Islamic Creed — Innovations
Section 1: The Definition of Bid'ah (Innovation), Its Types and Rulings
English translation of the Arabic original. The Arabic text remains authoritative.
- The definition of Bid'ah: Linguistically, the word Bid'ah is derived from the root word Bad'u, which implies an invention that has no similar precedence. An example is the statement of Allah - the Most High: “The Originator of the heavens and the earth. ” (Qur’an 2:117) That is, the One Who invented it without the like of it haven ever existed. Also in Allah’s statement: “Say: [O Muhammad,]: 7 am not a new thing among the Messengers (of Allah) (i.e. I am not the first Messenger)...” Meaning, I am not the first one to come with a Message from Allah to His slaves; rather, I was preceded by several Messengers. So, when the word Bid'ah is used in reference to the product of a person’s effort it implies that he invented something, which has no similitude preceding it. ‘u (Innovation) is of two categories - The first is innovation in mundane customary matters, such as modem inventions. This is permissible because the basis for all mundane customary affairs is - The second is innovation in matters of religion. This is unlawful, because the basis in matters of religion is restraint. The Prophet said: ‘Whoever innovates into this matter of ours, it is rejected of him.' And in another text: ‘Whoever performs a deed which we have not given approval, it is rejected.'2
- Types of Bid'ah (Innovation) Innovation in the religion is of two types: a. Bid'ah in utterance (opinions) and doctrine: Such as the utterances and doctrines of the Jahmiyyah, Mu ‘tazilah, the Rafidah and all deviant sects. b. Bid'ah in acts of worship: Such as worshipping Allah with acts of worship which He has not legislated. This is of several types: (i) That which is not an act of worship in the first place: Such as inventing an act of worship which has no basis in the Shari'ah. Examples include, innovating a Salah (Prayer) which is not prescribed, or a fast which is not prescribed in the first place, or a festival which is not prescribed, such as the practice of celebrating birthdays and so on. (ii) That which involves increasing the legislated acts of worship: Such as one who adds a Rak'ah (round) to the Dhuhr (afternoon) prayer or 'Asr (late afternoon) prayer. (iii) That which occurs in the manner of observing a prescribed act of worship: Such as observing a prescribed act of worship in a manner which has not been prescribed. Examples of this include making Adhkar (word of remembrance of Allah) with a rhythmic voice in congregational unison, and overburdening one’s self in acts of worship beyond the limits of the Sunnah of the Messenger 1 Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim 2 Reported by Muslim (iv) That which involves selecting a particular time for a prescribed act of worship which has not been legislated: Such as selecting the 15th day of the month of Sha'ban3 for fasting and its night for prayer. Fasting and night prayers are prescribed, however particularizing them to a specific time requires evidence (from the Qur’an or Sunnah). ‘Beware of novel matters, for every novelty (in religion) is a Bidh (innovation) and every Bid'ah is misguidance.’4 And his statement ‘Whoever innovates into this matter of ours, it is rejected of him. ’5 And in another text: ‘Whoever performs a deed which we have not given approval, it is These two hadiths indicate that all novelties in the religion are innovations and all innovations are misguidance, which are rejected. The meaning of this is that innovations in worship and doctrine are prohibited; however, the levels of prohibition vary depending upon the types of Bid'ah. There are those, which are clear disbelief, such as circumambulating graves as rapprochement towards their occupants, presenting sacrifices and vows to them, invoking their occupants, and seeking victory from them. 3 The eight month of the Islamic lunar calendar year. (TN) 4 Reported by at-Tirmidhi and he said: hadith Hasan Sahlh 5 Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim 6 Reported by Muslim Other examples, which are tantamount to disbelief, include the utterances of extreme members of the Jahmiyyah and Mu'tazilah sects. There are also those, which are means towards polytheism, such as building tombs over graves, and