Declaring Someone An Innovator - Final Shaykh Rabee ibn Haadee al-Madkhalee

Reference: www.rabee.net

Category: Methodology

O our Shaykh (????? ????), there is a question going around the students of knowledge regarding an individual who has fallen into an innovation. Is it conditional in order to declare him to be an innovator, that the proof be established against him first, or is this not required?

This relates to someone from Ahlus Sunnah, well known for his pursuit of the truth but fell into an unclear and unapparent innovation (??? ?? ???? ????).

So, as for the likes of this individual, if he has passed away, then it is not permissible to declare him to be an innovator (.??? ???? ??????) rather he is spoken well of.

As for if this individual is alive, then he should be advised, and the truth should be made clear to him, and nobody should be hasty in declaring him to be an innovator (? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ). However, if he is persistent upon his innovation, then yubadda, he is declared to be an innovator (??? ??? ?????).

Shaykhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyah said:

“And many of the rightly guided ones from amongst the Salaf and from those who came after them said statements and performed actions that amounted to innovation, but they didn’t know that they were innovations, either due to their acting upon weak ahadeeth whilst considering them to be authentic or their lack of comprehension of certain verses of the Qu’ran, understanding from them that which was not actually intended, or due to their expression of an opinion in a certain issue of which no text (from the Qur’an or the Sunnah) had reached them. However if a person fears his Lord as much as he is able, then he is to be considered in the statement of Allaah: (???? ?? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ??????)

“O our Lord, do not hold us to account for that which we have done out of forgetfulness and error.”

And it has been narrated in a hadeeth that Allaah said: “I have responded.” And this has been explained in another place.” [Ma’aarij Al Wasool, P: 430].

So in conclusion, it is not permissible to totally and absolutely call for the establishing of the proof upon ahlul bid’ah generally, and neither is it permissible to totally reject it. (??? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ? ?? ??? ???) Rather the matter is how it has been explained.

So my advice to the students of knowledge is that they should hold on to the Book and the Sunnah and have precision in the methodology of the Salaf in every aspect of their religion, especially in the areas relating to:

‘At Takfeer’ - ??????? (declaring people to be disbelievers),

‘At Tafseeq’ - ??????? (declaring people to be disobedient and rebellious sinners), and:

‘At Tabdee’ - ??????? (declaring people to be innovators in the religion).

This being the case such that it does not cause too much argumentation and quarreling in the likes of these issues.

And I strongly advise the ‘Salafi youth’ especially, that they should completely avoid all means that cause them to hold grudges against one another, and cause them to split, differ and become disunited, the very things that are hated by Allaah, that which He, (Allaah), the noble Messenger (??? ???? ???? ? ???), the virtuous Sahaabah and the Salafus Saaleh warned against.

Likewise, I strongly advise that they (the ‘Salafi youth’) strive and exhert themselves in the means that bring about the feeling of love and brotherhood between themselves, the very things that are beloved to Allaah and His messenger (??? ???? ???? ? ???). And may Allaah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and companions.

Shaykh Rabee’ Ibn Haadee ‘Umair Al Madkhalee.

24th Ramdhaan 1424 H

Translator: Ismaa'eel bin Yusuf, Abul-Qayyim

Date Published: Monday 10 January, 2005

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