The correct meaning of Bid’ah and the Islamic ruling on worldly inventions

الحمد للہ وحدہ، والصلوٰۃ والسلام علی من لا نبی بعدہ، أما بعد:

This article is being compiled to remove the important scholarly and intellectual misconception spread by certain circles, especially Barelvi groups, that worldly inventions are also included in bid’ah (innovation). According to them, if something did not exist during the time of the Prophet, it is “bid’ah,” whether it is a worldly matter or religious. On this basis, they often confuse the public and cast doubt on the rejection of bid’ah by Ahl al-Sunnah by saying:

“If every new thing is bid’ah, then cars, airplanes, microphones, and mobiles are also bid’ah!”

In this article, we will explain through the texts of the Quran and Sunnah, the sayings of the early scholars, and the clarifications of contemporary scholars that:

• The legal meaning of bid’ah is only and only the introduction of a new act of worship or method in religion.
• Worldly inventions, customs, vehicles, and social changes have no relation to legal bid’ah.
• This confusion is created to mislead the public and to justify the actual religious innovations (such as Milad, Eleventh night gatherings, additional acts of worship, etc.).

So the purpose of this article is to clarify the true meaning of Bid’ah and to provide a scholarly refutation of the false objection by the Barelvi scholars that worldly inventions also fall under the ruling of Bid’ah.

Shariah Definition of Bid’ah:

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

«مَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِي أَمْرِنَا هٰذَا مَا لَيْسَ مِنْهُ فَهُوَ رَدٌّ» Translation: “Whoever introduces into this matter of ours (Islam) something that is not from it, it will be rejected.”

And in another narration:

«مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ» Translation: “Whoever does an action that our religion is not established upon, it will be rejected.”

From both these texts, it is clear that Bid’ah is only that which is newly introduced into the religion, whereas worldly inventions do not fall within this scope at all.

Three Conditions of Shariah Bid’ah:

Dr. Muhammad Hussain al-Jizani, may Allah preserve him, writes:

البدعة الشرعية لا تكون إلا باجتماع ثلاثة قيود: الإحداث، وإضافته إلى الدين، وألا يستند إلى أصل شرعي.

Translation: “A Shariah Bid’ah will only be called Bid’ah when three conditions are met: (1) something new is invented, (2) it is attributed to the religion, (3) it has no Shariah basis.”

Therefore, something that is only within the realm of worldly convenience or habit cannot be classified as a religious innovation (Bid’ah) under these conditions.

The Reality of Worldly Innovations:

Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Baz, may Allah have mercy on him, says:

“أما العوائد عوائد الناس ومراكبهم وملابسهم ومآكلهم ودورهم وغير ذلك فهذه ما فيها بدعة… ليس هذا من البدع، هذه أمور جدت في عوائد الناس… وإن سميت بدعة من حيث اللغة… أما من حيث الدين من حيث الشرع فلا يكون من البدع إلا ما كان في الدين في القربات في التشريع.”

Translation: “As far as people’s habits, modes of transportation, clothing, food, houses, and other worldly matters are concerned, there is no innovation (Bid’ah) in them. These are merely new forms of habits. Yes, linguistically a new thing can be called Bid’ah, but in the religious sense, Bid’ah is only that which is introduced in religion and acts of worship.”

Now that the religious definition of Bid’ah and its conditions have become clear, it is necessary to further explain the difference between worldly innovations and religious Bid’ah, so that the misconception spread by some people can be removed.

Difference Between Linguistic Bid’ah and Religious Bid’ah

Scholars have clarified that every new thing can be called “Bid’ah” linguistically, but in religious terminology, only that is Bid’ah which is introduced as a new act of worship in religion.

Imam Ibn Rajab Hanbali, may Allah have mercy on him, says:

“فكل من أحدث شيئًا ونسبه إلى الدين، ولم يكن له أصل من الدين يرجع إليه؛ فهو ضلالة، والدين منه بريء. وأما ما كان له أصل من الشرع يدل عليه فليس ببدعة شرعًا، وإن كان بدعة لغةً.” Translation: “Anything that is invented and attributed to the religion without any basis in the religion is misguidance, and the religion is free from it. And whatever is established on a basis in the Shariah is not an innovation legally, even if linguistically it can be called an innovation.”

Statements of the Imams

Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, says:

“المراد بقوله: (كل بدعة ضلالة) ما أحدث ولا دليل له من الشرع بطريق خاص ولا عام.” Translation: “The words of the hadith ‘Every innovation is misguidance’ refer to something that is invented and for which there is neither specific nor general evidence in the Shariah.”

Imam Shatibi, may Allah have mercy on him (d. 790 AH), says:

“البدعة طريقة في الدين مخترعة تضاهي الشرعية يقصد بالسلوك عليها المبالغة في التعبد لله سبحانه.” Translation: “Innovation is the invented method that is introduced into the religion in such a way that it resembles the Shariah and the purpose of following it is to exaggerate in the worship of Allah Almighty.”

From here it becomes clear that the scope of innovation is limited only to religion, not to worldly inventions.

Examples of Worldly Inventions

Worldly inventions such as:

• Airplanes
• Vehicles
• Mobile phones
• Microphones
• New styles of buildings and houses
• Modern weapons

All these are literally “new things,” but since they relate to customs and worldly conveniences, they are not religious innovations (bid’ah).

