Learning Arabic Language from an Innovator

Shaykh Bakr Aboo Zayd stated:

It was narrated that Imaam Maalik (rahimahullaah) said: “Knowledge is not be taken from four: a foolish person who publicizes his foolishness, even if he was the most prolific narrator of hadeeth; a person of innovation who calls to it; a person who lies in his speech with people even if I don’t accuse him of lying in hadeeth; and a noble pious worshipper if he does not memorize precisely what he narrates.”

O you seeker of knowledge, if you are in a position of freedom of choice, then do not take from an innovator [be he]: a Raafidee, Khaarijee, Murjee, Qadaree or Qubooree… etc. For you will never reach the level of [knowledgeable] men: correct in your creed, strong in your association with Allaah, with strong vision, and following the ‘tracks’; except by abandoning the innovators and their innovations.[1]

Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen commented on the above words thus:

The apparent meaning of the words of the Shaykh [that is, Bakr Aboo Zayd] is that no knowledge should be taken from a person of innovation including that which is not related to his innovation. For instance, if we find a person of innovation who is good at Arabic language: balaaghah, nahw and sarf, should we sit with him and take this knowledge that he is good at from him or boycott him? The apparent meaning of the words of the Shaykh is that we should not sit with him because that would lead to two evils.

First evil: He would be having a false idea about himself and thinking that he is upon the truth.

Second evil: People would be deceived by him since people would come one after the other to him and students of knowledge would learn from him; the layman cannot distinguish between the knowledge of nahw and knowledge of ‘aqeedah.

Consequently, we are of the view that a person should not learn from the people of innovations and desires absolutely, even if the knowledge of Arabic language can only be found among them. Allaah will facilitate for him a better person than the innovator. This is because, without doubt, by going to these people, it would make them have self-delusion and people would be misled by them.

Source: Sharh Hilyah Taalib al-‘Ilm, 93-94, by Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him)

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[1] The Etiquette of Seeking Knowledge, p. 49-50 by Shaykh Bakr Aboo Zayd