In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:

Chapter: Among the types of his plots and deceptions (i.e. shaytaan) is that he calls a servant of Allaah – through his good manners, friendliness and cheerfulness – to some types of sins and sinful behaviour, so he (i.e. the one with good manners) meets a person- in this manner – whose evil one cannot be save from except with a smirk, frowning in his face and turning away from him. The enemy (shaytaan) makes it fair seeming to him to meet this person in a friendly manner, with a cheerful face and delightful speech, so he clings to him; then he wants to get away from him but he is unable to do so. The enemy (shaytaan) continues to strive between them until he achieves his need, so he finds a way (to corrupt) a servant of Allaah with his plot from the angle of good manners and a cheerful face. Hence, the scholars who are well versed regarding (diseases, weaknesses and strengths) of the hearts advised that one turns away from the proponents of innovation in religious affairs- neither greet nor show them a friendly face, and to meet them only with frowning and turning away”. [Ighaathatul Laffaan 1/140. Quoted by Shaikh Khaalid Adh-Dhufayree (may Allaah preserve him) in Ijmaa Al-Ulamaa Alal Hijrati Wat-tahdheer Min Ahlil Ahwaa. page62. slightly paraphrased]

Stance of The Pious Predecessors Against The Proponents of Innovation In Religious Affairs

Ibn Abbaas [may Allaah be pleased with him and his father] said, “Do not sit with the people of desires, because indeed it causes sickness of the heart”. [Reported by: Imaam Al-Aajuree in Ash-Sharee’ah: 1/453]

Sallaam Ibn Abee Mutee [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “A man from the people of desires said to Ayyoub As-Sakhtiyaanee, ‘O Abaa-Bakr! I want to ask you about some statement’. So Ayyoub walked away and started gesturing with his finger, saying, ‘Not even half a statement’”. [ Reported by Imaam Al-Aajuree in Ash-Sharee-ah 1/440]

Shu’aib [may Allaah have mercy upon him] narrated: “I said to Ibn Seereen: what is your view concerning listening to the people of desires (i.e. ahlul bidah)?” He said, “We neither listen to them nor honour (them)”. [Siyar A’laam Nubulaa: 4/611]

Imaam Fudayl Ibn Iyaad [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “If I see a man from Ahlus Sunnah it is as if I have seen a man from the Companions of the Messenger of Allaah [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him]. If I see a man of bidah, it is as if I have seen a man from the hypocrites”. Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al Fawzaan [may Allaah protect him] commented on this statement of Imaam Fudayl Ibn Iyaad as follows: “That is because he (i.e. the man of sunnah) is one who follows the Companions, and because the one who follows them is from them and he is as Imaam Maalik says: ‘They will be in the company of those whom Allaah has bestowed His Grace’ [Qur’aan 4:69]. Therefore, whoever follows them (i.e. the Companions) is from them”. And regarding the statement of Imaam Fudayl Ibn Iyaad, “If I see a man of bidah, it is as if I have seen a man from the hypocrites”. Al-Allaamah Saaleh al Fawzaan commented on this statement, saying: “If you see a man from the people of innovations and desires – those in opposition to Ahlus Sunnah, it as if you have seen a man from the hypocrites, those who claim an apparent Islaam whilst they are disbelievers in secret, wishing to be deceitful. So, the people of desires and bidah have a resemblance to the hypocrites, because they show an apparent Islaam, however they innovate and do not follow the Sunnah. This is a characteristic of the hypocrites”. [It’haaf Al Qaaree Bitta’liqaat Alaa Sharh As-Sunnah Lil Imaam Barbahaaree. 2/309-310]

