This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri's book Aamad Mustafa ﷺ.
Condemnation of Innovation (Bid'ah)
Every innovation is darkness and misguidance, following the self, and the destruction of Islam, and every innovation is an evil and ugly act. Whatever has no basis in the Quran and Hadith cannot be good.
◈ Allama Shatibi (may Allah have mercy on him, died 790 AH) writes:
اعلموا أن البدعة لا يقبل معها عبادة من صلاة ولا صيام ولا صدقة ولا غيرها من القربات، ومجالس صاحبها تنزع منه العصمة، ويوكل إلى نفسه، والماشي إليه وموقره معين على هدم الإسلام، فما الظن بصاحبها؟ وهو ملعون على لسان الشريعة، ويزداد من الله بعبادته بعدا، وهى مظنة القاء العداوة والبغضاء، ومانعة من الشفاعة المحمدية، ورافعة للسنن التى تقابلها، وعلى مبتدعها إثم من عمل بها، وليس له من توبة، وتلقى عليه الذلة والغضب من الله، ويبعد عن حوض رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، ويخاف عليه أن يكون معدودا فى الكفار الخارجين عن الملة، وسوء الخاتمة عند الخروج من الدنيا، ويسود وجهه فى الآخرة، ويعذب بنار جهنم، وقد تبرأ منه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وتبرأ منه المسلمون، ويخاف عليه الفتنة فى الدنيا زيادة إلى عذاب الآخرة
"Know that in the presence of innovation, no worship such as prayer, fasting, and charity is accepted. The chastity is taken away from the gatherings of the innovator, and he is left to his own self. Allah has declared the innovator accursed, and whoever goes to the innovator becomes an accomplice in the destruction of Islam. His worship distances him from Allah Almighty. Innovation causes hatred and enmity, deprives one of the intercession of the Prophet, and erases the Sunnah. The one who initiates innovation will bear the sin of all those who act upon it. There will be no forgiveness for him. He will face humiliation, disgrace, and the wrath of Allah Almighty. He will be kept away from the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) pond, and it is feared that he will be counted among the disbelievers and suffer a bad end in the Hereafter. On the Day of Judgment, he will be disgraced and will face the torment of Hell. The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) has declared disassociation from him, and Muslims are free from him. There is a strong fear that along with the punishment of the Hereafter, a great trial will also come to him in this world."
Reference: Al-I'tisam: 106/1 - 107
◈ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says:
إن أحسن الحديث كتاب الله، وأحسن الهدي هدي محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم، وشر الأمور محدثاتها، وإن الشقي من شقي فى بطن أمه، وإن السعيد من وعظ بغيره، فاتبعوا ولا تبتدعوا
"The best speech is the Book of Allah, the best methodology is that of Muhammad (peace be upon him), and the worst deeds are innovations. The unfortunate one is the one who was written as unfortunate in the mother's womb, and the fortunate one is the one who takes advice from others. Therefore, follow and do not initiate innovations."
Reference: Al-I'tiqad lil-Bayhaqi: 306 and its chain is authentic
◈ Allama Ibn Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him, died 751 AH) writes:
إن السنة بالذات تمحق البدعة، ولا تقوم لها، وإذا طلعت شمسها فى قلب العبد، قطعت من قلبه ضباب كل بدعة، وأزالت ظلمة كل ضلالة، إذ لا سلطان للظلمة مع سلطان الشمس، ولا يرى العبد الفرق بين السنة والبدعة، ويعينه على الخروج من ظلمتها إلى نور السنة؛ إلا المتابعة، والهجرة بقلبه كل وقت إلى الله، بالاستعانة والإخلاص، وصدق اللجإ إلى الله، والهجرة إلى رسوله، بالحرص على الوصول إلى أقواله وأعماله وهديه وسنته، فمن كانت هجرته إلى الله ورسوله؛ فهجرته إلى الله ورسوله، ومن هاجر إلى غير ذلك؛ فهو حظه ونصيبه فى الدنيا والآخرة، والله المستعان
"The Sunnah uproots innovation. It does not allow it to come near. When the sun of Sunnah rises in a heart, it destroys the darkness of innovations and removes its darkness, because the power of darkness has no status in front of the sun. An ordinary person cannot distinguish between Sunnah and innovation; to come out of the darkness of innovation, he must live under the shade of the lights of Sunnah. He must always keep his heart in the help of Allah Almighty, sincerity, and pure yearning, and leave everything to seek the sayings, actions, Sunnah, and methodology of the Messenger (peace be upon him). Whoever migrates for the sake of Allah Almighty and His Messenger, his migration will be accepted, and whoever migrates to something else, his share will be in this world and the Hereafter."
