[Q]: Likewise Shaykh, when these students return from either Makkah, Riyāḍ or al-Madīnah, they return claiming salafiyyah but they isolate themselves from the established Salafīs (i.e. elders). For example, they isolate themselves from the likes of Abū Khadījah and Abū Ḥakīm, [and] in Canada they isolate themselves from the Salafīs at Masjid al-Furqān (TROID).

[A]: Do you mean they speak ill of them?

[Q]: Yes.

[A]: The people of innovation speak ill about Ahl al-Sunnah. Abū Khadījah is from ʿAhl al-Sunnah, Abū Ḥakīm Bilāl is from Ahl al-Sunnah, and Ḥasan al-Ṣumālī is from Ahl al-Sunnah. They are from the callers of Ahl al-Sunnah — this is something which is well-known.

If they err, we will tell them to retract their error, and they will retract. So why do you speak ill of them? Do you want to cause fitnah for them? Do you want to deter the people from them?

The people of Sunnah are few in number, how can you speak ill about the people of Sunnah? Those who speak against the people of Sunnah are not from them. Rather, they concur with the people of innovation.

So my dear brothers, do not speak ill of these Duʿāt, the likes of Abū Khadījah and other than him, because they are from the callers of Ahl al-Sunnah. If they err, we will tell them to retract. Do not try to discredit them and ruin their reputation because this is something that hurts the People of Sunnah.

May Allāh reward you for listening to this advice, may Allāh bless you and may the peace and blessings of Allāh be upon the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وسلم).

Translated by: Munīb al-Ṣumālī