You praise the innovators whilst claiming attachment to Ahlus-Sunnah and the Salaf? —Al-Barbahārī and Al-Fawzān

 Imām Al-Barbahārī (رحم الله) said:

“If you see a man mentioning Ibn Abī Du’ād, Bishr Al-Marīsī, Thumāmah, Abu Hudhayl, Hishām Al-Footee or any of their followers and adherents with good, then beware of him because he is a person of bid’ah… So leave this man who mentions [these innovators] with good…”

Shaikh al-Fawzān commented with golden words:

“If you see a man praising the evil people and praising the Scholars of misguidance, such as these offspring of the Jahmiyyah, then know that he is a sinner, a corrupt person and misguided. That is because he would not praise them unless he loves them and legitimises their path.

And if you see a person praising Ahlus-Sunnah, such as Imām Ahmad (d.241H), Ibn Al-Mubārak (d.181H) and likewise he praises the Scholars of the Tābi’een and those who came after them, then know he is a person of good because he would not praise Ahlus-Sunnah unless he loves the Sunnah and clings to it.”

See It-hāful-Qārī, vol. 2 p. 237.