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

                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 Allah.
    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.