Refuting the People of Innovation, Identifying Their Individuals, and Praying Behind the Rulers

The questioner:
Is warning against religious innovations (bid'ah) and their practice, and identifying the individuals involved, the methodology of the Salaf, or is it a methodology that a believer holds to?

The Shaykh:
No, responding to religious innovations and their people, and identifying the innovators so that people may be warned against them, is the methodology of the Salaf. This is the methodology of the Salaf. Imam Ahmad responded to the Zinadiqah (atheists) and to the Jahmiyyah, and so did the other Imams. You know the positions of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah regarding the sects and his refutation of them, and this is a documented fact; it is found in his writings. He refutes specific individuals; he does not say "So-and-so said such-and-such in such-and-such a book" and then refute an unknown person. Refuting the innovators and mentioning their names is required, and it is not permissible to remain silent about them or to cover them up. It is necessary to expose them and to expose the falsehood and misguidance in their words and their books. This is part of giving sincere advice to the Muslims. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . Giving sincere advice to the Muslims includes making clear to them the truth from falsehood, guidance from misguidance, religious innovation from the Sunnah, and distinguishing the Imams and role models among the people who are to be followed from the wicked ones who are not to be followed, so that people may be warned against them.

The questioner:
What reached him regarding Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) is that he prayed behind the one who held the view that the soul of the fetus is created.

The Shaykh:
I do not know this. Imam Ahmad was one of the harshest opponents of the people of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance (jahiliyyah). I do not know that he prayed behind him. Yes, praying behind the prince: if he is a prince and has a deviation that does not reach the level of disbelief (kufr), one prays behind him, whether he is righteous or an open sinner (fasiq). I know from the people of the Sunnah that one prays behind the one in authority (wali al-amr), whether he is righteous or an open sinner, as long as he does not exit the religion by committing a major sin. Whoever prays behind him, even if he is an open sinner, the Companions (Sahabah) prayed behind al-Hajjaj in matters. They prayed behind al-Hajjaj and behind other princes who were subject to accountability, for the sake of uniting the word and acting on the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): obedience and loyalty, not withdrawing the hand from obedience, not causing fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), and not stirring up evils. This is part of reconciliation, uniting the word, and the interests of the Muslims. As for whoever prays behind the Jahmiyyah (a sect that denied the divine attributes), I do not know that Imam Ahmad prayed behind him, unless one of them became the ruler and became a prince; I do not know.