Abu Qilabah said: Do not sit with the slaves of desires (the people of lust), and do not argue with them, for I do not consider you safe from them that they may plunge you into misguidance, or they may confuse you in that which you have knowledge of.

Ayyub said: Sa'id bin Jubair saw me sitting with Talq bin Habib, so he said to me: Did I not see you sitting with Talq bin Habib? Do not ever sit with him.

It is narrated from Nafi‘ that a man came to Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) and said: So-and-so sends you greetings of peace. Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) said: I have come to know that he has introduced an innovation (bid‘ah); if he has done so, then do not convey my greetings to him.

A'mash said: Imam Ibrahim al-Nakha'i did not consider speaking about an innovator (in religion) to be backbiting.

Imam Sha’bi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The desire of the self is called «هويٰ» because it keeps dragging its possessor down (into Hell).

Muhammad bin Wasi' said that Muslim bin Yasar used to say: Protect yourself from showing off (riya), for it is the moment of ignorance for a scholar, and Satan is always seeking such a slip.

Asma bin Ubaid said that two men from among the people of desires (theologians and philosophers) came to Imam Ibn Sirin, may Allah have mercy on him, and said: O Abu Bakr! We will narrate a hadith to you. He said: No (there is no need). They said: Then we will recite to you a verse from the Holy Qur'an. He replied: No, either you get up and leave from here or I myself will leave. The narrator said: So both of them left. Someone from the gathering said: O Abu Bakr! What harm would there have been if they had recited a verse from the Holy Qur'an? He replied: I was afraid that they would recite a verse and distort it, and it would settle in my heart.

It is narrated from Salam bin Abi Mutee that a man from among the «أهل الأهواء» (innovators) said to Ayyub (as-Sakhtiyani, may Allah have mercy on him): O Abu Bakr! I want to ask you something. The narrator said: Ayyub, may Allah have mercy on him, turned his back and gestured with his finger that not even half a word. Saeed bin Aamir indicated with the little finger of his right hand.

It is narrated from Kulthum bin Jabr that a man asked Saeed bin Jubair (may Allah have mercy on him) about something, but he did not answer him. When he was asked the reason for this (avoidance), he said: He is one of them (i.e., an innovator).

It is narrated from Abu Ja'far Muhammad bin Ali, he said: Do not sit with the people of kalam (those who engage in logic and philosophy), because they are the ones who speak about the verses of Allah Almighty.