And finally we say: innovations are the forerunner of disbelief. They are an addition to the religion that neither Allah nor His Messenger has legislated, and an innovation is worse than a major sin. Satan rejoices over it more than he does over major sins, for the sinner commits his sin knowing it is a sin and therefore repents of it, whereas the innovator practices his innovation believing it to be a form of worship that draws him nearer to Allah and thus never repents of it. Innovations extinguish the Sunnah, make those who adopt them detest the Sunnah and its people, distance one from Allah, bring about His wrath and punishment, and cause hearts to stray and become corrupted.

How innovators are to be treated: it is forbidden to visit or keep the company of an innovator except for the purpose of advising him and denouncing his practice, for mixing with him harms the one who mixes with him and spreads his enmity to others. It is obligatory to warn people against them and their evil if they cannot be restrained and prevented from practicing their innovations; otherwise, it is incumbent upon the scholars of the Muslims and their rulers to suppress innovations, restrain the innovators, and deter them from their mischief, because—