Shaykh Rabīʿ ibn Hādī ibn ʿUmayr al-Madkhalī ؒ (d. 1447 AH / 2025 CE) said:
The people of innovation are now numerous and fill the earth. We seek refuge in Allah ! Therefore, we do not boycott everyone; rather, they are the people to whom we direct our call. We call them to Allah with wisdom and good admonition. As for their plotting leaders and those who call to falsehood through their newspapers, magazines, books, recordings, lectures, seminars and websites, these are the people to be opposed and warned against. They are not to be sat with, their works are not to be read, and benefit is not to be taken from them.
As for their unfortunate, deceived lay followers, we call them to Allah with wisdom and good admonition. This is supported by many statements of the imāms of the Sunnah and their practice: they called the lay people to Allah and did not boycott them as they boycotted the leaders of evil, wickedness and misguidance. Understand this, so that none of you thinks that everyone who falls into an innovation must be boycotted, neither spoken to nor called to the truth. No! The call remains open even to non-Muslims, Jews and Christians, and it remains open to the people of innovation too.
However, a person should not become lax, mixing with them and becoming comfortable with them until he himself is lost. Be sincere to Allah and try to rescue this person who has fallen into misguidance through the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger , presenting them well with argument and proof. This is one of the means of guidance, and many people in many countries have been guided through it.
Imām Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhāb ؒ (d. 1206 AH / 1792 CE) appeared when the world was filled with darkness. He strove in calling to Allah , and Allah guided many through him. They had been grave worshippers, people given to superstition and people astray, then they were guided through him. Likewise, Shaykh al-Islām Aḥmad ibn ʿAbd al-Ḥalīm Ibn Taymiyyah ؒ (d. 728 AH / 1328 CE), and the Salafī imāms of the call in India: they appeared when the world was filled with darkness, spread this call, and millions responded. Allah said:
ادْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ ۖ وَجَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ ۖ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ
“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is rightly guided.” [Q 16:125]
References
The Noble Qurʾān, 16:125.
Rabīʿ ibn Hādī al-Madkhalī, Majmūʿ Kutub wa-Rasāʾil wa-Fatāwā, 2:351–352, Arabic passage is available in an Arabic republication dated 21 August 2013.
