Studying in institutes run by deviants


Question:
Is it permissible to join institutes run by Sūfīs or other deviants only for the sole purpose of learning tajwīd, Qurʾān Memorization or the Arabic language in case there are no salafīs nearby to benefit from? Or is it preferred that I learn on my own as much as possible?

Answer:

The Shaykh Abū Bilāl responded by saying:

“No, he should not enter an institute run by Sūfīs. Rather he should guard his dīn and use the websites available from the salafiyyīn. There is plenty available from which he can study the language and tajwīd from the likes of aloloom.net until Allāh opens for him an opportunity that he may sit with the scholars and students of knowledge and learn upon the way the salaf.”

End of speech of Shaykh Abū Bilāl al-Ḥaḍramī

We should keep in mind the statements of the salaf warning against sitting with people of deviance. Like the statement of Marwān bin Muḥammad al-Tatarī (who is a companion of Imām Mālik):
“Three should not be trusted in the religion. A sūfī, a storyteller, and an innovator (even if he is one) who warns against the people of desires (A person who warns against few other innovators, but he himself is an innovator).”
[Reported by al-Qāḍī ʿIyāḍ in Tartīb al-Madārik]

Also the statement of Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allāh be pleased with him): “Do not sit with the people of desires. For indeed their sittings cause sickness of the heart.”
[Reported by Ibn Baṭṭah in al-Ibānah al-Kubrā]

Compiled by: Abū ʿAbdillāh Khaḍar al-Amrīkī