The author said: al-Fuḍayl ibn Iyāḍ said, “Whoever honours a person of innovation has aided in the demolition of Islam. Whoever smiles in the face of an innovator has belittled what Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, had revealed to Muḥammad. Whoever marries his karīmah (sister, daughter etc) to an innovator has cut off her ties of relationship with her. Whoever follows the funeral procession of an innovator will not cease to be under the wrath of Allah until he returns.” Al-Fuḍayl ibn Iyāḍ said, “Whoever sits with a person of innovation will be blinded.” al-Fuḍayl ibn Iyāḍ said, “I eat with a Jew and a Christian but not with a person of Innovation. Beloved to me would be that there is a fortress of iron between me and a person of innovation.” al-Fuḍayl ibn Iyāḍ said, “If Allah knows of a man who has hatred for a person of innovation, He will forgive him even if his actions are only a small amount. A person of sunnah cannot help a person of innovation except due to hypocrisy. Whoever turns his face away from a person of innovation, Allah will fill his heart with faith. Whoever reprimands a person of innovation, Allah will grant him safety on the Day of Terror and whoever humiliates an innovator, Allah will raise him in Paradise by a hundred levels. So do not ever be a person of innovation for the sake of Allah.”

The Explanation:

al-Fuḍayl ibn Iyāḍ said “Whoever honours a person of innovation has aided in the demolition of Islam…” this is because innovations oppose Islam. If you were to support a person of innovation then you have aided in the demolition of Islam, since Islam is the sunnah and the sunnah is Islam as has proceeded (in point no.50). It is obligatory upon every individual to avoid honouring the people of innovation, complimenting them or praising them. In this day and age – as you have heard, the disbelievers are complimented, praised and considered to be advanced and civilised people. As for us (Muslims), we are considered uncivilised, backwards, and whatever else they claim! This is from the severest of hypocrisy and Allah’s protection is sought.

His statement “Whoever smiles in the face of an innovator has belittled what Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, had revealed to Muḥammad….”; the innovator is in opposition to that which Allah ﷻ has revealed to Muḥammad ﷺ. If he were to smile in his face with delight then he has acted against that which has been revealed in the Qurʾān and sunnah from abandoning, hating, staying away and not being pleased with them since smiling (with delight) indicates his satisfaction and pleasure for them.

His statement “Whoever marries his karīmah (i.e sister, daughter) to an innovator has cut off ties of relationship with her…” it is an obligation upon anyone who has guardianship – over a daughter, sister or whomsoever he has the ability to give in marriage to choose a righteous & suitable spouse for her as the Messenger of Allah said ﷺ, “If someone comes to you whose religion and character pleases you, then marry him. Otherwise there will be trials and tribulations in the land and a big corruption.” Therefore if you do not seek for her someone who is pleasing in his religion and character, then it will bring great corruption. If you were to marry her to someone from the people of hypocrisy or innovation, he can cause her to go astray along with him and you would be the reason for that. His statement “Whoever follows the funeral procession of an innovator will not cease to be under the wrath of Allah until he returns.” If they die then do not follow their funeral procession because the wrath and punishment will descend upon them, and that which will afflict them may afflict you.

Al-Fuḍayl ibn Iyāḍ said, “Whoever sits with a person of innovation will be blinded…” meaning blinded with regards to insight and the heart.

Al-Fuḍayl ibn Iyāḍ said, “I would eat with a Jew and a Christian but not with a person of Innovation…” since it is well known that a Jew or Christian is a follower of religion, a religion different from ours, and it is clear he is from the people of the book. As for an innovator then he claims Islam. A Jew or Christian does not claim Islam, it is clearly obvious that he is Christian or Jewish. The problem with those who claim Islam and seem trustworthy is that you would sit with him and he would drag you into wickedness. The danger of this (innovator) is greater than the danger of the enemy whose enmity is apparent.

His statement “I love that there was a fort of iron between me and a person of innovation…” meaning preventing from mixing with him. Al-Fudayl ibn Iyād said, “If Allah (the Mighty and Majestic), knows that a man hates a person of innovation, He will forgive him even if his actions are few…” This is because it is apart of loving and hating for the sake of Allah. Having love for the people of Īmān and having hatred for the enemies of Allah. This is from the fundamental principles of the religion.

His statement “A person of Sunnah would not help an innovator except due to hypocrisy…” if a person of Sunnah helps a person of innovation, then this is a type of hypocrisy.

His statement “Whoever turns his face away from an innovator, Allah will fill his heart with faith…” since this is from hating for the sake of Allah.

His statement “Whoever rebukes an innovator, Allah will grant him safety on the Day of Great Terror…”; whoever rebukes him by speech and rejects him then Allāh will reward him on the Day of Judgement – the day of great terror with a good reward because he rejected evil. However, if he praises and commends him then this is from hypocrisy and befriending the enemies of Allah.

His statement “Whoever belittles an innovator, Allāh will raise him in Paradise by a hundred ranks…” It is obligatory not to show generosity to the people of innovation by sitting with them, praising them or in any way of dignifying them. It is compulsory to debase them because Allah debases them and this is from loving and hating for the sake of Allah.

His statement “So do not ever be a person of innovation for the sake of Allah…” it is upon you to keep away from innovations and never to tolerate it in order to protect your religion and the Sunnah of your Prophet.