The ninth point of what must be avoided by every learner, according to Ash-Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd [RahimahuLlaah] in Hilyah Tâlib Ilm, are the people of self desires – the innovators.
Ash-Shaykh Sâlih Al-Uthaymeen [RahimahuLlaah] said:
Sitting with the innovators, which include those whom their sittings are filled with ill-manners. So whether it is innovation or bad manners, or those who want to register their 'worth' in the society, or what is like; the learner must graciously shun all of them. Some innovators [and evil doers] may be eloquent in speech, indeed some speeches are bewitching. Such people must be avoided, all the same.
But why?
We are afraid of their harm [to our Deen]. The Prophet [salaLlâhu alayhi wa sallam] had said: ‘Some speeches are bewitching.’ When we listen to such people our intellects might become influenced by their sugar-coated evil such that we fall into their innovation [and believe all their craps].
Another point is that when we sit with them, we encourage them to carry on with thier heresies. This may make [some uninformed] people flock them which makes them to increase in pride and self-delusion.
Also, the person who sits with these innovators exposes himself to criticism. The affair of the person who sits with an innovator will become clear [that he himself is evil]. When people see you frequenting an innovator, you have made yourself a target of criticisms.
Adapted from Shar’h Hilyah Tâlib Ilm, pp.238-239, Daar Diyâ Edtn.
