An Outline of the History of Restriction on Ijtihad

Nevertheless, for anyone possessing a minimal knowledge of the history of the Prophet (s) and the Sahabah and the verses revealed about some of them, ascribing to them hypocrisy, opposition to the Prophet's (s) commands, and causing him (s) grievance, there remains no doubt that there were among the Sahabah those whose sinfulness is doubtless, especially when the Holy Qur'an itself dubbs one sahabi as fasiq where it declares:

O believers, if an ungodly man comes to you with a tiding, ascertain carefully, lest you harm a people in ignorance, and then repent for what you have done. (49:6)

It also explicitly states that there were liars among them:

Were it been an immediate gain and the journey easy, certainly they would have followed thee; but the distance was too long for them. Still they will swear by God, 'Had we been able, we would have gone out with you.' They cause their own selves to perish and God knows that they are truly liars. God forgive thee, why didst thou give them leave until it was manifest unto thee those who spake the truth and thou hadst known the liars. (9:42-43)

It also observes about some of them:

Some of them there are that say, 'Exempt me and try me not;' surely into trial they have already fallen, and verily hell encompasses the unbelievers. I f good fortune befalls thee, it vexes them; but if thou art visited by any hardship, they say, 'Indeed we had taken care of our affair before,' and turn away rejoicing. (9:49-50)

It addresses some of them and says: