Associating with those who belittle the scholars and sit with those who curse the rulers

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, a questioner says: Is it permissible to associate with a person who belittles the scholars, follows the callers to Allah whom they have rejected or refuted repeatedly, or sits with those who break the rulings of the judges, on the grounds that this person is his brother in Islam? What is your guidance for these people?

Answer:
This is a fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). This is like the answer to the first question. If you have an influence on him such that he will return to the truth and leave these matters, then you should oppose him, advise him, and clarify things to him, perhaps he will [listen]. But if you have no influence on him and he does not accept it from you, do not associate with him, because he is a companion of evil. If he does not accept advice, he is among the companions of evil. Do not sit with him? Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you