Al-`Abbaas bin Al-Waleed said, al `Uqbah said:
I was once with Artah bin Al-Mundhir when one of the people in the gathering said:
“What do you say about a man who sits with the followers of the Sunnah and mixes with them, but when the followers of Bid`ah are mentioned he says: ‘Spare us from mentioning them, do not talk about them?’”
Artah said:
“He is one of them (i.e. he is also from the people of Bid`ah), do not let him confuse you about his affiliation.”
I felt this was strange, so I went to Al-Awza`ee – and he used to clarify these matters (concerning the Manhaj) whenever they came to him.
He said:
"Artah is right, the matter is as he said; this person forbids talking about (i.e.Ahlul Bid`ah), so how can people be on guard against them if they are not exposed?”
???? - Recorded by Imaam Ibn `Asaakir in Taareekh Dimashq, Vol. 8, page 15.