Explanation by Sheikh Ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him

Sheikh Ibn Baz further said:

“المقصود من هذا كله أن البدع هي ما يحدثه الناس في الشرائع لا في عادات الناس ومآكلهم ومشاربهم وسلاحهم وغير ذلك.”Translation: “The intended meaning is that bid’ah is that which people introduce into the religious rulings, not in people’s customs, food and drink, weapons, and other worldly matters.”

When the Barelvi scholars cannot respond to criticism of religious innovations (such as Milad-un-Nabi, gatherings for the transfer of reward, the eleventh night, specific adhkar, and other unproven customs), they confuse the public by saying:

“If every new thing is bid’ah, then cars, airplanes, microphones, and mobiles are also bid’ah!”

This objection is actually a mixing of categories. They conflate religious bid’ah and literal bid’ah to hide the real issue.

1. Religious Bid’ah

It is that which is invented as an act of worship and drawing closer to Allah in religion, such as:

• Increasing the times or units of prayer
• Establishing a new Eid
• Making the Prophet’s birthday (Milad-un-Nabi) an act of worship
• Creating specific remembrances and litanies

All these fall under the Prophet ﷺ’s statement:

«وإياكم ومحدثات الأمور؛ فإن كل محدثة بدعة، وكل بدعة ضلالة» Translation: “And beware of newly invented matters, for every newly invented matter is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance.”

2. Worldly Innovations

These are those that are meant to make human life easier:

• Innovations in transportation (camel → car → airplane)
• Advancement in weapons
• New forms of food, drink, and clothing
• Modern construction of houses and cities

All these do not fall under the category of religious innovation.

For example:

If a person says:

• “We will establish a voluntary prayer so that people come out of negligence” or
• “We will have two Fridays in a week so that the congregation increases”

Then this is a religious innovation and is forbidden, because it is an addition to the system of worship.

But if someone says:

• “We will use cars or airplanes so that travel is faster” or
• “We will broadcast sermons via mobile so that the voice reaches everyone”

So this is a worldly convenience and the Shariah has not prohibited it.

Imam Shatibi’s (may Allah have mercy on him) Warning

“ومن البدع ما هو إضافي… كإحداث أذكار معينة وأوقات معينة لم ترد في الشرع، وإن كان أصل الذكر مشروعًا.”Translation: “One type of innovation (bid’ah) is an additional innovation, such as establishing new remembrances (adhkar) besides those established in the Shariah, or setting new times for them, even though the original remembrance is legitimate.”

This principle perfectly applies to Milad and other newly invented acts of worship, but not to cars or airplanes.

Summary and Conclusion

From the details so far, it is clear that:

1. The Shariah meaning of bid’ah

   Bid’ah is only that which is invented as an act of worship in the religion.

2. Three conditions are necessary for it:

   A new thing is invented (Al-ihdath)

3. It is attributed to the religion (Idafatu-hu ila ad-Deen)
4. It has no Shariah basis (Adam al-Istinad ila Asl Shar’i)

Worldly Innovations

• Cars, airplanes, mobile phones, microphones, modern weapons, and new food and drink items are not bid’ah in the Shariah sense, but only new things in the linguistic sense.
• Not distinguishing between linguistic bid’ah and Shariah bid’ah is a way to mislead the public.

Refutation of Barelvi Objections

• When asked for evidence regarding religious innovations (Milad, Eleventh night gatherings, specific assemblies for the reward of the deceased, new Eid celebrations, additional prayers, etc.), they cast doubt by bringing in worldly inventions.
• This objection is invalid because Shariah does not call worldly conveniences innovations.

Summary of Texts from the Scholars

• The Holy Prophet ﷺ said:

  «من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو رد»“Whoever introduces into this religion of ours something that is not part of it, it will be rejected.”

  Reference: 📖 (Bukhari 2697, Muslim 1718)
• Ibn Rajab, may Allah have mercy on him:

  “فكل من أحدث شيئًا ونسبه إلى الدين، ولم يكن له أصل من الدين… فهو ضلالة.”“Whatever is introduced into the religion and has no origin in it is misguidance.”

  Reference: 📖 (Jami’ al-‘Ulum wal-Hikam 2/128)
• Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him:

  “ما أحدث ولا دليل له من الشرع بطريق خاص ولا عام.”“That is innovation which has no specific or general proof in the Shariah.”

  Reference: 📖 (Fath al-Bari 13/254)
• Sheikh Ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him:

  “أما العوائد… فهذه ما فيها بدعة… أما من حيث الدين فلا يكون من البدع إلا ما كان في الدين.”“As far as customs, riding animals, clothing, and food are concerned, there is no innovation in them. Innovation is only that which is introduced in the religion.”

  Reference: 📖 (Fatawa Ibn Baz, Al-Bida’ fi al-Umur al-Dunawiyya)

Conclusion

Therefore, this principle should always be remembered:

• New acts of worship in religion = Innovation and misguidance
• Worldly inventions = Convenience and custom, not religious innovation

Keeping this principle in mind, the objection of the Barelvi scholars that “if every new thing is an innovation (bid’ah), then cars, airplanes, and mobiles are also innovations” is a false doubt, which has no connection with reality.

The stance of Ahl al-Sunnah wal Jama’ah is very clear:

• The religion has been completed by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
• In worldly matters, a person can adopt conveniences according to his needs, and this does not conflict with the commands of religion.

﴿الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ﴾ “Today I have perfected for you your religion.”

✅ Thus, it is proven that calling worldly inventions innovations (bid’ah) is ignorance and misguidance, and trying to hide the real religious innovations through them is equivalent to deceiving the public.