Salam alaikum wa rahmatAllah wa barakatuhu, I have already asked this question once, but only got a number of fatwas to other questions back, which did not answer my question sufficiently, and also I do not understand fatwa 19998, so I ask my question again: In a book by Dr. Abdul-Rahman al-Sheha he quotes Al-Fudail b. 'Iyaad, may Allah have mercy on him, as saying: 'If you see a man of Bid'ah walking on a road, take another road. No deed of a man of Bid'ah will be accepted by Allah, and whoever helps a man of Bid'ah, would have certainly helped in destroying Islam.' Could you please be so kind and explain me the exact meaning of the quote? Help regarding what? If a man of Bid'ah gets attacked by let's say non-Muslims, should we not help him? Or when he is poverty stricken or becomes ill etc.? Is a man of Bid'ah not still Muslim? For instance, many celebrate Mawlid, which is bid'ah too, would that be reason enough not to help? Shall we leave such a man hungry, shall we not protect him, when he gets attacked by non-Muslims, should we not help him by supporting him buying medicine when he is ill? And if not, which is somewhat indicated by fatwa 19998, then why not since he is still a brother in Islam? In a hadith about the punishment of the grave in Musnad Ahmad it says, that Aisha, radi Allahu anha, gave something to a Jewish woman who came to her begging. So why should it be allowed to help a needy Jew but not a needy Muslim? Maybe I am drifting away and loosing the ability to understand Islam, but I really don't understand it. Your explanation is much appreciated. BarakAllah feek. Salam alaikum wa rahmatAllah wa barakatuhu

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 is His slave and Messenger.

What Al-Fudhayl ibn ‘Iyaadh wanted to emphasize is the danger of the innovator and that he is the cause of undermining religion because by him spreading the innovation, he contributes to the destruction of the Sunnah. It is for this reason that a Muslim should stay away from the innovators and not help them in their innovation. Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said: "Islam initiated as something strange, and it would revert to its (old position of) being strange, so give glad tidings for strangers” [Muslim]

In Musnad Ash-Shihaab, the above Hadeeth was reported with the following addition: “The Prophet was asked: ''Who are the strangers?” He replied: “They are those who revive my Sunnah and teach it to the servants of Allaah.”

Therefore, this is what is required from a Muslim; he should strive to revive the Sunnah and not to render it dead.

On the other hand, not all the innovators are considered equal but they vary, some of them call to their innovation, and some do not. Also, the one whose innovation constitutes an act of Kufr [disbelief, i.e. takes him out of the fold of Islam] is not like someone whose innovation renders him a dissolute person only. So, these differences must be taken into account.

Secondly: The innovators are considered, from a certain perspective, more dangerous to the religion of Islam than the disbelievers. That is because the misguidance of the disbelievers is not hidden from the ignorant Muslims let alone their scholars, while the innovators are Muslims and they may justify their innovation with Quranic texts or Prophetic sayings by which they confuse the layman Muslim, and this may cause him to innovate in religion.

Similar to what we are talking about is what Sufyan Ath-Thawri said: “The innovation is more beloved to the devil than a sin, because a person may repent from a sin, but a person does not repent from an innovation [as he does not consider it to be as such or that he does not know it to be as such].”

Thirdly: We and you are not more compassionate to the innovators than our Salaf (righteous predecessors), but they used to warn against them as a way of preserving the religion of Islam from their danger and as a way of advising themselves and advising the Muslims against being affected by them or being deceived by their falsehood. On this occasion, we recall the statement of Abu Qilaabah 'Abdullaah ibn Zayd ibn ‘Umar who said: “Do not sit with the people of evil desires, as I do not feel safe from them plunging you in their misguidance and confusing you about some of what you already know.”

For more benefit on the seriousness of innovation, please refer to Fataawa 117717 and 17613.

Fourthly: If a Muslim – even if he is an innovator – is assaulted by a non-Muslim, it is an obligation to support him and not forsake him if one knows that a Muslim is being assaulted and he is able to repel that aggression from him as the Prophet said: "A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should not oppress him, he should not forsake him but should support and protect him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor. Whoever fulfills the needs of his Muslim brother, Allaah will fulfill his needs; whoever brings his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allaah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever conceals the sins of a Muslim, Allaah will conceal his sins on the Day of Resurrection." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Fifthly: It is permissible to help an innovator and treat him kindly, especially if one hopes to influence him and be a cause for his guidance.

Allaah Knows best.