بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Sheikh Saaleh al Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him) said:

It is not permissible to exalt and praise the innovators, even if they have with them some of that which is the haqq.  That is because raising and praising them will spread their bidah and makes them from amongst the sincere ones, who are taken as examples from amongst the men of distinction of this Ummah.  The Salaf have warned us against having trust for the innovators, and have warned against praising them, and from their gatherings.  In this regard Asad Ibn Musa (rahimahullaah) wrote: ”And be beware of being a brother of the innovator (by association), or a companion of his, or one whom you sit with.  For indeed there has come the athar: ”whoever sits with a person of innovation; has left the protection of Allaah and is entrusted to himself.  Whoever proceeds towards a person of innovation has proceeded towards the destruction of Islaam”.

The innovators must be warned against and kept away from, even if they have some truth with them. Indeed, the most astray are not devoid of something of the truth, but as long as they have with them innovation, opposition and sinful views/ideas; then it is not permissible to praise and exalt them.  And it is impermissible not to have an objection towards their innovation, because in this is spreading of bidah and belittling the Sunnah.  And through this the innovator will emerge and become a guide for the ummah.

There are those Imaams in every era, who have no affairs of innovation with them.  And all Praise is due to Allaah, in them is that which suffices the ummah.  They are the leaders/guides.  What is obligatory is to make Ittibaa of the straight path which has no bidah.  As for the innovator, then it is obligatory to warn against him, and he is exposed until the people are cautious of him, and until him and his followers are subdued.  As for the consideration that he has something of the haqq; then this does not justify praising him.  This is, to a far greater extent against that which is of overriding benefit.  And it is known with regards to the fundamental principles of the religion that averting harm takes precedence over seeking that which is of benefit.  And with regards to showing animosity towards the innovator, the harm that is averted from the ummah is weightier than what he has of supposed maslahah, (if that is the case).
And had we adhered to this concept (i.e. praising innovators for some good they have), no one would have been judged to be misguided and declared an innovator.  This is because there is not an innovator except that he has with him some of that which is from the haqq and from iltizaam (adherence to Islaam). [Abridged: For further details, see At-Tabdee Wat-Tafseeq Wat Takfeer. Page: 72-76]