The discussion of Tabdīʿ—the act of declaring someone an innovator (mubtadiʿ)—is one that has fueled debates, conflicts, and divisions within the Ummah. While the intention behind identifying innovators may be to protect the purity of Islam, both exaggeration and negligence in this matter lead to harmful consequences.
This article examines:
- The extreme of hastily labeling people as innovators based on minor errors, assumptions, or personal grudges.
- The extreme of refusing to declare innovation even when it is clear and well-established.
- The correct, balanced methodology of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah in identifying innovators.
Understanding this issue is critical for students of knowledge, scholars, and the general Muslim public, as misjudgments in this area can lead to false accusations, sectarianism, and unjust division among Muslims.
The First Extreme: Exaggeration in Declaring Innovation (Tabdīʿ)
One of the most dangerous trends is the excessive and reckless use of Tabdīʿ, where some hastily declare others as innovators based on:
- A single mistake in speech or action.
- A misunderstanding or incorrect interpretation of a scholar’s statement.
- Assumptions and suspicions regarding someone's beliefs and intentions.
This reckless approach leads to the isolation of scholars, the fragmentation of the Ummah, and the branding of righteous people as deviants.
1. Declaring Ahl al-Sunnah Innovators Over Minor Mistakes and Assumptions
Some individuals make Tabdīʿ of scholars and students of knowledge for a single slip of the tongue, a misinterpretation, or even an unverified claim. Even worse, some go as far as declaring someone an innovator based on assumptions about their intentions, rather than clear evidence.
Imam Ahmad’s Caution Against Hastiness in Tabdīʿ
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, رحمه الله, was asked about a person who gave virtue to Abu Bakr and Umar but stopped at them without mentioning Uthman as the third most virtuous. The questioner asked:
"هَلْ يَخُرُجُ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ؟"
(Does this person leave Ahl al-Sunnah?)
Imam Ahmad responded with a foundational principle:
"إِخْرَاجُ النَّاسِ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ شَدِيدٌ"
(Declaring someone outside of Ahl al-Sunnah is a very serious matter.) (Al-Sunnah lil Khallal: 2/373)
Even though neglecting Uthman’s virtue was a significant mistake, Imam Ahmad refused to hastily expel this person from Ahl al-Sunnah.
Imam al-Dhahabi’s Warning Against Reckless Boycotting and Excommunication
Imam al-Dhahabi, رحمه الله, made a profound statement on this issue:
"وَلَوْ أَنَّ كُلَّ مَا أَخْطَىٰ إِمَامٌ فِي اجْتِهَادِهِ فِي آحَادِ الْمَسَائِلِ، خَطَأ مَغْفُورًا لَهُ، قُبْنَا عَلَيْهِ وَبَدَّعْنَاهُ وَهَجَرْنَاهُ، لَمَا سَلِمَ مَعَنَا أَحَدٌ."
(If we were to declare every scholar an innovator for their minor mistakes, no one would remain!) (Siyar A‘lām al-Nubalā’: 14/376)
Imam al-Dhahabi highlights the dangerous consequences of unjustly declaring people as innovators, as even the greatest scholars have erred at times.
2. Testing People Based on Their Opinion of Specific Scholars
Another form of excess in Tabdīʿ is Imtiḥān al-Duʿāt—the practice of testing scholars and students by their stance on particular individuals.
Many people pass judgments by asking questions such as:
"What do you think of Sheikh so-and-so?"
If the response is favorable, the person is accepted. If they hesitate or disagree, they are labeled a deviant.
Ibn Taymiyyah’s Rebuke of Testing People on Individuals
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, رحمه الله, strongly condemned this approach:
"إِن كَانَ قَدْ فَعَلَ ذَنْبًا شَرْعِيًّا، عُوقِبَ بِقَدْرِ ذَنْبِهِ بِلَا زِيَادَةٍ."
(If someone commits a religious mistake, he should be corrected only to the extent of his mistake—without excess.) (Majmoo'ul Fatawa:7/28)
Ibn Taymiyyah warns that personal biases should not dictate religious loyalty or judgment. Instead, adherence to the Qur'an and Sunnah should be the primary criterion.
The Second Extreme: Negligence in Declaring Innovation (Tabdīʿ)
On the other end of the spectrum, some individuals refuse to declare anyone an innovator, even when there is clear and overwhelming evidence of deviation. This extreme leniency leads to the spread of false beliefs and the corruption of Islamic teachings, as it allows individuals with deviant ideas to operate without scrutiny or correction.
1. Refusing to Call Innovators Innovators
There are those who argue that declaring someone an innovator is too severe or that it is not their place to judge. While caution is indeed necessary, failing to stand against clear innovation results in:
- Allowing false beliefs to spread unchallenged.