Reference: Madarij as-Salikin: 374/1
Allah Almighty says:
وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ
"Do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge."
Reference: (Surah Al-Isra: 36)
He further says:
إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى الْأَنفُسُ ۖ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ الْهُدَىٰ
"These people follow nothing but conjecture and desires of the self, while guidance has already come to them from their Lord."
Reference: (Surah An-Najm: 23)
Allah Almighty commands:
قل يا أهل الكتاب لا تغلوا فى دينكم غير الحق ولا تتبعوا أهواء قوم قد ضلوا من قبل وأضلوا كثيرا وضلوا عن سواء السبيل
"O Prophet! Say to the People of the Book, 'Do not exceed the limits in your religion, and do not follow the desires of those who have gone astray, who mislead many and have strayed from the right path.'"
Reference: (Surah Al-Ma'idah: 77)
He also says:
وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا لَّيُضِلُّونَ بِأَهْوَائِهِمْ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ
"Many spread misguidance through their desires due to ignorance."
Reference: (Surah Al-An'am: 119)
These verses condemn the innovator because he spreads misguidance, abandons the Quran and Sunnah, and considers the desires of the self as the fundamental principle of life.
Allah Almighty says:
لِيَحْمِلُوا أَوْزَارَهُمْ كَامِلَةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۙ وَمِنْ أَوْزَارِ الَّذِينَ يُضِلُّونَهُم بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ أَلَا سَاءَ مَا يَزِرُونَ
"So that on the Day of Resurrection they bear their own burdens and burdens of those they misled without knowledge. And evil is that which they bear."
Reference: (Surah An-Nahl: 25)
◈ Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him, died 728 AH) says:
معلوم أن كل ما لم يسنه ولا استحبه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ولا أحد من هؤلاء الذين يقتدي بهم المسلمون فى دينهم؛ فإنه يكون من البدع المنكرات، ولا يقول أحد فى مثل هذا: إنه بدعة حسنة، إذا البدعة الحسنة عند من يقسم البدع إلى حسنة وسيئة لا بد أن يستحبها أحد من أهل العلم الذين يقتدى بهم، ويقوم دليل شرعي على استحبابها، وكذلك من يقول: البدعة الشرعية، كلها مذمومة لقوله صلى الله عليه وسلم فى الحديث الصحيح: كل بدعة ضلالة، ويقول: قول عمر فى التراويح: نعمت البدعة هذه، إنما أسماها بدعة باعتبار وضع اللغة، فالبدعة فى الشرع عند هؤلاء ما لم يقم دليل شرعي على استحبابه، ومال القولين واحد؛ إذ هم متفقون على أن ما لم يستحب أو يجب من الشرع؛ فليس بواجب ولا مستحب، فمن اتخذ عملا من الأعمال عبادة ودينا، وليس ذلك فى الشريعة واحبا ولا مستحبا، فهو ضال باتفاق المسلمين
"It is clear that the way established by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was neither liked by him nor by the predecessors; it is an undesirable innovation. Muslims follow the actions of the predecessors. Those who divide innovations into good and bad also say that good innovation is that which the Imams of guidance have deemed recommended and for which there is a Shariah proof, and the Imams of guidance are those who are followed. Some people divide innovation into linguistic and Shariah categories, saying that any innovation to which the Shariah division applies is blameworthy. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, 'Every innovation is misguidance.' The example of linguistic innovation is given by Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) regarding Taraweeh, saying it is a good renewal. They say that legally innovation is that for which there is no proof. Both meanings are the same, meaning both groups agree that what is not made recommended or obligatory by Shariah is neither recommended nor obligatory. Similarly, both groups say that a person who performs an act considering it as religion or worship, which Shariah has not made recommended or obligatory, is unanimously misguided."
