Nowadays, it is common to see some of the youth, impressed by themselves and what they perceive to have a gathering of knowledge, to overrate themselves and believe that they can “bring the people of innovation close” by working with them or cooperating with them. They are heedless, not realising that they will be flattered with kindness, wealth and other forms of emotional blackmail.

One of the major scholars of our time, may Allāh preserve him, comments on such a (innovated) notion in the name of ‘cooperation and rectification’: Shaykh Rabīʿ ibn Hādī al-Madkhalī was asked, “When one of the brothers is advised not to walk with the people of innovation or sit with them, he responds, ‘I am one who establishes principles for them?” The Shaykh answered, “If you were one who established principles, you would not have kept company with them, if you were one who established principles and knew the methodology of the Salaf and knew the dangers you were exposing yourself to, and knew those who have fallen victim from the likes of you, those who are deluded like you, by Allāh, if you were as you said, you would not have walked with the people of innovation. And many walk with the people of innovation with the argument that they are benefitting them!

‘O my brother – they have not benefitted from the Scholars, so how will they be benefitted from you?!!

They reject the statements of Ibn Bāz (d.1420H) and the statements of al-Albānī (d.1420H), al- ʿUthaymīn (d.1421H), and others from the Imāms of Islām and will take from you?!! This is delusion, and ninety-nine out of a hundred times, you will end up from their followers.”¹

Endnotes:

[1] From the wonderful article: An Advice on Keeping Company with the People of Ḥizbiyyah and Waging War against the Salafīs, Abū al-Ḥasan Malik al-Akhdar www.sunnahpublishing.net
Translated by Abū al-Ḥasan Mālik Ādam