What is the religious innovation that causes a man to leave the people of the Sunnah and the community?
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The questioner : ... performing a religious innovation that causes him to leave the people of the Sunnah and the community.
The Shaykh : Not everyone who performs a religious innovation is called an innovator, is that not the case?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, in fact, many of the great scholars fall into religious innovation, and you should not exaggerate or magnify the matter in your mind, for this is a reality. I will add to what you have heard that many scholars deem permissible what Allah has forbidden. Can you accept this statement?
The questioner : I accept it, O Shaykh, for the sake of what lies beyond the veil.
The Shaykh : Hmm, but if they fall into a religious innovation or deem a forbidden thing permissible, they are still rewarded for it. Perhaps you have now understood what lies beyond the veil.
The questioner : Yes, yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, so do not be alarmed if you see a religious innovation, or more than one, from a pious scholar, or from some of the people of the Sunnah and the community, as they say today, and as we say, who are upon the methodology of the righteous predecessors. Do not be surprised, for humans are not protected from sin. The innovator is the one who establishes a principle from which he proceeds and follows it, and it is contrary to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). And when it is opposed by them, he twists and turns and does not follow the truth that has become clear to him. This is the innovator. Therefore, the issue of declaring a Muslim to be an innovator, especially if he is a scholar, and particularly if he adopts returning to the Book and the Sunnah in case of disagreement, is not permissible. He should not be rejected as an innovator. Have I clarified the answer for you?
The questioner: Yes, may Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : And may He reward you.
The Shaykh : Not everyone who performs a religious innovation is called an innovator, is that not the case?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, in fact, many of the great scholars fall into religious innovation, and you should not exaggerate or magnify the matter in your mind, for this is a reality. I will add to what you have heard that many scholars deem permissible what Allah has forbidden. Can you accept this statement?
The questioner : I accept it, O Shaykh, for the sake of what lies beyond the veil.
The Shaykh : Hmm, but if they fall into a religious innovation or deem a forbidden thing permissible, they are still rewarded for it. Perhaps you have now understood what lies beyond the veil.
The questioner : Yes, yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, so do not be alarmed if you see a religious innovation, or more than one, from a pious scholar, or from some of the people of the Sunnah and the community, as they say today, and as we say, who are upon the methodology of the righteous predecessors. Do not be surprised, for humans are not protected from sin. The innovator is the one who establishes a principle from which he proceeds and follows it, and it is contrary to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). And when it is opposed by them, he twists and turns and does not follow the truth that has become clear to him. This is the innovator. Therefore, the issue of declaring a Muslim to be an innovator, especially if he is a scholar, and particularly if he adopts returning to the Book and the Sunnah in case of disagreement, is not permissible. He should not be rejected as an innovator. Have I clarified the answer for you?
The questioner: Yes, may Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : And may He reward you.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.