regarding the ruling on people isolating themselves at this time?

The questioner : One of the brothers asks and says: Recently, something truly regrettable has occurred, which is the idea of isolation and the call to it. Knowing that the one who calls to this isolation cites the isolation of Imam Malik, and says: Isolation existed among the Companions, then among the Successors, then among the Successors of the Successors. How accurate is this statement? And what is the concept of isolation in the religion of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He)?

The Shaykh : I do not think this has happened; what has happened is anything? This is an exaggeration in speech. As for what is reported about Malik, Allah knows best about it. The time for isolation has not yet come. Isolation is only prescribed when there is much turmoil, which is killing among Muslims due to tribal or partisan loyalties or the like. As for this isolation, praise be to Allah, its time has not yet come, and perhaps we will not witness it. On the contrary, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . People have different natures; some withdraw from themselves in every era, even in the era of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, and some love mixing with people, even with open sinners and wrongdoers. The truth lies between these two groups. A person mixes with others as long as he does not find harm in that mixing for himself, in his religion, or in his body, or in his children and his descendants. I do not believe there is a Muslim who knows the Book and the Sunnah who says: This is the time for isolation. It is not a time of fitnah? It is a time of fitnah without a doubt; you walk in the streets and see tabarruj (a woman's display of her adornment), but it is not the time in which isolation is prescribed. Because that is only prescribed in a time when fitnah intensifies among Muslims by their fighting one another. There, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . The matter is concluded.

The questioner : Our Shaykh, some people say: As for the hadith, it says: . Some of them say: I cannot bear this mixing; therefore, I see isolation for myself. Is this statement correct?

The Shaykh : I said just now, just now I said: If he finds in himself that he does not benefit from mixing with people, and may even be harmed, then that is his affair. But this does not become a general call for Muslims. I said this in the good times; a person may be isolated from all people and unable to mix with them.

The questioner : Then, Professor, it is not permissible to spread this idea that some people are convinced of among their brothers, or to urge their brothers to this matter.

The Shaykh : Yes, of course, it is not permissible; because, especially if he says this qualification, that means the others do not take this ruling.
Yes.

Another questioner : It was said that Malik had an illness... and another saying that he was, meaning, restricted; meaning, prevented from going out. So what do you know about...?

The Shaykh : I have no knowledge, I have no knowledge about this...