This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri's book Aamad Mustafa ﷺ.
Completion of Religion
Allah the Generous has announced the completion of the religion in the Holy Quran; the religion has been completed and Islam has been sent as a perfect Shariah. All the rulings of the Shariah have been specifically explained and guided in the Quran and Hadith.
The command of the Exalted Lord is:
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا
“Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.”
Reference: (Surah Al-Ma'idah: 3)
◈ Hafiz Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him (d. 774 AH), writes:
هذه أكبر نعم الله عز وجل على هذه الأمة؛ حيث أكمل تعالى لهم دينهم، فلا يحتاجون إلى دين غيره، ولا إلى نبي غير نبيهم، صلوات الله وسلامه عليه، ولهذا جعله الله خاتم الأنبياء، وبعثه إلى الإنس والجن، فلا حلال إلا ما أحله، ولا حرام إلا ما حرمه، ولا دين إلا ما شرعه
“This is a great blessing of Allah upon this Ummah that Allah has completed the religion for them. They have no need for any other religion, nor any prophet besides their own Prophet. Allah has made the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, the Seal of the Prophets and sent him to both jinn and mankind. Therefore, that which he has declared lawful is lawful, that which he has declared unlawful is unlawful, and the religion is that which he has legislated.”
Reference: Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 465/2
◈ Imam Malik bin Anas, may Allah have mercy on him (d. 179 AH), states:
من أحدث فى هذه الأمة اليوم شيئا لم يكن عليه سلفها؛ فقد زعم أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم خان الرسالة، لأن الله تعالى يقول: الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا فما لم يكن يومئذ دينا، لا يكون اليوم دينا
If today someone initiates a new practice in the Ummah, a practice that the predecessors of the Ummah were not upon, then he is implying that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was negligent in conveying the message of prophethood. (May Allah forbid!) Allah the Exalted has said: الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيْتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا
Reference: (Surah Al-Ma'idah: 3)
“Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” What was not part of the religion in the time of the predecessors is not part of the religion today.
Reference: Al-Ihkam by Ibn Hazm: 85/6 with a good chain
In light of this statement of Imam Malik, understand that if I initiate an innovation (bid’ah), it is as if I am implying that the religion was incomplete, which I have now completed; this is a deed of reward which the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, did not mention but I am mentioning. Thus, I am trying to surpass the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him. Every innovation is a step ahead of Allah and His Messenger, peace be upon him. Allah has forbidden this, and the people of faith tremble at the very thought of innovation.
◈ Sayyiduna Arabadh bin Sariyah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
قد تركتكم على البيضاء؛ ليلها كنهارها، لا يزيغ عنها بعدي إلا هالك
“Indeed, I am leaving you on the clear path, its night is as bright as its day. After me, only one who is destined for destruction will turn away from it.”
Reference: Musnad Imam Ahmad: 126/4, Sunan Ibn Majah: 43, As-Sunnah by Ibn Abi Asim: 48, Al-Mustadrak ala As-Sahihayn by Al-Hakim: 96/1 with a good chain
Hafiz Mundhiri, may Allah have mercy on him, has graded this hadith as Hasan.
Reference: At-Targhib wa At-Tarhib: 46/1
Remember! Our religion is complete; there is no room for addition or subtraction in it. Innovation is an addition to the religion, and addition to the religion is imitation of the Jews and Christians. The Jews and Christians have made so many additions to their religion that today their original religion has disappeared.