Reference: Majmu' al-Fatawa: 152/27
It is understood that religion is the command of Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him). The fundamental condition for acceptance of deeds is following the Quran and Sunnah.
◈ Nafi' (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates:
عطس رجل إلى جنب ابن عمر، فقال: الحمد لله والسلام على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فقال ابن عمر: وأنا أقول: الحمد لله والسلام على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، ولكن ليس هكذا أمرنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن نقول إذا عطسنا، أمرنا أن نقول: الحمد لله على كل حال
"A man sitting beside Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) sneezed and said: الحمد لله والسلام على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم All praise is due to Allah and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) said: I also praise Allah and send peace upon the Messenger of Allah, but at that moment, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did not teach us this; rather, he taught us this supplication at the time of sneezing: الحمد لله على كل حال All praise is always for Allah."
Reference: Sunan at-Tirmidhi: 2738, Musnad al-Harith Bughiyat al-Baheth: 807, Al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihayn by Al-Hakim: 265/4, 266, Shu'ab al-Iman by Al-Bayhaqi: 8884 and its chain is Hasan
Imam Hakim (may Allah have mercy on him) declared it "authentic chain" and Hafiz Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) said it is "authentic."
Hadrami bin Ajlan, the freed slave of Jarood, was declared trustworthy by Imam Ibn Hibban (Al-Thiqat: 249/6), Imam Hakim (may Allah have mercy on him) declared the chain authentic, which is a confirmation, and Hafiz Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) called him truthful.
Reference: Al-Kashif: 239/1
In Al-Mustadrak of Hakim, Hadrami bin Laheq is hidden, which is an error. Imam Tabrani (may Allah have mercy on him) in Musnad al-Shamiyyin (323) has a supporting narrator with a good chain.
Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
جاء ثلاثة رهط إلى بيوت أزواج النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم، يسألون عن عبادة النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم، فلما أخبروا كأنهم تقالوها، فقالوا: وأين نحن من النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم؟ قد غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه وما تأخر، قال أحدهم: أما أنا؛ فإني أصلي الليل أبدا، وقال آخر: أنا أصوم الدهر ولا أفطر، وقال آخر: أنا أعتزل النساء، فلا أتزوج أبدا، فجاء رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إليهم، فقال أنتم الذين قلتم كذا وكذا؟ أما والله، إني لأخشاكم لله وأتقاكم له، لكني أصوم وأفطر، وأصلي وأرقد، وأتزوج النساء ، فمن رغب عن سنتي فليس مني
"Three men came to the purified wives of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) and inquired about his worship. When it was told, their reaction seemed as if they considered that worship insufficient. So they said: We are not like the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him). Allah has forgiven all your past and future mistakes. One said: I will make it a habit to pray all night forever. The second said: I will always fast and never break it. The third said: I will stay away from women and never marry. The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) came and asked them: Did you say such and such? By Allah! I fear Allah and fear you more, and I am more pious than you, but I fast and break the fast, I pray at night and sleep, and I am married. So whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from my way."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 5053, Sahih Muslim: 1401
This hadith is also narrated from Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) in Sahih Bukhari
Reference: (7084)
and Sahih Muslim
Reference: (1847)
.From these hadiths, it is understood that following the Sunnah is necessary; any addition or subtraction is wrong, otherwise good deeds become innovations.
◈ Imam Sufyan Thawri (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
لا يستقيم قول إلا بعمل، ولا يستقيم قول وعمل إلا بنية، ولا يستقيم قول وعمل ونية، إلا بموافقة السنة
"A mere verbal claim without action has no value, and words and actions without intention cannot be correct, and no word, action, or intention is valid unless it conforms to the Sunnah."
Reference: Hilyat al-Awliya by Abu Nu'aym: 32/7 and its chain is Hasan
◈ Imam Zahri (may Allah have mercy on him) says: Our early scholars used to say:
الاعتصام بالسنة نجاة
"Holding firmly to the Sunnah is the cause of salvation."
