Sharh as-Sunnah (Explanation of the Sunnah) · Chapter 4

Do Not Debate the People of Innovation

English Translation

Do not sit with a person of innovation — for I fear for your heart. Innovations grow in hearts as a fire grows in dry wood. Do not argue with them, do not listen to their speech, do not respond to their questioning. Whoever sits with a person of innovation has been stripped of protection (‘iṣmah), and his affair has been entrusted to himself.

Key Benefits

  • 1Avoiding the people of bid‘ah is a protection for the heart.
  • 2Sitting with them, even with the intention to refute, is dangerous for those without firm grounding.