A MAN IS UPON THE RELIGION OF HIS CLOSE FRIEND..."
Amīr ul Mu'minīn 'Umar (رضي الله عنه) said:
"Whoever places himself in the locations of insinuations; then let him not blame the one
that has bad suspicion of him."
Thus if you walk with the innovator, what then do you want from the people? That they should think of you in that you are a supporter of the Sunnah?
No by Allāh! It will not be thought of you except
that you are like unto him.
It is due to this that our Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said:
"A person is upon the religion of his close friend,
so let each of you look at whom he befriends." *
*Reported by Ahmad (no.8417), Abū Dawūd (no.4833), At-Tirmidhī (no.2378)
Book: The Perfume-Seller & the Blacksmith Concise Words on Good and Bad Companionship
From the speech of:
Shaikh 'Abdur-Rahmān as-Sa'di
Shaikh Zaid bin Hādī al-Madkhalī
Shaikh Sālih bin Fawzān al-Fawzān
Translated by: Abū Haatim Muhammad Farooq
Salafi Publications
Page: 48, 49