The evidence from the Sunnah for shunning them is found in the account of the three who were shunned after remaining behind when the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—set out on his expedition, although they had no excuse: Ka‘b ibn Mālik, Hilāl ibn Umayyah, and Murārah ibn al-Rabī‘—may Allah Most High have mercy on them. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—ordered that they be shunned and that no one speak to them, and he drove them away until word came down from Allah—Majestic and Exalted—accepting their repentance.

Likewise, there is the account of Hātib ibn Abī Balta‘ah, when he wrote to Quraysh warning them of the Prophet’s march against them. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—ordered that he be shunned and driven away. Then, when Allah sent down word accepting his repentance, Allah Most High reproached him for what he had done and accepted his repentance.

There is also the saying of the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace: “The most excellent deed is to love for Allah’s sake and to hate for Allah’s sake.”

There is also ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb’s—may Allah be pleased with him—beating of Sabīgh and his sending word to the people of Basra that they were not to sit with him. He said: Whenever Sabīgh came to any gathering whatsoever, they would rise and leave him.