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It Is Not Permissible to Exalt The Innovators
(One who praises Innovators is One of Two)
Shaykh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan ﷾
حكم توقير أهل البدع والثناء عليهم – الشيخ الفوزان ﷾
Question: Is it Permissible to Exalt The Innovators?
Answer: It is not permissible to exalt and praise the innovators even if they have some truth with them. That is because raising and praising them will spread their bidah and place them amongst the sincere ones-those who are taken as examples amongst distinguished men of this Ummah. The Salaf warned against having trust for the innovators, (warned against) praising them and their gatherings. In this regard, Asad Ibn Musa (رحمه الله) wrote: ”Beware of being a brother of the innovator (by association) or a companion of his, or one whom you sit with; for indeed it has been narrated that ‘Whoever sits with a person of innovation has left the protection of Allaah and is entrusted to himself’.
The innovators must be warned against and kept away from even if they have some truth with them. Indeed, the most astray are not devoid of some truth, but as long as they have with them innovation, opposition and sinful views, it is not permissible to praise and exalt them. It is impermissible to not have an objection against their innovation because this spreads bidah, belittles the Sunnah and by way of this the innovator will emerge and become a guide for the Ummah.
As for giving consideration (to the fact) that the innovation has some truth, this does not justify praising him. This is -to a far greater extent- against what is of overriding benefit and it is known in relation to a principle in the religion that averting harm takes precedence over seeking that which is of benefit. And with regards to having hatred for the innovator, the harm that is averted from the Ummah is weightier than the benefit possessed by the innovator. And had we adhered to this concept (i.e. praising the innovator because he has some truth with him), then no one would have been judged to be misguided and declared an innovator. That is because there is not an innovator except that he has some truth and adherence to the Sunnah. The innovator (may) neither be a disbeliever nor be in opposition to all the Islamic legislation; rather he is either an innovator in some or most of the affairs. However, if the innovation is particularly related to affairs of Creed and Methodology, then the affair is dangerous indeed because it will become an example (to be followed); innovation will spread and the innovators will become active in spreading their innovation.
So, this person who praises the innovators and makes their affair obscure to the people -due to some truth they (i.e. innovators) have – is one of two (people): Either he is one ignorant of the methodology of the pious predecessors and their stance against the innovators, so neither is it permissible for this ignorant one to speak nor is it permissible for the Muslims to listen to him; or he is one who has an objection to the truth because he knows the danger of innovation and the innovators, but he wishes to spread innovations. Nevertheless, this is a dangerous affair and it is not permissible to be lackadaisical with regards to innovation and its people, whatever that may be.
[Source: An Excerpt from At-Tabdee Wat-Tafseeq Wat Takfeer. Page: 72-76. slightly paraphrased]
السؤال: ما حكم من يوقر أهل البدع ويحترمهم ويثني عليهم بأنهم يطبقون حكم الإسلام مع علمه ببدعهم وفي بعض الأحيان عندما يذكرهم في الدروس العامة يقول : مع التحفظ على بعض المواقف عند هؤلاء المبتدعة أو يقول : بغض النظر عن ما عند هؤلاء المبتدعة الذين يحترمهم هذا القائل ويثني عليهم ويدافع عنهم لهم كلام مكتوب ومسجّل فيه طعن في السنة وتجهيل للصحابة وغمز للنبي صلى الله عليه و سلم فما حكم هذا القائل وهل يحذر من أقواله هذه ؟
الجواب: لا يجوز تعظيم المبتدعة والثناء عليهم ولو كان عندهم شيء من الحق : لأن مدحهم والثناء عليهم يروّج بدعتهم ويجعل المبتدعة في صفوف المقتدى بهم من رجالات هذه الأمة والسلف حذّرونا من الثقة بالمبتدعة ومن الثناء عليهم و من مجالستهم وفيما كتب به أسد بن موسى: ” وإياك أن يكون لك من البدع أخ أو جليس أو صاحب فإنه جاء الأثر: (من جالس صاحب بدعة نزعت منه العصمة و وكل إلى نفسه ومن مشى إلى صاحب بدعة مشى إلى هدم الإسلام ) .
والمبتدعة يجب التحذير منهم ويجب الإبتعاد عنهم ولو كان عندهم شيء من الحق فإن غالب الضُّلال لا يخلون من شيء من الحق ولكن ما دام عندهم ابتداع وعندهم مخالفات وعندهم أفكار سيئة فلا يجوز الثناء عليهم ولا يجوز مدحهم ولا يجوز التغاضي عن بدعتهم لأن في هذا ترويجا للبدعة وتهوين من أمر السنة وبهذه الطريقة يظهر المبتدعة ويكونون قادة للأمة _ لا قدر الله _ . فالواجب التحذير منهم وفي أئمة السنة الذين ليس عندهم ابتداع في كل عصر _ ولله الحمد _ فيهم الكفاية للأمة وهم القدوة …….
ظاهرة التبديع والتفسيق والتكفير وضوابطها ـ الشيخ الفوزان
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