Written by: Tanveer Hussain Shah Hazrawi
Once, Imam Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Sirin, the Tabi‘i (رحمه الله, d. 110 AH), was seated when two individuals from among the people of innovation (Ahl al-Bid‘ah) came to him and said:
“O Abu Bakr! We wish to narrate a Hadith to you.”
He replied:
“No, do not narrate anything to me.”
They insisted:
“Then at least let us recite a verse from the Qur’an.”
He (رحمه الله) firmly responded:
“Either you both go away from me, or I will get up and leave.”
When the two men left, people asked him:
“If they had recited a verse from the Qur’an, what harm would there have been in that?”
He replied:
“I feared that they would distort the meaning of the verse and misinterpret it, and that misinterpretation would take root in my heart.”
[In other words, he feared that these innovators might lead others into innovation as well.]
(Sunan al-Dārimī 1/109, Hadith 403 – Chain is authentic)
This narration contains a powerful lesson for the general public. It shows that every individual should avoid associating with the people of innovation, except for a scholar who is well-versed in knowledge and has the ability to refute and silence them effectively.
[There are numerous other reports from the pious predecessors condemning the innovators.]
❖ Stay Away from the People of Innovation
Once, Imam Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Sirin, the Tabi‘i (رحمه الله, d. 110 AH), was seated when two individuals from among the people of innovation (Ahl al-Bid‘ah) came to him and said:
“O Abu Bakr! We wish to narrate a Hadith to you.”
He replied:
“No, do not narrate anything to me.”
They insisted:
“Then at least let us recite a verse from the Qur’an.”
He (رحمه الله) firmly responded:
“Either you both go away from me, or I will get up and leave.”
When the two men left, people asked him:
“If they had recited a verse from the Qur’an, what harm would there have been in that?”
He replied:
“I feared that they would distort the meaning of the verse and misinterpret it, and that misinterpretation would take root in my heart.”
[In other words, he feared that these innovators might lead others into innovation as well.]
(Sunan al-Dārimī 1/109, Hadith 403 – Chain is authentic)
❖ A Lesson for the General Public
This narration contains a powerful lesson for the general public. It shows that every individual should avoid associating with the people of innovation, except for a scholar who is well-versed in knowledge and has the ability to refute and silence them effectively.
[There are numerous other reports from the pious predecessors condemning the innovators.]