- Granting legitimacy to people who openly contradict Ahl al-Sunnah.
- Weakening the stance of truth and enabling misguided individuals to influence others.
This extreme negligence leads to a scenario where innovation is tolerated, normalized, and even promoted under the false guise of "compassion" and "leniency."
Some people refuse to declare innovators even when:
- A person openly adopts a belief that contradicts the methodology of Ahl al-Sunnah.
- They reject clear and authentic sources of Islam (Qur'an, Sunnah, and Ijmaʿ) and replace them with philosophical arguments or deviant opinions.
- They persist in their deviation despite repeated correction and clear evidence from scholars.
When such individuals are still defended and included under the umbrella of Ahl al-Sunnah, it weakens the boundaries between truth and falsehood and opens the door for further confusion among the Muslims.
The Consequences of Extreme Leniency
Refusing to uphold the distinction between Sunnah and Bidʿah (innovation) causes severe damage to the faith in the following ways:
- Innovators are given a platform to spread their views, leading to widespread confusion and distortion of Islamic teachings.
- Ordinary Muslims become unable to distinguish truth from falsehood, as there are no clear lines drawn between Ahl al-Sunnah and people of Bidʿah.
- The reputation and credibility of genuine scholars are undermined, as anyone—even those who oppose fundamental Islamic teachings—is embraced under the banner of Ahl al-Sunnah.
Real-World Examples of This Negligence
Some individuals go to great lengths to excuse figures who have clearly opposed core principles of Islam. Even when a scholar or speaker:
- Denies essential aspects of Islamic creed (ʿAqīdah), such as Qadar (Divine Decree) or Allah’s Names and Attributes.
- Openly allies with groups known for their opposition to Ahl al-Sunnah, such as the Khawarij, Murjiʿah, or Ashʿarites.
- Spreads doubts regarding fundamental beliefs of Islam and tries to modernize or reinterpret the religion in a way that distorts the truth.
Even in such clear-cut cases, there are those who hesitate to make any judgments, claiming:
"We should not judge others."
"Only Allah knows what is in their hearts."
This false mercy and reluctance to stand firm on truth leads to the gradual erosion of Islamic principles.
Islam commands compassion, but it also commands clarity and firmness in the face of falsehood. Avoiding conflict should never come at the cost of compromising the truth.
When Can Someone Be Declared an Innovator?
A person is considered an innovator (mubtadiʿ) if they meet one of the following conditions:
1. They Reject the Fundamental Sources of Islam
Ahl al-Sunnah derives its beliefs from:
- The Qur'an
- The Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ
- Ijmaʿ (consensus of scholars)
Anyone who rejects these sources in favor of personal interpretations, philosophical reasoning, or speculative arguments has left the methodology of Ahl al-Sunnah.
For example:
- Using logic and rationalism over Qur'anic and Prophetic teachings (as seen in the Muʿtazilah sect).
- Dismissing authentic hadith as unreliable, despite their acceptance by the scholars of Hadith.
Such individuals prioritize their reasoning over divine revelation and thus abandon the fundamentals of Ahl al-Sunnah.
2. They Adopt a Foundational Belief of Deviant Sects
If someone adopts a core belief of one of the known deviant sects, they are an innovator. Examples include:
- Denying Qadar (Divine Decree) → Qadariyyah
- Believing sinners are eternally in Hell → Khawarij
- Rejecting authentic Hadith in creed → Muʿtazilah & Ashʿarites
- Denying Allah’s Names and Attributes → Jahmiyyah
When a person firmly adheres to such deviant ideas and refuses to accept correction, they are no longer considered part of Ahl al-Sunnah.
3. They Consistently Oppose Ahl al-Sunnah in Multiple Issues
A person who repeatedly takes positions that oppose Ahl al-Sunnah—even in secondary matters—may also be declared an innovator.
Ibn Taymiyyah, رحمه الله, explained:
"الْبِدْعَةُ إِذَا اجْتَمَعَتْ، كَانَتْ أَصْلًا"
(When many small errors accumulate, they form the foundation of deviation.)
If a person consistently aligns themselves with deviant views, even in minor matters, it is a sign that they have a deeper foundational issue with their belief system.
The Correct and Balanced Approach
Ahl al-Sunnah follows a moderate and just approach in Tabdīʿ:
- They do not hastily declare others as innovators over small mistakes.
- They do not ignore clear evidence of deviation.
- They use knowledge and wisdom before making judgments.
Allah ﷻ commands:
"وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ"
(Cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and transgression.) (Al-Mā'idah 5:2)
By following this balanced approach, the truth remains preserved, and the Ummah avoids unnecessary division.
May Allah guide us to the truth and protect us from the trials of extremism. Ameen.
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