Bid'ah Hasanat?

[Servant of Allah]

Is there anything as Bid'ah Hasanat(A good Bid'ah)? I heard 1 scholar saying that Ibn Hajar Al Asqalani who was 1 of the best hadith scholars was of the view that there is something as Bid'ah Hasanat, is this true?

 

[Danial]

Is there anything as Bid'ah Hasanat(A good Bid'ah)? I heard 1 scholar saying that Ibn Hajar Al Asqalani who was 1 of the best hadith scholars was of the view that there is something as Bid'ah Hasanat, is this true?

Is There Such a Thing as​

1.​

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:


Arabic:
«كُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ»
Translation: Every innovation is misguidance.

Reference: Sahih Muslim: 867

The wording kullu (every) is general with no exceptions.
Therefore, dividing religious innovation into good and bad is against the Sunnah.

---

Did Ibn Hajar or Imam al Shafi'i Believe in Bid'ah Hasanah?​

Many people misunderstand their statements. The scholars explained this issue in detail.

---

2. Imam al Shafi'i's Statement Is About​

Imam al Shafi'i رحمه الله said:

New matters are of two types.

1. What opposes the Quran, Sunnah, Athar, or Ijma. This is misguiding bid'ah.
2. What is new but does not contradict any of these. This is not blameworthy.
   
   Reference: Ibn Hajar, Fath al Bari 13/253

Explanation​

He was speaking about linguistic innovation such as:


• Writing Arabic grammar
• Building madrasahs
• Organizing books
• Using microphones
• Printing the Quran


These are new worldly tools, not new acts of worship.

Imam al Shafi'i did not allow inventing new worship​

He himself said:

Whoever declares something good by his own opinion has legislated.

Reference: Al Risalah: 507

So he did not believe in a religious bid'ah hasanah.

---

3. Ibn Hajar's Words Have the Same Meaning​

When Ibn Hajar used terms like "bid'ah hasanah," he meant:


Linguistic innovations
Not new worship in religion


This is why Imam Ibn Rajab explained the issue with complete clarity.

---

4. Imam Ibn Rajab Clarifies the Whole Matter​

Imam Ibn Rajab رحمه الله said:

Anyone who introduces something into the religion with no basis in the Shari'ah, it is misguidance.
When the Salaf used the word bid'ah in a positive sense, they meant linguistic innovation, not religious innovation.

Reference: Jami' al Ulum wal Hikam: 252

This removes the confusion completely.

---

5. The Understanding of the Sahabah Is Absolutely Clear​

Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما said:​

Every bid'ah is misguidance, even if people think it is good.

Reference: Al Bayhaqi, Sunan al Kubra 4/316

Ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه said:​

Follow and do not innovate. You have already been sufficed. Every bid'ah is misguidance.

Reference: Al Darimi: 211

This shows that the Sahabah recognized no such thing as a good religious innovation.