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The Humble Heretic
‘Alî b. Abî Khâlid – Allâh have mercy on him – reports:
I once said to Ahmad, “This shaykh – referring to an older man who was with us – is my neighbor. I told him not to keep the company of a certain person, and he would like to hear what you have to say about him: I am referring to Hârith Al-Qasîr (Al-Hârith Al-Muhâsibî). Many years ago, you saw me with him and told me not to sit with him nor speak with him. I have not spoken to him since that time. This shaykh, however, does sit with him. So what do you say?”
I saw Ahmad go red with anger, his eyes bulging; I had never before seen him like this. He started to say, “Him! May Allâh do such-and-such to him! Only those well-informed of him know what he really is, only those who really know him know what he is. Al-Mughâzilî, Ya’qûb and so-and-so sat with him, and he caused them to adopt the views of Jahm (Ibn Safwân, leader of the Jahmites). They were destroyed because of him.”
The old man said, “But Abû ‘Abdillâh, he reports hadîth, and he is mild and humble; he has done such-and-such [good works].” Abû ‘Abdillâh (Imâm Ahmad) became angry and began repeating, “Let not his humility and softness deceive you”. He also said, “Do not be fooled by his bowed head, he is an evil man; only those well-informed of him through experience know him. Do not speak to him – with all disrespect to him. Are you going to sit with everyone who narrates from Allâh’s Messenger – may the praise and peace of Allâh be upon him – though he be a heretic (mubtadi’)? No, with all disrespect.”
Tabaqât Al-Hanâbilah, article 325.
Asking for less refutation [signs of Ahl Al-Bidah]
It is reported from Al-’Abbâs b. Al-Walîd that ‘Uqbah said:
I was once with Arta’ah b. 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?’” Arta’ah said, “He is one of them, do not let him confuse you about his condition.” I felt this was strange, so I went to Al-Awzâ’î – and he used to clarify these matters when they came to him. He said, “Arta’ah is right, the matter is as he said; this person forbids talking about [Ahl Al-Bid'ah], so how can [people] be on guard against them if they are not exposed?”
Ibn ‘Asâkir, Târîkh Dimishq 8:15.
Opinionated Enemies of the Sunnah
‘Umar b. Al-Khattâb – Allâh be pleased with him – said:
Verily, the followers of opinion are the enemies of the Sunan (the teachings of Allâh’s Messenger as passed down in hadith): they were unable to preserve them and their meanings escaped them, and when asked [questions] they were too embarrassed to say ‘We don’t know,’ so they opposed the Sunan with their opinions.
Ibn Abî Zamanîn, Usûl Al-Sunnah article 8; Al-Lâlakâ`î, Sharh Usûl I’tiqâd Ahl Al-Sunnah article 201 et al.
The Four Eyes
It is reported that Khâlid b. Ma’dân – Allâh have mercy on him – said:
There is not a person except he has four eyes: two in his head with which he sees the matters of this worldly life, and two in his heart with which he looks to the matters of the hereafter. So if Allâh wants good for his servant, He opens his heart’s eyes, and so he perceives what he has been promised in the unseen world. Thus he is saved from the unseen [punishment] through the unseen [reward for the obedient].
Al-Dhahabî, Siyar A’lâm Al-Nubalâ` 4: 543
Guilty by Association
It is reported that Imâm Al-Awzâ’î – Allâh have mercy on him – used to say:
Whoever hides his heresy (bid’ah) from us, his companionship is not hidden from us.
Ibn Battah, Al-Ibânah Al-Kubrâ article 420.
It is reported that when Sufyân Al-Thawrî – Allâh have mercy on him – came to Basrah he started to look into the matter of Al-Rabî’ – i.e. Ibn Sabîh
(1) – and his status amongst the people. [Sufyân] asked, “What does he believe?” [People] replied, “He believes in nothing but the Sunnah.” He asked, “Who are his companions?” They replied, “The People of Qadr (those who denied Allâh’s pre-decree).” He said, “Then he is a Qadarî (like them).”
Ibid. article 421.
(1) Al-Rabî’ b. Sabîh is described in biographies as being a truthful reporter, but with a bad memory; a devout worshipper and a mujâhid.
It is reported that Al-Fudayl b. ‘Ayyâd – Allâh have mercy on him – said:
The souls [of people] are in groups gathered together: those of them that identify with each other come together, and those that are different diverge. It is not possible for an adherent of the Sunnah to incline towards an adherent of Bid’ah except out of hypocrisy (nifâq).
Ibid. article 429.
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