praying and supplicating at gravesites. There are also those, which constitute errant doctrines such as the utterances and doctrines of the Khawarij, Qadariyyah and the Murji'ah, which contradict the Qur’an and Sunnah. There are also those which are sins, such as celibacy, standing in the sun while fasting, and castration in order to prevent sexual urge.’7 Whoever categorizes Bid'ah into Good Bid'ah and Bad Bid'ah is erroneous and he contradicts the statement of the Prophet H: ‘Every Bid'ah is misguidance,’8 This is so because the Messenger H ruled that all Bid'ah are misguidance, while this person says: ‘Not every Bid'ah is a misguidance; rather, some are good.' The great scholar of hadith Ibn Rajab said in his commentary of al-Arba 'in: ‘His statement: “Every Bdti is misguidance, ” is one of his all encompassing utterances, from which nothing can be exempted. It is an important principle amongst the principles of this religion and it is similar "Whoever innovates into this matter of ours, it is rejected of him. ” So, whoever innovates anything in the religion, which has no basis to which it can be referenced, then it is misguidance from which the religion is free. This is regardless o f whether it (Bidah) is in matters o f doctrine, which are hidden, or in manifest actions and utterances.'9 These people do not have any evidence that there is something called good Bid'ah except the statement of 'Umar regarding the TarawTh Prayers10 whereby he said: 'What a good Bid'ah this is!’ They also said that several things were innovated and the Salaf (pious predecessors) never disapproved to it, such as the compilation of the Qur’an into a single book, the documentation of hadith and its compilation. 7 See A I- Itifam of ash-Shatibl, v. 2, pg. 37 Reported by at-Tirmidhi and he said: hadith Hasan SahTh ‘Ulum wal Hikam, pg. 233. 10 The late night superogatory prayers in the month of Ramadan (Month of Muslim Fast - the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar). (TN) The reply to this is that these things have a basis in Shari'ah. They are not novelties. As for the statement of'Umar: ‘What a good Bid'ah this is, ’ he intended the linguistic meaning of Bid'ah and not its technical (Shari'ah) meaning. If something has a basis in the Shari 'ah to which it can be referenced, if it is referred to as a Bid'ah, the linguistic meaning is intended not the technical (Shari'ah) meaning. This is because Bid 'ah in the Shari 'ah refers to something that has no basis in the Shari 'ah. The compilation of the Qur’an into a single book has a basis in the Shari'ah because the Prophet jfe used to order that the Qur’an be written down, but it was not in a single place. So, the companions collated it into a single bound book in order to preserve it. As for the Tarawih prayers, the Prophet had prayed it with his Companions for some nights and stayed away from them in the last night fearing that it might be made obligatory upon them. The companions Jk continued to observe it in separate groups during the lifetime of the Prophet is and thereafter, till'Umar bin A1 - Khattab gathered them behind a single Imam as they had been behind the Prophet. So, this is not a Bid'ah in the religion. Also, the documentation of hadith has a basis in the religion; the Prophet ordered some of his companions to write down some of his hadith when they requested that from him. Abu Hurayrah 4® used to write hadith during the era of the Prophet JS. That which was dreaded was the writing of hadith by everyone during his time, out of the fear that what was not part of the Qur’an could be confused and mixed with it. When he iS passed away, this danger elapsed as the Qur’an had become complete and preserved before his demise SS. So, the Muslims compiled the hadith thereafter, in order to preserve it from being lost. May Allah reward them on behalf of Islam and the Muslims with immense good, for they preserved the Book of their Lord and the Sunnah of their Prophet iS from peril and from the fiddling of
- Source pages
- 10
- Source work
- Aqidat al-Tawhid? Shaykh Salih ibn Fawzan ibn Abdullah al-Fawzan
- Source
- Aqidat al-Tawhid — Arabic book supplied to the site
- Arabic original
- Read the Arabic section
English text aligned with the corresponding Arabic sections extracted from the user-provided Word source. The Arabic original remains authoritative.