Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan, may Allah preserve him, was asked the following question:
Question:
Oh Noble Shaykh, is the one who doesn’t declare the innovator to be an innovator – though he has been regarded as an innovator by the scholars, and they have declared his methodology to be an innovation, and have warned from him – is the one who doesn’t declare him to be an innovator added along with him [i.e. in taking the same ruling as also being an innovator]?
Answer:
“Yes, the one who doesn’t declare him to be an innovator is to be added along with him since he doesn’t see this [i.e. new methodology of the innovator] to be an innovation, and that his action isn’t an innovation, and that the people are wrong for ruling him to be an innovator, na’am.”
This statement of the Shaykh has been clarified in other statements of his where he, may Allah preserve him, said:
“…It is a must that the one who has innovated be advised and called to Allah, and be reminded of the threat of Allah. If he has some confusion with him, then the truth is to be clarified to him, and if nothing has become clear for him, then the truth should be clarified for him, the proofs are to be established upon him, and if he persists after that, then he becomes an innovator…”
Translated by
AbdulFattaah bin Uthman
Abu Fajr
