What is the ruling on describing as an innovator everyone who makes a mistake in doctrine (‘aqeedah)?

 

What is the ruling on describing a number of imams of Ahl al-Sunnah as innovators on the grounds that they made mistakes in doctrine (‘aqeedah), such as al-Nawawi, Ibn Hajar and others?.

Praise be to Allaah.

If a person makes a mistake it should not be accepted, his
mistake should be rejected, as Maalik (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
“There is no one among us whose opinion may be rejected except the occupant
of this grave” meaning the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him). Every scholar makes mistakes and gets things right, so what he
gets right is to accepted and what he gets wrong is to be ignored. If he is
one of those who follow Salafi ‘aqeedah, but he makes some mistakes, the
mistakes are to be rejected, but this does not put him beyond the pale of
Salafi ‘aqeedah if he is known to be a follower of the salaf but he made
some errors in some interpretation of hadeeth, or in some words that he
spoke. The mistakes should not be accepted and he should not be followed in
that. This applies to all the imams. If al-Shaafa’i or Abu Haneefah or
Maalik or Ahmad or al-Thawri or al-Awzaa’i or anyone else made a mistake,
what they got right should be accepted and what they got wrong should be
ignored. Mistakes are anything that goes against the shar’i evidence, which
is what Allaah and His Messenger said. No one will be blamed for anything
except a mistake that goes against the evidence. What we must do is follow
the truth. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“What Allaah gave as booty (Fay’) to His Messenger
(Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) from the
people of the townships — it is for Allaah, His Messenger (Muhammad
صلى الله عليه وسلم), the kindred (of
Messenger Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم ),
the orphans, Al‑Masaakeen (the poor), and the wayfarer, in order that it may
not become a fortune used by the rich among you. And whatsoever the
Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم)
gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it)”

[al-Hashr 59:7] 

The scholars are unanimously agreed that any person’s opinion
may be taken or left except the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him). What we must do is follow what he brought
and accept it, and not reject anything that he brought, because of the verse
quoted above and other similar verses, and because Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):

“(And) if you differ in anything among yourselves, refer
it to Allaah and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه
وسل), if you believe in Allaah and in the Last Day. That is better
and more suitable for final determination.”

[al-Nisa’ 4:59]

End quote.