This article is adapted from the book “Deen-e-Islam aur Bid‘ah” by Abu Hamzah Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi.
The act of introducing new practices (bid‘ah) into the religion is a source of loss and ruin—indeed, it is a total loss, from which no benefit can be derived. The following lines elaborate on the harms and evils of innovation.
An innovator (bid‘ati) practices innovation under the false impression that it is a righteous deed. Thus, he does not regard it as a sin, and as a result, he neither repents from it nor is his repentance accepted.
Imam Sufyan al-Thawri (رحمه الله) said:
"The accursed Satan prefers innovation more than sin, for one may repent from sin, but not from innovation."
Sharh al-Sunnah by Imam al-Baghawi, 1/216
Sayyiduna Anas (رضي الله عنه) narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
﴿إن الله حجب التوبة عن صاحب كل بدعة .﴾
Al-Mu‘jam al-Awsat by al-Tabarani 8/62, Hadith No. 4713; Silsilah al-Ahadith al-Sahihah No. 1620
"Allah has veiled repentance from every innovator."
In another narration, the following additional words are mentioned:
﴿حتى يدع بدعته .﴾
Sahih al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib by al-Albani, Vol 1, Hadith No. 52
"Until he abandons his innovation—only then will his repentance be accepted."
❀ Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) states:
"However, repentance can occur if Allah grants the person guidance and leads him to the truth so that the truth becomes clear to him—just as Allah has guided many disbelievers, hypocrites, and innovators who were previously astray."
Majmu‘ al-Fatawa of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, 10/9
Sayyiduna ‘Amr ibn ‘Awf al-Muzani (رضي الله عنه) reports:
"I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:
Whoever revives a Sunnah of mine, and people act upon it, he will receive the reward equal to the reward of all those who act upon it—without diminishing their rewards in the least. And whoever introduces an innovation, and people act upon it, he will bear the burden of the sins of all those who practice it, without their own sins being reduced."
Sunan Ibn Majah, Al-Muqaddimah, Hadith Nos. 209–210. Declared “Sahih” by Shaykh al-Albani.
❀ The Prophet ﷺ also stated:
﴿من سن فى الإسلام سنة سيئة فعمل بها بعده كتب عليه مثل وزر من عمل بها ولا ينقص من أوزارهم شيء .﴾
Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-‘Ilm, Hadith No. 6800
"Whoever introduces an evil practice in Islam will bear the sin of that innovation along with the sins of those who follow it—without any reduction in their burden."
❀ The Prophet ﷺ said:
﴿من أحدث فيها حدثا أو أوى فيها محدثا ، فعليه لعنة الله ، والملئكة ، والناس أجمعين ، لا يقبل منه صرف ولا عدل .﴾
Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-I‘tisam, Hadith No. 3706; Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Hajj, Hadith No. 1366
"Whoever introduces a bid‘ah in Madinah or gives shelter to an innovator—upon him is the curse of Allah, the angels, and all people. Allah will accept neither his obligatory nor voluntary deeds."
Sayyiduna ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
﴿لعن الله من لعن والده، ولعن الله من ذبح لغير الله ، ولعن الله من آوى محدثا ، ولعن الله من غير منار الأرض﴾
Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Ashribah, Hadith No. 5124
"Allah has cursed the one who curses his parents, the one who slaughters an animal in the name of anyone besides Allah, the one who shelters an innovator, and the one who alters the boundaries of the land."
❀ Al-Hasan ibn ‘Atiyyah al-Muharibi (رحمه الله) stated:
﴿ما ابتدع قوم بدعة فى دينهم إلا نزع من سنتهم مثلها ، ثم لا يعيدها إليهم إلى يوم القيامة .﴾
Sunan al-Darimi, 1/45
"Whenever a people introduce an innovation into their religion, Allah removes an equivalent Sunnah from them—and it is never restored to them until the Day of Judgement."
The relationship between the innovator and the Prophet ﷺ is severed—a profound loss indeed.
❀ The Prophet ﷺ said:
﴿من رغب عن سنتي فليس منى .﴾
Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Nikah, Hadith No. 5063
"Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from among me."
Sayyiduna Sahl ibn Saʿd (رضي الله عنه) reports that the Prophet ﷺ said:
﴿أنا فرطكم على الحوض، من ورده شرب منه ومن شرب منه لم يظمأ ابدا، ليردن على أقوام أعرفهم ويعرفونني ، ثم يحال بيني وبينهم﴾
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Fitan, Ḥadīth No. 7051; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Faḍāʾil, Bāb Ithbāt Ḥawḍ Nabiyyinā ﷺ wa Ṣifātih, 3/1793, Ḥadīth No. 2290
"I will be ahead of you at the Ḥawḍ (Reservoir). Whoever comes to it will drink from it, and whoever drinks from it will never feel thirst again. Then, certain people will come to me whom I will recognize and they will recognize me, but a barrier will be placed between me and them."
