The ’Allaamah, the Shaykh, Saalih Ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan may Allaah preserve him was asked the following question:
“Is not refuting the people of innovation and concealing their falsehood and defending them from deceiving the Muslims?”
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan replied,
“This is from major deception of the Muslims, being silent about the people of innovation (bid’ah) and not clarifying their bid’ah, this is from deceiving the Muslims and if in addition to that he praised them (the innovators) than this is worse and more evil… and refuge is sought with Allaah.
So what is obligatory upon those who have knowledge is to make clear the innovations and newly invented matters (in the religion) and to prohibit them and warn against these innovations and to not be silent because indeed silence is from concealing (knowledge) (Allaah says:)
“Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidences and guidance, which We have sent down, after We have made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allaah and cursed by the cursers. Except those who repent and do righteous deeds, and openly declare (the truth which they concealed). These are the ones who I will accept their repentance. And I am the One Who accepts repentance, and the Most Merciful.” [Sooratul-Baqarah 2:159-160]
It is not permissible for the Muslim that has knowledge to be silent about bid’ah and oppositions (in the religion) and he is to make them clear to the people because if he was silent, the people will use (his silence) as proof, and they will say if this was unlawful or prohibited, the scholar so and so would of not been silent about it and he sees it (innovation, opposition).
Translation by Talhah Payne