Prohibition of Sitting with, Listening to, Reading material of People of Innovation
“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 the Dhaalimoon (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.).” (Al-An'aam, ayah 68)
“And it has already been revealed to you in the Book (this Qur'an) that when you hear the Verses of Allaah being denied and mocked at, then sit not with them, until they engage in a talk other than that; (but if you stayed with them) certainly in that case you would be like them. Surely, Allaah will collect the hypocrites and disbelievers all together in Hell.” (An-Nisa, ayah 140)
Imam At-Tabari (rahimahullaah) said these above ayat refer to people engaged in their batil (falsehood), whether it be shirk, bid'ah or sin.
And beware of their tricks. From the same manhaj class, we learned that Mufaddal ibn Mahallal (rahimahullaah) warned:
"If the companion of the bid'ah were to speak to you about his bid'ah at the beginning of sitting with him, then you would have kept away from him and left. But he will speak to you at the beginning with the Sunnah, then he will put in you his bid'ah and your heart accepts it, so when will it leave your heart?" [Kitab ut-Tafsir, no. 3004]
Ahmad ibnu Hanbal (rahimahullaah) said:
Ahmad ibnu Hanbal (rahimahullaah) said:
"So safety - if Allaah has willed - is in abandoning sitting with them to discuss their innovation and misguidance." [Related by Ibn Battah in Al-Ibaanah]
Ibn Battah said:
"So fear Allaah, O Muslims! The good opinion you have of yourself and the knowledge you have that you are on the correct way, should not lead you to risk your Deen by sitting down with some of these people of desires, thinking, 'I will intrude upon them in order to debate with them or to expose their ideas.' However, they are more severe form of Fitnah than the dajjal, and their speech clings to a person more strongly than a severe itch, and can burn the hearts more than a blazing flame can. And I have seen a group of people who used to curse and revile the People of Desires. Then they went and sat with them in order to contest with them and refute them. Then the cheerful, open attitude, the hidden deception and the subtle disbelief continued until they became inclined towards them." [Al-Ibaanah (2/470)]
Also comes this narration. Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn al-Qaasim related to us, saying: Ahmad ibn al-Hasan narrated to us saying: Sulaymaan ibn al-Ash'ath narrated to us, saying: 'Abdullaah ibn Chubbi al-Anteeq narrated to us, saying: Yaws ibn Asbaat narrated to us, saying: I heard Muhammad ibn an-Nadr al-Haarithee say:
Also comes this narration. Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn al-Qaasim related to us, saying: Ahmad ibn al-Hasan narrated to us saying: Sulaymaan ibn al-Ash'ath narrated to us, saying: 'Abdullaah ibn Chubbi al-Anteeq narrated to us, saying: Yaws ibn Asbaat narrated to us, saying: I heard Muhammad ibn an-Nadr al-Haarithee say:
“Whoever listens to a person of innovation - and knows that he is a person of innovation - then protection is taken away from him, and he is left to himself.”
[al-Imaam al-Haafiz Abul-Qaasim Habatullaah ibn al-Hasan ibn Mansoor at-Tabaree al-Laalikaa' ee (d.418 A.H.) reports in his "Sharh Usool I'tiqaad Ahlis-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah" - Volume 1 Pages 135-136 No. 252]
So we should NOT sit with those who oppose or belittle or mock tawheed, or those who oppose and supress the Sunnah, or those who enjoin the evil and forbid the good, or those who say "Allaah [in His Self] is everywhere" or those who allow making du'aa to the Prophet or 'Ali or a Waly, or those who encourage to speak ill/rebel against the rulers, or worship graves, or say the "Qur'an is created" or the "Qur'an is incomplete", or those who reply to evidence from the Qur`an and Sunnah (upon the correct understanding) with doubts and statements such as "yeah, but" or "my opinion is", etc... [we seek refuge in Allaah from these destructive statements and beliefs].
Allaah said:
“And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allaah, so call on Him by them, and leave the company of those who belie or deny (or utter impious speech against) His Names. They will be requited for what they used to do.” (Al-A'raf, ayah 180)