In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ will say:
﴿إِنَّهُمْ مِنِّى﴾
"They are from me."
But it will be said to him:
﴿إنك لا تدري ما أحدثوا بعدك﴾
"You do not know what innovations they introduced after you."
Then the Prophet ﷺ will say:
﴿سحقا سحقا لمن غير بعدي .﴾
"Away with those who changed (my religion) after me!"
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Raqāʾiq, Bāb fī Ḥawḍ al-Nabī ﷺ, Ḥadīth No. 6583
Sayyiduna ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه) reports that the Prophet ﷺ said:
﴿يا رب أصحابي أصحابي ، فيقال: إنك لا تدري ما أحدثوا بعدك ؟﴾
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Raqāʾiq, Ḥadīth No. 6575; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Faḍāʾil, Ḥadīth No. 2297
"(I will say) O my Lord! These are my companions! These are my companions! Then it will be said: You do not know what innovations they introduced after you."
❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
﴿من وقر صاحب بدعة فقد أعان على هدم الإسلام﴾
Al-Sharīʿah by Al-Ājurrī, p. 962, Ḥadīth No. 2040
"Whoever honors an innovator has indeed aided in the destruction of Islam."
❀ Al-Fuḍayl ibn ʿIyāḍ (رحمه الله) said:
"If you see an innovator on a path, take a different path. No deed of an innovator is raised to Allah, and whoever helps an innovator has helped in the destruction of the religion."
Khaṣāʾiṣ Ahl al-Sunnah
❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
﴿وكل بدعة ضلالة .﴾
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Jumuʿah, Ḥadīth No. 2008
"Every innovation is misguidance."
❀ The famous Tābiʿī, Imām Abū Qilābah (رحمه الله), said:
"Indeed, the people of innovation are misguided, and I believe they will enter the Hellfire."
Sunan al-Dārimī, Ḥadīth No. 101
✿ Harms and Corruption Caused by Innovation (Bid‘ah)
The act of introducing new practices (bid‘ah) into the religion is a source of loss and ruin—indeed, it is a total loss, from which no benefit can be derived. The following lines elaborate on the harms and evils of innovation.
❖ The Repentance of an Innovator is Not Accepted
An innovator (bid‘ati) practices innovation under the false impression that it is a righteous deed. Thus, he does not regard it as a sin, and as a result, he neither repents from it nor is his repentance accepted.
Imam Sufyan al-Thawri (رحمه الله) said:
"The accursed Satan prefers innovation more than sin, for one may repent from sin, but not from innovation."
Sharh al-Sunnah by Imam al-Baghawi, 1/216
Sayyiduna Anas (رضي الله عنه) narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
﴿إن الله حجب التوبة عن صاحب كل بدعة .﴾
Al-Mu‘jam al-Awsat by al-Tabarani 8/62, Hadith No. 4713; Silsilah al-Ahadith al-Sahihah No. 1620
"Allah has veiled repentance from every innovator."
In another narration, the following additional words are mentioned:
﴿حتى يدع بدعته .﴾
Sahih al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib by al-Albani, Vol 1, Hadith No. 52
"Until he abandons his innovation—only then will his repentance be accepted."
❀ Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) states:
"However, repentance can occur if Allah grants the person guidance and leads him to the truth so that the truth becomes clear to him—just as Allah has guided many disbelievers, hypocrites, and innovators who were previously astray."
Majmu‘ al-Fatawa of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, 10/9
❖ Innovation Incurs Sin
Sayyiduna ‘Amr ibn ‘Awf al-Muzani (رضي الله عنه) reports:
"I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:
Whoever revives a Sunnah of mine, and people act upon it, he will receive the reward equal to the reward of all those who act upon it—without diminishing their rewards in the least. And whoever introduces an innovation, and people act upon it, he will bear the burden of the sins of all those who practice it, without their own sins being reduced."
Sunan Ibn Majah, Al-Muqaddimah, Hadith Nos. 209–210. Declared “Sahih” by Shaykh al-Albani.
❀ The Prophet ﷺ also stated:
﴿من سن فى الإسلام سنة سيئة فعمل بها بعده كتب عليه مثل وزر من عمل بها ولا ينقص من أوزارهم شيء .﴾
Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-‘Ilm, Hadith No. 6800
"Whoever introduces an evil practice in Islam will bear the sin of that innovation along with the sins of those who follow it—without any reduction in their burden."
