Is it permissible for me as a layman to speak ill of Sheikh Qardawi?

Answer

There is no need for a layman to speak ill of even the Ulama-e-Soo'. The furthest you may go in this regard, is to warn your associates, relatives, etc. to refrain from reading his books. But it will not be permissible for you to insult or speak bad about him for no valid Shar'i reason. Since we have the obligation to warn Muslims in general to beware of deviates, we feel obliged to criticize the Ulama -e-Soo' in order to protect the Deen and the Imaan of people.