Bigotry^[2] (taʿaṣṣub) is blameworthy, rather, it is the way of the disbelievers. Bigotry and following desires is from the ways of the people of Jāhiliyyah (pre-Islāmic ignorance), and from the ways of the Tartars (Mongols) as was said by Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah. The believer tries to know the truth and to hold fast to it, regardless of who opposes this truth.

He does not show bigotry to the error of so-and-so, or the opinion of so-and-so, rather, he holds fast to the Book and the Sunnah of Allāh’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم), and he shows loyalty and enmity around what Muḥammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) came with, and not to mere presumptions (awhām).

Ibn al-Qayyim holds that if you know a text and have comprehended it, but you do not know anyone else who speaks with it, then you must hold on to it. If you find others who speak with it, you will increase in strength and certainty (in the view). But if you do not find anyone, it is not a condition (that there be others).

This bigotry partisanship is from the affairs of the Jahiliyyists, and from their deeds. As for the truthful Muslim, he must clear himself from partisanship and from the oppositions (that oppose) what Muḥammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) came with. Partisanship is blameworthy, and no one shows partisanship save a fool or a mad person who suffers from a neurological disease.

[A Muslim] is intelligent, he seeks the truth, and when he recognises the truth, he accepts it, even if the whole world opposes him. He does not show any bigotry, not to an imām, nor to a follower, nor to a truthful person or a liar. Rather, he only sticks to the truth.