The people of innovation have now filled much of the earth – and refuge in Allah is sought! Therefore we do not boycott everybody, rather those people are in need of our invitation. We call them to Allah ﷻ using wisdom and good admonition. As for their plotting leaders and the callers of falsehood [who spread misguidance] in their newspapers, magazines, books, tapes, lectures, seminars and websites, these are the people that are fought and warned against. They are not sat with nor studied with nor benefitted from.

But for their laymen – the unfortunate followers who have been deceived [by their leaders], we call them to Allah ﷻ using wisdom and good admonition. This speech is supported by many of the statements of the imāms of the sunnah and by their interactions, i.e. they called the laymen to Allah ﷻ, they did not boycott the laymen in a way the imāms of evil, wickedness and misguidance are boycotted. Understand this so that some of you do not misunderstand, and think that every person who falls into an innovation is boycotted, not spoken to nor invited and so on. No! Even the non-Muslims from the Jews and Christians are invited to Islam, and likewise the people of innovation are invited (to the sunnah).

In saying so, a person should not water down [the manḥāj] by mixing and socialising with them lest he is taken too. Be sincere to Allah ﷻ, and try to rescue this person who has fallen into misguidance by way of the Book of Allah ﷻ and the sunnah – meaning, by way of good presentation combined with clear insight and evidence. This is one of the causes of guidance, and because of it many have been guided from the various countries.

Imām Muḥammed ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhāb arose whilst the earth was filled with darkness. He strove in calling to Allah ﷻ, and Allah ﷻ guided many by his hands! There used to be grave worshippers, mystics and misguided people who were guided by his hands. Likewise Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah, and the salafī imāms of the propagation in India. They came [at a time when] the earth was filled with darkness, and they spread this Islamic call and the people responded to this call in millions. Allah ﷻ 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)