In the past, the great scholar of ḥadīth, Shaykh Rabīʿ ibn Hādī al-Madkhalī issued some statements in regards to him being called, “Imām of Jarḥ wa Taʿdīl” and being considered a scholar. The noble shaykh, following in the footsteps of great scholars who preceded him like Imām al-Albānī (who called himself a طُويلب – [just] a small student), negated scholarship for himself and showed dislike for being praised. This is a characteristic of humility and follows in the way of the Salaf (humility, hating being elevated, etc.) Naturally, those with sinister objectives sought to utilise this speech to infer that Shaykh Rabīʿ is not an Imām, not a scholar, and not fit to critique [ahl al-bidʿah], hoping to dismiss every criticism ever levied by this noble scholar.