In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

The Shaikh was asked: We hear a statement from some of the Mashayihk of Ahlus Sunnah: “This man is from Ahlul Bidah”. Is it understood that he is a Mubtadi or not?”

Answer: What I have knowledge of is that this statement has two applications according to Ahlus Sunnah. The first of them and it is what is meant in most cases is that he is a Mubtadi. He knows the truth, but he is an obstinate person. He refuses (to accept truth), but (accepts) deviation. He knows the Sunnah, but refuses to follow it and (follows) Bidah. He acts upon Bidah while knowing that it is Bidah. The other meaning is that this man is a person upon Bidah-meaning: He acts upon Bidah even though he is not a Mubtadi because what we know regarding the methodology of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah is that they do not declare any specific person a Muibtadi until the proofs are established against him. [Al-Haddul Fasil Bayna Mu’aamalah Ahl As-Sunnah Wa Ahl Al-Batil 60]