Imaam Sufyaan Ath-Thawree [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “Whoever lends an ear to a person of bidah has left the protection of Allaah and is entrusted to it (i.e. to the bidah)”. Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al-Fawzaan commented on this statement, saying, “Whoever lends an ear to a person of bidah has left the protection of Allaah. The narration about fleeing from ahlul bidah and not to sit with them, nor to accompany them has proceeded, so whoever accompanies them and listens to their statements and does not reject them, will be destroyed alongside them. It is not permissible for you to lend an ear and listen to them whilst saying, ‘I am a believer with strong faith and I am well acquainted with the Islamic Creed, and they cannot have an effect on me.’ This is self deception (and) trial for the people, because being distant from (them) and not listening to their false statements is Safety. As for lending your ear to them, then you will become worthy of being put to trial alongside them”. And regarding the statement of Sufyaan, “And is entrusted to it (i.e. to the bidah)”, Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al Fawzaan commented as follows: That is because Allaah safeguards the one who seeks safety with Him but the one who listens to bidah is worthy of being put to trial by it. He is entrusted to it and is removed from the Protection of Allaah”. [It’haaful Qaaree Bitta’liqaat Alaa Sharh As-Sunnah Lil Imaam Barbahaaree. 2/ 316-317]

Imaam Fudayl Ibn Iyaad said, “Whoever sits with a person of bidah has not been given wisdom”. Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al-Fawzaan commented on this statement, saying, “He (i.e. the one who sits with a person of bidah) is deprived of wisdom, and wisdom is understanding of the Religion of Allaah. The one who sits with ahlul bidah is deprived of understanding of the Religion as punishment for him”. [It’haaful Qaaree Bitta’liqaat Alaa Sharh As-Sunnah Lil Imaam Barbahaaree. 2/318]

Imaam Fudayl Ibn Iyaad said, “Do not sit with a person of innovation, for I fear that curses will descend upon you”. Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al-Fawzaan commented on this statement as follows, “That is because punishment, anger and deviation descend upon a person of bidah, so it is feared that you will be afflicted with some of what afflicts him, and for that reason Allaah stated:

وَإِذَا رَأَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخُوضُونَ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فَأَعۡرِضۡ عَنۡہُمۡ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُواْ فِى حَدِيثٍ غَيۡرِهِۦ‌ۚ وَإِمَّا يُنسِيَنَّكَ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ فَلَا تَقۡعُدۡ بَعۡدَ ٱلذِّڪۡرَىٰ مَعَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

And when you (Muhammad) see those who engage in a false conversation about Our Verses (of the Qurýaan), stay away from them till they turn to another topic. And if shaitaan causes you to forget, then after the remembrance sit not you in the company of those people who are the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers). [Surah Al-An’aam. Aayah 68]

And Allaah said to the believers:

وَقَدۡ نَزَّلَ عَلَيۡڪُمۡ فِى ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ أَنۡ إِذَا سَمِعۡتُمۡ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ يُكۡفَرُ بِہَا وَيُسۡتَہۡزَأُ بِہَا فَلَا تَقۡعُدُواْ مَعَهُمۡ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُواْ فِى حَدِيثٍ غَيۡرِهِۦۤ‌ۚ إِنَّكُمۡ إِذً۬ا مِّثۡلُهُمۡ‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ جَامِعُ ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقِينَ وَٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ فِى جَهَنَّمَ جَمِيعًا

And it has already been revealed to you in the Book (this Qur’aan) that when you hear the Verses of Allaah being denied and mocked at, then sit not with them, until they engage in a talk other than that; (but if you stayed with them) certainly in that case you would be like them. Surely, Allaah will collect the hypocrites and disbelievers all together in Hell. [Surah An-Nisaa. Aayah 140]

In this is a warning against sitting with the people of misguidance and desires, and against sitting, accompanying and listening to their speech or reading their books. So it is upon you to be distant from these affairs. Wal-laahul Musta-aan, at present the one who acts upon this (i.e. the one who keeps away from the people of misguidance and desires) is said to be a secluded person and a boycotter, and that he is one who harbors doubt against the people. [It’haaful Qaaree Bitta’liqaat Alaa Sharh As-Sunnah Lil Imaam Barbahaaree. 2/318-319]

Imaam Fudayl Ibn Iyaad said, “Whoever sits in a road with a person of bidah, take a different road”. Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al-Fawzaan commented on this statement as follows, “Be it even in a road; if you see him in a road do not go with him. Do not accompany them in a road nor on a journey, for they will have an effect on you. Then where does this leave those who go with the innovators and accompany them in the pretext of dawah?” [ It’ihaaful Qaaree Bitta’liqaat Alaa Sharh As-Sunnah Lil Imaam Barbahaaree. 2/319-320]

Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadee Al-Mad’khalee [may Allaah protect him] said:

Allaah [The Most High] said:

[وَلَا تَرۡكَنُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ فَتَمَسَّكُمُ ٱلنَّارُ – And incline not toward those who do wrong, lest the Fire should touch you]. [Surah Hud: Ayah 113]

The word [ظلم –wrong] in [this ayah] can [mean] disbelief; it can mean bidah and it can be [فسوق i.e. sinful, immoral behaviour], because (ظلم) can be applicable to all [i.e. in different contexts]. Therefore, we refrain from inclining towards the evil doers, the people of bidah, the Kuffaar, the Ilmaaniyyoon and other than them. And we protect ourselves, our Aqeedah, the Eemaan and sound religion which Allaah has bestowed on us.

It is enough for us to remember that the Salaf fled from Fitan – not mixing, sitting and debating with the people of Fitan. And even amongst them, such as the likes of Ayyoub As-Sakhtiyaanee and Ibn Seereen did not listen to the speech of those [people of bidah]. And when Ibn Seereen was asked, “Why do you not speak; why do you not listen to them?” He said, “Indeed, my heart is not in my hands! I am not in control of my heart; I fear for myself that I may be misguided”. So the likes of these Imaams feared fitna and deviation for themselves; but you the Miskeen possess that bravery to enable you to challenge ahlul bidah….!!! Many people say, “We sit with ahlul ahwaa [i.e. the people of desires] and we take [from them]; we distinguish between truth and falsehood; we take what is truth and abandon falsehood”, whilst he [i.e. the utterer of this speech] is a Miskeen who can neither distinguish between truth and falsehood nor is he in control of his heart. How many a young person has been put to trial through this satanic view and thus he [becomes] degraded, reverts back on his heels [into misguidance] and depraved, and Allaah’s Aid is sought. He falls prey in the arena of the people of fitan! Therefore, it is obligated on a student of knowledge not to [regard] himself safe from ahlul bidah, for indeed he is not more knowledgeable than Ayyoub and Ibn Seereen, nor can he reach their station [in knowledge, piety etc] and those who followed them. [An Excerpt from (الذريعة إلى بيان مقاصد كتاب الشريعة ) Vol 1 pages 192-193. Slightly paraphrased]

The Shaikh also quoted Imaam As-Saabooni who stated, “And they [i.e. Ahlul Hadeeth] hated Ahlul-Bid’ah – those who initiated into the religion what is not from it. They neither loved them nor keep company with them. They neither listened to their speech nor sit with them. They neither argued with them about the religion nor debated with them’’. Then Shaikh Rabee said: How is this [the case]? Is this [view introduced] from themselves or guidance from Allaah and His Messenger, and that which the Salafus Saaleh were upon? Allaah [Glorified and Exalted be He] warned against Ahlul Bidah and clarified for us that they are people of desires, and that they follow Mutashaabihaat [i.e. texts that are not entirely clear in what they indicate, so they are referred back to other texts to be explained] and they abandon the Muhkamaat [i.e. texts that are very clear]. Aa’isha [radiyallaahu-anhaa] said: The Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] recited this ayah:

هُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُّحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ ۖ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ ۗ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ۗ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ رَبِّنَا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ

It is He Who has sent down to you [Muhammad] the Book [this Qur’an]. In it are Verses that are (entirely clear, they are the foundations of the Book [and those are the Verses of Al-Ahkaam (commandments, etc.), Al-Faraa’id (obligatory duties) and Al-Hudood (legal laws for the punishment of thieves, adulterers, etc.)]; and others are Mutashaabihaat (i.e. not entirely clear in what they indicate, so they are to be referred back to the Muhkamaat to be explained]. So, as for those in whose hearts there is a deviation (from the truth) they follow that which is not entirely clear thereof, seeking Al-Fitnah (polytheism and trials, etc.), and seeking for its hidden meanings, but none knows its hidden meanings except Allaah. And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: ‘’We believe in it; the whole of it (clear and unclear Verses) are from our Lord.” And none receive admonition except men of understanding.’’ [Surah Aal Imraan. Aayah 7] [Then] she [i.e. Aa’isha] said: The Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said, ‘’If you see those who follow thereof that is not entirely clear, then they are those whom Allah has named [as having deviation (from the truth)] so beware of them’’. [Bukhaari Number 4547]

