“If the scholar was to do this after Allāh has given him knowledge that allows him to recognize that the guidance of Allāh is that which is found in the Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger and not that which they are upon that consists of pure innovation, clear ignorance, ignoble opinion and blind following on the edge of a bank about to collapse; then the [individual] who does this will have no protector or helper against Allāh. Whosoever is like this is forsaken for certainty and doomed without any doubt and reservation.”

​

Indeed, the majority of these individuals [i.e. the people of innovation] even though they feign agreement and show the gentle side of their character nothing actually pleases them except that their innovation is followed, [one] enters [and embraces] their ways and is caught in their nets.

Allāh said:

وَلَن تَرْضَى عَنكَ الْيَهُودُ وَلاَ النَّصَارَى حَتَّى تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمْ قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى اللّهِ هُوَ الْهُدَى وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءهُم بَعْدَ الَّذِي جَاءكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ اللّهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلاَ نَصِيرٍ

“And never will the Jews or the Christians approve of you until you follow their religion. Say, “Indeed, the guidance of Allāh is the [only] guidance.” If you were to follow their desires after what has come to you of knowledge, you would have against Allāh no protector or helper.”
[2:120]

The ʿAllāmah of Yemen Ash-Shawkanī commented upon this verse by saying:

“In this verse is a severe threat that makes the hearts tremble and from which the hearts quiver, which makes it compulsory upon the people of knowledge who carry the proofs of Allāh (سبحانه) and those who arise with the task of explaining His legislative laws to abandon flattery of the people of innovation who adopt the positions of the evil Madhāhib, those who desert acting upon the Book and the Sunnah and give precedence to pure opinion over them.

Indeed, the majority of these individuals [i.e. the people of innovation] even though they feign agreement and show the gentle side of their character nothing actually pleases them except that their innovation is followed, [one] enters [and embraces] their ways and is caught in their nets.

If the scholar was to do this after Allāh has given him knowledge that allows him to recognize that the guidance of Allāh is that which is found in the Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger and not that which they are upon that consists of pure innovation, clear ignorance, ignoble opinion and blind following on the edge of a bank about to collapse; then the [individual] who does this will have no protector or helper against Allāh. Whosoever is like this is forsaken for certainty and doomed without any doubt and reservation.”¹

What would cause someone to flatter the people of innovation at the expense of the truth?

Imam as-Sijzī (d. 444H) said:

“And how many [people] sell their religion for a lowly price or to endear themselves to those who are perceived to be larger in number.”²

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim said:

“Verily the following of desires blinds the vision of the heart so it will not be able to differentiate between Sunnah and innovation, or it so that it sees innovation as Sunnah and Sunnah as innovation. This is a plague [that affects the] scholars if they give preference to the life of this world and chase after positions and lusts.”³

Allāh, the Mighty and Majestic warned us against this path:

 فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ وَرِثُواْ الْكِتَابَ يَأْخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَـذَا الأدْنَى وَيَقُولُونَ سَيُغْفَرُ لَنَا وَإِن يَأْتِهِمْ عَرَضٌ مُّثْلُهُ يَأْخُذُوهُ أَلَمْ يُؤْخَذْ عَلَيْهِم مِّيثَاقُ الْكِتَابِ أَن لاَّ يِقُولُواْ عَلَى اللّهِ إِلاَّ الْحَقَّ وَدَرَسُواْ مَا فِيهِ وَالدَّارُ الآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ أَفَلاَ تَعْقِلُونَ

“Then they were succeeded by an (evil) generation, which inherited the Book, but they chose (for themselves) the goods of this low life (evil pleasures of this world) saying (as an excuse): “(Everything) will be forgiven for us.” And if a similar offer came their way (to indulge in the evil pleasures of this world), they would yet (again) seize it. Was not the covenant of the Book taken from them that they would not say about Allāh anything but the truth? And they have studied what is in it (the Book). And the home of the Hereafter is better for those who are pious. Do you not understand?”
[7:169]

The Spread of the Salafī Da’wah

The Muhaddith and Reviver of the Sunnah in Yemen, Shaykh Muqbil was asked: “How did the Da’wah Salafīyyah spread in Yemen and what is the reason for this?”

He responded: “The reason for this is clarity and distinction [of the call]. We make our call clear and distinct from the people of innovation and as a result of this Allāh spread the Sunnah.”

Allāh blessed the call of this Imam and the Sunnah spread in Yemen unparalleled to anything that been witnessed in that land for hundreds of years. He, may Allāh have mercy upon him, clarified the truth with the Book of Allāh and the Sunnah upon the understanding of the Salaf; and his classical works are a proof of this.