Question:
What is the correctness of the principle ‘Whoever doesn’t declare the Mubtadi’ (innovator) a Mubtadi’ is a Mubtadi’ and like it ‘Whoever takes a middle stance on declaring a Mubtadi’ a Mubtadi’ is a Mubtadi’?
Answer:
It’s not upon it’s absolute, this upon it’s totality is incorrect, because this generalising includes the ignorant, and it will be said that this ignorant if he doesn’t declare the Mubtadi and Mubtadi’ then he’s a Mubtadi’, and this is not from his affair, for he is ignorant, he has no aquaintance nor can he distinguish between this, and it includes also the ignorant of the affair of this Mubtadi’ even if he’s not ignorant in reality, but he doesn’t know the condition of this person, and Allah says;
(وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِۦ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِۦ جَهَنَّمَۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا)
“And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers’ way. We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell – what an evil destination.” [An-Nisaa: 115]
A person says I don’t know of him, and likewise;
وَمَنْ خَاصَمَ فِي بَاطِلٍ وَهُوَ يَعْلَمُهُ لَمْ يَزَلْ فِي سُخْطِ الله تَعَالَى
“Whoever disputes upon falsehood while he knows will not cease to remain in the displeasure of Allaah…”
So whoevers Bid’ah is known and the one who has knowledge of that doesn’t declare him an Mubtadi’, one whose condition is known then it is said he is a Mubtadi, because he argued and disputed for falsehood and it’s people, due to the mentioned Hadith, and Allaah says;
(وَلَا تُجَٰدِلْ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخْتَانُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ خَوَّانًا أَثِيمًا)
“And argue not on behalf of those who deceive themselves. Verily, Allah does not like anyone who is a betrayer of his trust, and indulges in crime.” [An-Nisaa: 107]
(هَٰأَنتُمْ هَٰؤُلَآءِ جَٰدَلْتُمْ عَنْهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا فَمَن يُجَٰدِلُ ٱللَّهَ عَنْهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ أَم مَّن يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكِيلًا)
“Lo! You are those who have argued for them in the life of this world, but who will argue for them on the Day of Resurrection against Allah, or who will then be their defender?” [An-Nisaa: 109]
Due to these mentioned proofs, whoever’s Bid’ah is known, he is declared a Mubtadi, and those who argue on behalf of those ones are declared innovators after knowledge of his Bid’ah, for he is considered sinful and they are as comes in the Hadith;
الأرواح جنود مجندة فما تعارف منها ائتلف وما تناكر منها اختلف
“The souls are like recruited soldiers, when they recognise one another they are at harmony, and when they disagree with one another they are at variance.”
So this points towards the unity of the hearts amongst them
ما نرى وده، ولا حديثه إلا المنافقين
“We don’t see him except helping and talking with the Munaafiqeen.”
Except that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ gave him Tazkiyyah (certification) by revelation, and as for whoever is ignorant of this personal condition then it’s not said if he doesn’t declare him a Mubtadi then he’s a Mubtadi and he’s ignorant, either he is totally ignorant or he is ignorant of the condition of the one he is imposed with his Tabdee’ (declaring someone an innovator).
The summary of that is that this statement isn’t on its totality, but verily it’s said whoever doesn’t declare a Mubtadi one whose Bid’ah is known and he’s not ignorant, not totally or with the condition of this one, then is said about him he’s a Mubtadi’, with this condition.
Answered by: Shaykh, the Allamah, the Trustworthy Advisor, Abu Abdirrahman Yahya bin Ali Al-Hajuri – may Allah preserve him
Source: https://t.me/sh_yahia_duroos/9540
Translated by: Abū ‘Abdillāh ‘Omar bin Yahya Al-‘Akawi