I would rather hear of a fire in the masjid than hear of a bid’ah in it without there being anyone to do away with it. Never do a people innovate a bid’ah in their religion except that Allah removes a sunnah from them.

Ibn Waddâh, Al-Bida’ p92.

Abû Idrîs Al-Khawlânî was the chief judge of Damascus in his time, its main scholar, renowned for his exhortations. He was born in the year of the Conquest of Makkah and his father is regarded as a Companion. He narrated from a number of the Companions. He died in 80H, Allah have mercy on him.

More:

1. How the Salaf were (and weren’t) when hearing the Quran and Dhikr
2. Imam Al-Awzai’s Letter of Warning against Heresy and Heretics
3. The Humble Heretic
4. Imâm Mâlik and Heretics
5. Things have Changed

This is from Sayings of the Salaf - English translations of narrations from the Salaf - the earliest believers, our righteous predecessors, and true scholars of Islam. Selected and translated by Owais Al-Hashimi