Some people say that the Salafis strongly disapprove of those who pray more than eleven rak'ahs and claim that whoever exceeds that has committed a religious innovation.
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The questioner : He gives the example of the tarawih prayer, saying that the Salafis strongly disapprove of these people who pray more than eleven rak'ahs and claim that anything beyond this number or these rak'ahs is a religious innovation, even though it is authentic from the imams of the Salaf that they held a different view regarding this number. So, is it said that whoever innovates like Malik, Ahmad, or al-Shafi'i is an innovator? If so, al-Shafi'i would have been an innovator at that time.
The Shaykh : No, it is not said, and we do not say... This is due to his lack of intellect and knowledge. It implies that if I say something... then whoever commits it is an innovator. You and all those present know that if I say: "Such and such is shirk (associating partners with Allah)," it does not mean that whoever falls into it is a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah). We do not say that he is a mushrik. These are facts he knows now. Why did he ignore them?
The Shaykh : No, it is not said, and we do not say... This is due to his lack of intellect and knowledge. It implies that if I say something... then whoever commits it is an innovator. You and all those present know that if I say: "Such and such is shirk (associating partners with Allah)," it does not mean that whoever falls into it is a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah). We do not say that he is a mushrik. These are facts he knows now. Why did he ignore them?