Interacting with an Imam who is an Innovator

Reference: ferkous.com/home/?q=fatwa-258

Question: In our local masjid there is an imām who is a mubtadi’ (innovator). How should we interact with him? Benefit us, may Allāh reward you with goodness.

Response: All praise is for Allāh, the Lord of the worlds; May salutations of praise and peace be upon the one whom Allāh sent as a mercy for mankind.

As for interacting with the people of bid’ah, it differs according to the different situations – whether it is a time of weakness or strength—and also based on whether the person hides his innovation or openly declares and calls to it.

In a situation of weakness, wherein the people of bid’ah are dominant, the obligation is to be diplomatic and patient with them, but without compromise and flattery.

One must not take stances that could embolden them to become oppressive, marginalize the people of Sunnah, push them out of the masjids, or restrict their [daʿwah] efforts.

At the same time, the obligation remains to clarify the truth regarding the the people of bid’ah, to warn against them, to manifest the sunnah, and to educate the Muslims about it. This approach aligns with the guidance of the Prophetic sīrah, which encourages us to follow this balanced and wise path when dealing with such individuals.

In a situation in which dominance is for the people of the sunnah, it is befitting for bid’ah to be subdued per the sharīʿah, applying the necessary measures of harshness, severity and boycotting – if the situation necessitates it, [with the objective of] them returning to the truth. This is what the commandments and prohibitions of the sharī’ah require.

As for a person who conceals [his bid’ah], we leave what he hides to Allāh, similar to how the Prophet and his companions dealt and interacted with the hypocrites during the Prophetic era and the era of the noble companions.

All knowledge is with Allāh, the most-high.

Our final call is: All praise is for Allāh, the Lord of the worlds, and may Allāh send salutations of praise and peace upon our Prophet Muḥammad his family, companions and brothers until the Day of Resurrection.

في التعامل مع إمام مبتدع

المرجع: ferkous.com/home/?q=fatwa-258

السـؤال:  في مسجد حَيِّنَا إمامٌ مبتدع، كيف نتعامل معه؟ أفيدونا جزاكم الله خيرًا.

الجـواب:  الحمدُ لله ربِّ العالمين، والصلاة والسلام على من أرسله اللهُ رحمةً للعالمين، وعلى آله وصحبه وإخوانه إلى يوم الدين، أمّا بعد:

أمّا التعاملُ مع أهل البِدْعَةِ فيختلف المقامُ باختلاف حال الضعف وحال القوة، وبين المُسْتَتِرِ ببدعته والمظهر لها الداعي إليها، أمّا في حالة الضعف وظهور أهل البدعة فالواجب أن يداريهم ويصبرَ عليهم

أمّا إذا كان أهل السُّنَّة لهم الشوكة والقوَّة فينبغي قمع البدع بما يوجبه الشرعُ من ضوابطَ بالغِلظة والشِّدَّة والهجر -إن اقتضى المقام ذلك- حتى يعودوا إلى السَّدَاد وهو مقتضى أوامر الشرع ونواهيه، ولَمَّا كان السالكون لطريقها مؤيّدون، فمقتضى تعاليم السيرة النبوية تدفعنا إلى أن نسلك معهم سبيل المداراة من غير مداهنة، مع القيام بواجب البيان والتحذير.

أمّا المستتر ببدعته فَنَكِلُ سريرتَه إلى الله تعالى كذا كان يعامل النبي صَلَّى الله عليه وآله وسَلَّم وصحبه المنافقين في زمانه وزمن الصحابة الكرام.

والعلمُ عند الله تعالى، وآخر دعوانا أنِ الحمد لله ربِّ العالمين، وصلى الله على نبيّنا محمّد وعلى آله وصحبه وإخوانه إلى يوم الدين، وسلّم تسليمًا

http://www.MasjidSunnahNelson.org/

He is a graduate of the Islamic University of Madeenah, having graduated from the Institute of Arabic Language, and later the Faculty of Sharee'ah in 2010. He currently resides in Nelson, Lancashire and is the Imam of Masjid Sunnah.

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