Warning Against the Person of Religious Innovation, Even If He Is Among the People of Good
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A man who follows one of the paths of the Sufis, who practices Sufism and upholds certain religious innovations, but this man helps in carrying out good deeds. If such a man is rebuked for his innovation and his reputation is tarnished among the people, he stops helping the people of righteousness and the people of good. What is your opinion, O Shaykh?
Is this man influential in his calling?The questioner: Yes, O Shaykh, he calls people to his innovation.
The Shaykh: So which is greater: poverty, or misguidance?The questioner: Misguidance.
The Shaykh: Misguidance is greater. Therefore, if this man is a caller and influential, he must be warned against, even if he cuts off his own good deeds, for in that case he has only forbidden himself [from them]. But that he remains to misguide the servants of Allah in order to gain a dirham or two from it is not permissible.
Is this man influential in his calling?The questioner: Yes, O Shaykh, he calls people to his innovation.
The Shaykh: So which is greater: poverty, or misguidance?The questioner: Misguidance.
The Shaykh: Misguidance is greater. Therefore, if this man is a caller and influential, he must be warned against, even if he cuts off his own good deeds, for in that case he has only forbidden himself [from them]. But that he remains to misguide the servants of Allah in order to gain a dirham or two from it is not permissible.