Innovators are like Scorpions
The saying of Imaam al-Barbaharee رحمه الله about the Ahlul-Bidah (innovation):
((مثل أصحاب البدع مثل العقارب يدفنون رؤوسهم وأبدانهم في التراب، ويخرجون أذنابهم، فإذا تمكنوا لدغوا، وكذلك أهل البدع، هم مختفون بين الناس، فإذا تمكنوا بلغوا ما يريدون. ))
“The example of the people of innovations is like the scorpion. They bury their bodies and heads in the sands, but their (venomous) tails are exposed, so that when they are able they will sting. Likewise are the people of innovation, they are concealed amongst the people, then when they are able, they will deliver (from their bid’ah) what they can.”
[Source: Tabaqat al-Hanabilah, (2/44-45)]
Shaykh al-Allaamah Saalih bin Fawzaan al-Fawzaan حفظه الله was asked regarding this statement:
السؤال: يقول السائل ما معنى قول بعض السلف: ” أهل البدع كالعقارب، تدفن رأسها وتبقي أذنابها حتى إذا تمكنت لدغت ؟
Question: The questioner says: What is the meaning of the statement from some of the Salaf: The innovators are like the scorpion, he buries his head while leaving his tail out, such that when he is able to, he stings?
The Shaykh حفظه الله replied:
نعم كلام واضح ، أن أهل البدع فيهم نفاق ، أهل البدع يبتلون بالنفاق وهو أنهم يظهرون الخير ويبطنون الشر، يظهرون الخير للناس خديعة { يخادعون الله والذين آمنوا } ، ويبطنون الشر ومتى ما تمكنوا من نشر الشر نشروه مثل العقرب نعم.
Yes. This speech is clear. The people of innovation have with them hypocrisy. The people of innovation have been afflicted with hypocrisy. And it is that they display good while they hide evil, they display good to the people as a way of deception.
{{ They try to deceive Allah and those who believe…}} [Soorah al-Baqarah (2):9]
And they conceal the evil. And when they have the ability to spread evil, they spread it, just like the scorpion.
Audio source: