Befriending Innovators

[ameerkam]

Salaam
Is it permissible to befriend innovators such as the Shi’a. I’ve heard that you should deal with them justly like any other non Muslim but I’ve heard somewhere (and I can’t exactly remember what I’ve heard so do forgive me) that Imam Mālik said that he would not eat with the innovators, listen to what they say, or even listen to them read the Quran because they would twist it.
Is this still applicable today?

Jazzakallahu Khair

[ameerkam]

Salaam

I’ve heard (I don’t remember exactly) that Imam Mālik wouldn’t eat with the innovators or hear what they say. As Shias and other sects of Islam would be innovators. Do we deal with them in the same way we deal with other non Muslims?

Jazzakallahu Khair

[khalid Jamaykee]

Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu

Some narration from the Salaf:

Al-Fudayl ibn 'lyaad (d. 187H) said, "I met the best of people, all of them people of the Sunnah and they used to forbid from accompanying the People of Innovation."

Reported by al-Laalikaaýee,

Sufyaan ath-Thawree (d.161 H) said, "Whoever listens to an innovator has left the protection of Allaah, and is entrusted with the innovation."

Reported by Aboo Nu'aym in Al-Hilyah, 7/26 and Ibn Battah, no. 444.

Al-Fudayl ibn 'Iyaad (d. 187H) said, "Whoever sits with a person of innovation, then beware of him and whoever sits with a person of innovation has not been given wisdom. I love that there was a fort of iron between me and a person of innovation. That I eat with a Jew and a Christian is more beloved to me than that I eat with a person of Innovation."

Reported by al-Laalikaa'ee

Al-Layth ibn Sa'd (d. 175H) said, "If I saw a person of desires (i.e. innovations) walking upon the water I would not accept from him." So Imaam ash-Shaafi'ee then said, "He (al-Layth) has fallen short. If I saw him walking in the air I would not accept from him."

Reported by as-Suyooti in Al-Amr bil 'lttibaa wan-Nahee 'anil-lbtidaa. Refer to Chapter Eight: On the Prohibition of Sitting with the People of Innovation, Listening to them, Arguing with them, To Abandon them and those who Associate with them.

Imaam as-Saaboonee (d. 449H) said about Ahlus-Sunnah, "They follow the Salafus-Saalih the Imaams and the Scholars of the Muslims, and they cling to the firm deen that they clung to and to the clear truth. And they hate Ahul-Bid'ah (the People of Innovation) who innovate into the Deen that which is not from it. They do not love them and they do not keep company with them. They do not listen to their sayings, nor sit with them, nor argue with them about the Deen, nor debate with them. Rather, they protect their ears from hearing their futility; things, which if they pass through the ears and settle in the hearts, will cause harm and cause doubts and wicked ideas to appear. And concerning this Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, sent down: And when you see people engaged in vain discourse about Our Signs, then turn away from them unless they turn to a different theme." Soorah al-An'aam (6):68

Risaalah fil-I'tiqaad Ahlis-Sunnah Ashaabil-Hadeeth, p. 100, of Imaam asSaaboonee.