely held the opinion of rebellion against the sinful, oppressive ruler (without rebelling himself or calling to it), and the Salaf screamed against him in mosques, pulpits and horizons, and described him with foulness and evil, and he was shunned and forgotten.
Today, one can meet with Khārijites, rebels and secessionists, argue for them and their cause and support them, and sanction their activities, and take money from them, and there will be found those who protect and defend such people, and praise them and their evil writings, and scorn those who raise the banner of the Sunnah, call to it and defend it.
From the ignorance and delusion found with some people is that they think truth cannot be stated by people of lower rank and that people of higher rank can never take a path of error (or misguidance). However, the affair is entirely with Allāh, and both recent and past history contain plenty of examples of this.