“A Choice between Poverty and Misguidance: Story of the Sufi” – Sh.ibn ul-Uthaymeen

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

The following article is regarding an event that occurred relating to an individual upon Sufism who was charitable to the people, Shaikh ibn ul-Uthaymeen رحمه الله was asked:

Questioner: “There is a man upon one of the paths of Sufism and he carries out some innovations, [the issue however is] that this man aids in the establishment of charitable work, so if someone like him is refuted for his innovation and it [the refutation of him] becomes widespread between the people, he will cease to aid the people of righteousness and goodness [in charity], so what is your opinion oh Shaikh?”

Shaikh: “Is this man influential in his da’wa?”

Questioner: “Yes Shaikh, he calls to his innovation.”

Shaikh: “In that case, which is more severe; poverty or misguidance?”

Questioner: “Misguidance.”

Shaikh: “Misguidance is more severe, so it is obligatory if this man is a caller and influential [in his innovation] that he is warned against, even if he stops his charitable work – for indeed that is depriving himself of reward if he does – as for leaving him to misguide the servants of Allah in order to obtain via that [i.e. silence upon him] a dirham or two…this is not possible.”

[Translator’s note: “Dirham” a form of currency.]

[via Sahab]