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Guilty by Association
Guilty by Association
It is reported that Imâm Al-Awzâ’î – Allâh have mercy on him – used to say:
Whoever hides his heresy (bid’ah) from us, his companionship is not hidden from us.
Ibn Battah, Al-Ibânah Al-Kubrâ article 420.
It is reported that when Sufyân Al-Thawrî – Allâh have mercy on him – came to Basrah he started to look into the matter of Al-Rabî’ – i.e. Ibn Sabîh
(1) – and his status amongst the people. [Sufyân] asked, “What does he believe?” [People] replied, “He believes in nothing but the Sunnah.” He asked, “Who are his companions?” They replied, “The People of Qadr (those who denied Allâh’s pre-decree).” He said, “Then he is a Qadarî (like them).”
Ibid. article 421.
In other narration:
Yahya Ibn Sa’eed al Qattaan said: “When Sufyaan Ath Thawree came to Basrah he began to look into the affair of Ar-Rabee’ bin Subaih and the people’s estimation of him. He asked them, “What is his madhab?”, and they said, “His madhab is but the Sunnah.” He then asked: “Who is his companionship?” and they replied: “The people of Qadr”, so he replied: “Then he is a Qadari.”
Al Ibaanah, 2/453. (*)
(1) Al-Rabî’ b. Sabîh is described in biographies as being a truthful reporter, but with a bad memory; a devout worshipper and a mujâhid.
It is reported that Al-Fudayl b. ‘Ayyâd – Allâh have mercy on him – said:
The souls [of people] are in groups gathered together: those of them that identify with each other come together, and those that are different diverge. It is not possible for an adherent of the Sunnah to incline towards an adherent of Bid’ah except out of hypocrisy (nifâq).
Ibid. article 429.
