Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal [may Allaah have Mercy on him] said in his Usool
as-Sunnah:
“Do no sit with the people of innovation and desires. “
Shaykh Rabee’ bin Haadee al-Madkhalee [may Allaah Preserve him] said in
explanation:
The evidence for this is:
“And when you (Muhammad) see those who engage in a
false conversation about Our Verses (of the Qur'an) by mocking at them, stay
away from them till they turn to another topic. And if Shaitan (Satan) causes you to forget, then after the remembrance sit not
you in the company of those people who are theZalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.).” [al-An’aam 6:68]
Meaning, do not sit with them, because in actuality they mock the Book
of Allaah and speak about Allaah without knowledge.
Therefore, innovating into the religion is of the same severity of
mocking it. So it is obligatory to detach yourself from those who attribute
such falsehood to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Messenger. The
Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] said:
“If you see those who always talk about the ambiguous Ayaat, then they
are those whom Allaah has named (in Suraah al-Imraan 3:7), so be warned against
them.” [Reported by al-Bukhaaree (4547)]
And,
“There will be a group from my Ummah that will come with an
interpretation that neither you or your forefathers were aware of, so be warned
against them.” [Reported by Muslim (60)]
These evidences are applicable to sitting with the innovators. They are
ignorant and mock the religion and they mock you. However, if you have textual
proof and are able to refute them with it, then there is no harm in sitting
with them for this purpose.
As for sitting with them with the purpose to mock the religion with
them, or to believe them in their innovation, or to love them or support them
etc. then this is a big mistake and a form of misguidance. So it is upon the
one with any sense to abstain from them.
[Sharh Usool as-Sunnah of Imaam Ahmad (Pg.8)]
Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin Naasir al-Baraack [may Allaah Preserve him]
said:
Sitting with innovators and engaging with them in their falsehood are
ways in which people are misguided and misguide others by. Sitting with them
without refuting or objecting to their innovations suggests that the one
accompanying them is pleased with their falsehood.
So whoever is not able to refute or object to their innovations must not
sit with them. Rather, sitting with them would be considered as a sitting that
is a sitting of disobeying Allaah.
As for those who sit with innovators in order to refute their falsehood,
from the different levels of innovations of Kufr, Bid’ah and sin etc. then such
a ruling differs depending on the situation and objectives.
Therefore, sitting with them may be recommended; such as a person who
has knowledge and wants to give them Da’wah but this is on the condition that
he doesn’t fear harm for himself or his religion.
It may be Makrooh to sit with innovators or it may be Mubaah, all
depending on the consequences and the situation.
It may be that sitting with innovators is Haraam if by sitting with them
would lead to corruption of one’s religion and understanding. It may also
be Haraam if the person is taken as an example and is seen sitting with them.
Sometimes, abandoning the people of innovation and sin maybe in order to
be saved from their evils and corruption, but at times it may be as an act of
rebuking them for their misguidance (so that they may take heed), and
proclaiming innocence from them.
So the narrations that have come from the Salaf warning against sitting
with innovators have all come with the understanding that they feared for
themselves from the evils of their innovations and misguidance –fearing that
they would be influence if they sat with them.
As for most people nowadays, they do not have knowledge or strength in
Emaan in order to refute and reject innovations and misguidance.
So as the saying goes, “Precaution is better than cure.”
And Allaah Knows Best.
[10/8/1426 – 14/9/2005]
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