❖ Innovation is a Cause of Divine Curse
❀ The Prophet ﷺ said:
﴿من أحدث فيها حدثا أو أوى فيها محدثا ، فعليه لعنة الله ، والملئكة ، والناس أجمعين ، لا يقبل منه صرف ولا عدل .﴾
Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-I‘tisam, Hadith No. 3706; Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Hajj, Hadith No. 1366
"Whoever introduces a bid‘ah in Madinah or gives shelter to an innovator—upon him is the curse of Allah, the angels, and all people. Allah will accept neither his obligatory nor voluntary deeds."
Sayyiduna ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
﴿لعن الله من لعن والده، ولعن الله من ذبح لغير الله ، ولعن الله من آوى محدثا ، ولعن الله من غير منار الأرض﴾
Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Ashribah, Hadith No. 5124
"Allah has cursed the one who curses his parents, the one who slaughters an animal in the name of anyone besides Allah, the one who shelters an innovator, and the one who alters the boundaries of the land."
❖ Innovation Erases a Sunnah
❀ Al-Hasan ibn ‘Atiyyah al-Muharibi (رحمه الله) stated:
﴿ما ابتدع قوم بدعة فى دينهم إلا نزع من سنتهم مثلها ، ثم لا يعيدها إليهم إلى يوم القيامة .﴾
Sunan al-Darimi, 1/45
"Whenever a people introduce an innovation into their religion, Allah removes an equivalent Sunnah from them—and it is never restored to them until the Day of Judgement."
❖ Innovation Severs One’s Connection to the Prophet ﷺ
The relationship between the innovator and the Prophet ﷺ is severed—a profound loss indeed.
❀ The Prophet ﷺ said:
﴿من رغب عن سنتي فليس منى .﴾
Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Nikah, Hadith No. 5063
"Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from among me."
✿ The Fate of the Innovator (Bidʿatī) in the Hereafter
❖ The Innovator Will Be Driven Away from the Ḥawḍ al-Kawthar
Sayyiduna Sahl ibn Saʿd (رضي الله عنه) reports that the Prophet ﷺ said:
﴿أنا فرطكم على الحوض، من ورده شرب منه ومن شرب منه لم يظمأ ابدا، ليردن على أقوام أعرفهم ويعرفونني ، ثم يحال بيني وبينهم﴾
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Fitan, Ḥadīth No. 7051; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Faḍāʾil, Bāb Ithbāt Ḥawḍ Nabiyyinā ﷺ wa Ṣifātih, 3/1793, Ḥadīth No. 2290
"I will be ahead of you at the Ḥawḍ (Reservoir). Whoever comes to it will drink from it, and whoever drinks from it will never feel thirst again. Then, certain people will come to me whom I will recognize and they will recognize me, but a barrier will be placed between me and them."
In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ will say:
﴿إِنَّهُمْ مِنِّى﴾
"They are from me."
But it will be said to him:
﴿إنك لا تدري ما أحدثوا بعدك﴾
"You do not know what innovations they introduced after you."
Then the Prophet ﷺ will say:
﴿سحقا سحقا لمن غير بعدي .﴾
"Away with those who changed (my religion) after me!"
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Raqāʾiq, Bāb fī Ḥawḍ al-Nabī ﷺ, Ḥadīth No. 6583
Sayyiduna ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه) reports that the Prophet ﷺ said:
﴿يا رب أصحابي أصحابي ، فيقال: إنك لا تدري ما أحدثوا بعدك ؟﴾
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Raqāʾiq, Ḥadīth No. 6575; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Faḍāʾil, Ḥadīth No. 2297
"(I will say) O my Lord! These are my companions! These are my companions! Then it will be said: You do not know what innovations they introduced after you."
❖ The Innovator Assists in the Destruction of Islam
❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
﴿من وقر صاحب بدعة فقد أعان على هدم الإسلام﴾
Al-Sharīʿah by Al-Ājurrī, p. 962, Ḥadīth No. 2040
"Whoever honors an innovator has indeed aided in the destruction of Islam."
❀ Al-Fuḍayl ibn ʿIyāḍ (رحمه الله) said:
"If you see an innovator on a path, take a different path. No deed of an innovator is raised to Allah, and whoever helps an innovator has helped in the destruction of the religion."
Khaṣāʾiṣ Ahl al-Sunnah
❖ The Innovator is Destined for Misguidance
❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
﴿وكل بدعة ضلالة .﴾
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Jumuʿah, Ḥadīth No. 2008
"Every innovation is misguidance."
❀ The famous Tābiʿī, Imām Abū Qilābah (رحمه الله), said:
"Indeed, the people of innovation are misguided, and I believe they will enter the Hellfire."
Sunan al-Dārimī, Ḥadīth No. 101
