Is Testing People with Individuals a Bid'ah?

Uploaded Jun 18, 2024

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Question

There are some students of ilm (Islamic knowledge) who wrote a book and said in it: Testing people with individuals is a bid’ah (innovation within religion) that has been introduced in this time. Is this true? As we read in some of the words of the Salaf (Pious Predecessors): If you see someone from Kufa or Baghdad speaking ill of Imam Ahmad, then know that he is a person of innovation or hawa (whims/desires).

Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan

How is this related to that?! A test, he means a test as in lessons and exams that they are an innovations? Or does he mean testing people with individuals? He asks you about a person, and if you answer him, you will be judged to be a Sunni or an innovator. This is not permissible. This is not permissible, unless it is known from the innovators that are hostile/make an enemy of the people of Sunnah or an Imam from the Imams of Ahlus Sunnah. Their enmity is evidence of their innovation and deviation, like Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him. As for inspecting people and asking them about so-and-so - this has no basis (in Islam) and should not be done.