The noble Scholar, the Faqeeh, al-‘Allaamah al-‘Uthaymeen is asked a question about the science of al-Jarh wat-Ta’deel (disparagement and appraisal) being dead in our times and no longer being in existence. He clarifies that al-Jarh wat-Ta’deel is not sick, nor is it buried, nor is it dead. Rather, he explains that al-Jarh wat-Ta’deel still exists in the Sharee’ah courts, in the books of hadeeth and in warning against the people of innovation and misguidance. Source: http://www.sunnahpublishing.net