Allaah clarified that they [i.e. ahlul bidah] have desires [i.e. evil desires] and deviation with them, and that they intend to misguide themselves and other people! They desire trials and intend to misguide the people, and that is why the Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] mentioned them and described their condition to us. He [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said, ‘’And indeed there will appear a people out of my Ummah in whom desires will run through them just as rabies runs through a dog.’’

Ahlul Sunnah – no doubt – hate Ahlul bidah and Imaam [As Saabooni] mentioned a number of them [i.e. senior scholars of ahlul hadeeth] that they are all agreed upon hating [Ahlul bidah]. However, amongst them [i.e Ahlul bidah] there are du’aat [callers to their bidah]- they are neither to be sat with nor debated with, except in cases of necessity and for a Maslahah [i.e. a carefully assessed benefit identified by rightly guided scholars amongst the scholars]; [otherwise], it is not permissible to enter into debate with them. It is not permissible to enter into a specific debate with the rawaafid if you are weak [i.e. in knowledge and character], except if one is a man who is firmly grounded in knowledge and religion, [very proficient in] establishing evidences, clever and a possessor of [that force and strength that enables him to easily excel in debate with the clear proofs without being affected by doubts]; so if he sees a benefit in debating them, he debates them. [Allaah (The Most High) said]: [وَجَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ – and argue with them in a way that is better]. This is the legislated debate. Allaah did not close the door of debate completely, so if we have a way of establishing the proofs and to guide the people to good, we follow it. The one who is debated with may not benefit but others may benefit.

As for the weak one, then no [i.e. he does not engage in debate]. Even amongst the scholars there is one who is weak and one who is led to be mistaken by Shub’hah [i.e. a statement or affair that resembles the truth but is falsehood in reality]. He may be a scholar but his character is weak, so he becomes weak in the presence of Ahlul bidah, even if they are younger than him and lesser in knowledge! Indeed, it has happened to many of those who ascribe to the Sunnah and Hadeeth [ i.e. fell into some deviation or error] due to their weakness and opposition to the methodology of the Salaf. For example: Al Bayhaqqi was from the seniors of Ahlul hadeeth and their scholars, and was deceived by some of the Ashaa’irah such as Ibn Fawrak and his ilk, so he fell into Ash’ariyyah! How many among the youth- in this era – have been ruined at the hands of Ahlul bidah?! How many youth, middle age men and graduates from universities have been deceived by Ahlul bidah, and thus they fall into their arms?! They are deceived by the parties [of illegal partisanship] and thus fall into their arms! Why is this? Because they did not act upon the statement of the Messenger: “If you see those who follow thereof that is not entirely clear, then they are those whom Allah has named [as having deviation (from the truth)] so beware of them”. The strong one calls Ahlul bidah; he calls the Christians. There has to be dawah in the path of Allaah and there has to be strong scholars who disseminate the religion of Allaah; and when necessary, they debate so that the proofs are established and benefit one who is to benefit. [An Excerpt from ‘Sharh Aqeedah As-Salaf Ashaab Al-Hadeeth’ pages 301-304′. slightly paraphrased]

Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) said: ‘’And Imaan is known about a man, just as all the states of his heart are known by way of his (outward) allegiances, enmities, his rejoicing, anger, hunger, thirst, and other such affairs. For these matters have certain outward binding necessities (lawaazim dhaahirah) and the outward matters necessitate inward matters. And this is a matter known, the people know this concerning the one that they have experienced and tested (jarraboohu wamtahinoohu)… [Minhaaj-as-sunnah 8/475. Translation: Salafipublications.com]

We seek Allaah’s Protection from this calamity Aameen