When does a man exit the Sunnah?
The fundamental principle is that a Muslim is safe from departing from the Sunnah unless they contradict it and follow a sect that opposes the Sunnah in a کلی (fundamental, overarching) meaning or a legal principle. Al-Shatibi states that sects become distinct sects by their opposition to the Saved Sect in a کلی meaning or one of the fundamental principles of Sharia, not in an جزئی ( جزئی - partial, specific, minor) or an anomalous branch issue. Whoever reflects on the state of deviant sects will find that they oppose Ahl al-Sunnah in one or several کلی meanings, such as the Khawarij's assertion that a perpetrator of major sins is an unbeliever, the Murji'ah's belief that deeds are not part of faith, the Mu'tazilah's denial of attributes, and other principles that contradict the methodology of the Saved Sect. Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah mentioned that the innovation (bid'ah) by which a man is counted among the people of desires (Ahl al-Ahwa') is that which is well-known among the people of knowledge of the Sunnah for its opposition to the Quran and Sunnah, such as the innovation of the Khawarij, the Rawafid, the Qadariyya, and the Murji'ah.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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