What to do when a scholar falls into acts contrary to the Sunna

Question

Question: If a person appears very pious, his character is good, his scholarly ability is also good and he is counted as a good ʿalim, but his conduct is contrary to the Sunna of the Prophet ﷺ — is it right to draw such a person’s attention to the Sunna by way of admonition or not? Is it permissible to pull him up on what is contrary to the Sunna and tell him that this is an act against Islam, even though he knows these matters very well? What is the ruling of the Shariʿa?

Answer

If acts contrary to the Sunna come from a person and he is a righteous ʿalim, he should be asked about those acts contrary to the Sunna: whether such-and-such an act accords with the Sunna or is contrary to it. In sha’ Allah, by virtue of his knowledge and righteousness he will soon abandon what is contrary to the Sunna.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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