What is the stance of Ahlus-Sunnah towards Ahlul-Bida‘ Wal-Ahwaa’ (the heretical innovators and followers of personal desires)? If someone joins a certain group, is he considered a disbelieving innovator because of the religious innovations perpetrated by some of these groups?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alyhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

The methodology of Ahlus-Sunnah in dealing with disbelieving innovators and followers of personal desires is to keep away from them and refrain from cooperating with them in spreading their ideas or in practicing their religious innovations. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.} [Quran 5:2] It goes without saying that propagation of religious innovations is one of the gravest sins because it encourages people to adopt a ‘Sharee‘ah’ that is not authorized by Allaah The Almighty.

There is no doubt that being close to such people, let alone joining and working with them, is a great threat to one’s religion, because Fitnah (tribulation) attracts and ruins those who approach it.

However, there is no objection to joining and cooperating with groups that advocate the truth and adhere to the Quran and Sunnah. Nevertheless, one must beware of becoming a bigot because it is probable that these groups serve Islam in some aspects while overlooking other aspects. This is why working with only one group in particular makes one miss a lot of chances to do goodness.

Ibn Al-Qayyim mentioned that Ahlus-Sunnah are not known to people by a specific name like other groups, and their efforts are not restricted to one particular aspect of worship that they are named after and famous for. In fact, this kind of restriction indicates a defect in worship. The person who observes unrestricted worship is not labeled by a certain name pertaining to that one aspect of worship. On the contrary, he responds when called to different kinds of worship. He does not restrict himself to a certain name, sign, slogan, uniform or any man-made reformation scheme. If he is asked who his Shaykh is, he answers that it is the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. If he is asked about his methodology, he answers that it is following the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and the righteous predecessors. If he is asked about his raiment, he answers that it is fear of Allaah The Almighty. If he is asked about his aim, he answers that it is to seek the pleasure of Allaah The Almighty. If he is asked about his whereabouts, he will quote this verse (which means): {In mosques which Allaah has ordered to be raised and that His name be mentioned therein; exalting Him within them in the morning and the evenings, [Are] men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allaah and performance of prayer and giving of Zakah [obligatory charity]. They fear a Day in which the hearts and eyes will [fearfully] turn about.} [Quran 24:36-37]. He will declare that his affiliation is to Islam.

For more information, see Fatwa 4321.

Allaah Knows best.