Testing People by Their Adherence to The Prophet ﷺ

Questioner: He says, O esteemed Sheikh, may Allāh grant you success. There is a phenomenon among some youth where they test others based on their stance toward certain individuals. If you agree with them, you are considered among the people of Sunnah, and if you disagree, you are labelled an innovator. What is your advice regarding this? Sheikh Ṣāliḥ Al-Fawzān ḥafidhahullāh: The advice is that we say: Whoever aligns with the Qur'ān and the Sunnah is from the people of Sunnah, without regard to specific individuals, except for Muḥammad ﷺ, as we follow none but the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ. [Allāh has said] ﴿لَّقَدۡ كَانَ لَكُمۡ فِی رَسُولِ ٱللهِ أُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةࣱ﴾ "Indeed, in the Messenger of Allāh, you have an excellent example." [Sūrah Al-Aḥzāb: 21] As for anyone else, if they follow him (ﷺ), we emulate them, and if they deviate, we oppose them. The one who is to be followed is the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ. This is why Sheikhul Islam raḥimahullāh said: "Whoever claims that it is obligatory to follow someone other than the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ should be requested to repent. If they repent, then all is well; otherwise, they should be killed, because they have affirmed the existence of someone to be followed besides the Messenger ﷺ." We follow only those who themselves follow the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ. We do not test people based on their allegiance to individuals, but rather on their adherence to the Qur'ān, the Sunnah, and following the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ. If you want to test someone, do so by their following of the Messenger ﷺ, for he is the one who must be followed and emulated.