Reference: Sunan ad-Darimi: 97 and its chain is authentic
◈ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
من رغب عن سنتي فليس مني
"Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from my way."
Reference: Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah: 197 and its chain is authentic
◈ Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
إن الله حجب التوبة عن صاحب كل بدعة
"Allah Almighty has closed the door of repentance for every innovator."
Reference: Al-Mu'jam al-Awsat by At-Tabarani: 4202, Tabaqat al-Muhaddithin by Abu al-Shaykh Asbahani: 609/3, Al-Mukhtara by Al-Hafiz Ad-Diya al-Maqdisi: 2054, and its chain is Hasan
◈ Hafiz Mundhiri (may Allah have mercy on him) said its chain is Hasan.
Reference: At-Targhib wa At-Tarhib: 868
◈ Hafiz Haithami (may Allah have mercy on him) writes:
رجاله رجال الصحيح ، غير هارون بن موسى الفروي، وهو ثقة
"All its narrators are from Sahih Bukhari except Harun bin Musa al-Farwi, and he is also trustworthy."
Reference: Majma' az-Zawa'id: 189/10
◈ Imam Sufyan Thawri (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
البدعة أحب إلى إبليس من المعصية، المعصية يتاب منها، والبدعة لا يتاب منها
"Innovation is more beloved to Satan than disobedience to Allah; sins can be repented from, but innovation is not repented from."
Reference: Musnad Ali bin al-Ja'd: 1809 and its chain is Hasan
◈ Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him, died 728 AH) says:
معنى قولهم: إن البدعة لا يتاب منها أن المبتدع الذى يتخذ دينا لم يشرعه الله ولا رسوله قد زين له سوء عمله فرآه حسنا، فهو لا يتوب ما دام يراه حسنا، لأن أول التوبة العلم بأن فعله سيء ليتوب منه، أو بأنه ترك حسنا مأمورا به أمر إيجاب أو استحباب ليتوب ويفعله، فما دام يرى فعله حسنا وهو سيء فى نفس الأمر ، فإنه لا يتوب، ولكن التوبة منه ممكنة وواقعة بأن يهديه الله ويرشده، حتى يتبين له الحق ، كما هدى سبحانه وتعالى من هدى من الكفار والمنافقين وطوائف من أهل البدع والضلال
"The scholars say that there is no repentance from innovation. This means that the innovator follows a religion other than the Shariah of Muhammad, and a bad deed is beautified for him, and he continues to consider it good. Therefore, he cannot repent from this act because repentance requires considering one's act bad or realizing that one has abandoned a wajib or mustahabb act. So as long as he considers a bad act good, he will not repent. However, it is possible that Allah clarifies the truth to him and grants him guidance and growth, as Allah has guided disbelievers, hypocrites, many innovators, and misguided people."
Reference: Majmu' al-Fatawa: 9/10
◈ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
خط لنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم خطا، ثم قال: هذا سبيل الله، ثم خط خطوطا عن يمينه وعن شماله، ثم قال: هذه سبل متفرقة على كل سبيل منها شيطان يدعو إليه، ثم قرأ: وَأَنَّ هَٰذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَن سَبِيلِهِ
Once the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) drew a line and said: This is the path of Allah. Then he drew more lines on its right and left and said: These are other paths, all of which are the dwelling of Satan, and he calls to them. Then the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) recited this verse: وَأَنَّ هَٰذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَن سَبِيلِهِ
Reference: (Surah Al-An'am: 153)
"This is my straight path, so follow it and do not follow other paths, lest you stray from the way of Allah."
Reference: Musnad Imam Ahmad: 435/1, Musnad at-Tayalisi: 241, Sunan ad-Darimi: 202, Al-Sunan al-Kubra by An-Nasa'i: 11109 and its chain is Hasan
Imam Ibn Hibban (may Allah have mercy on him) said this hadith is "authentic," Imam Hakim (may Allah have mercy on him) said it is "authentic chain," and Hafiz Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) said it is "authentic."
Allama Taybi (may Allah have mercy on him, died 743 AH) writes in a commentary on a hadith:
قوله: الزائد فى كتاب الله، يجوز أن يراد به من يدخل فى كتاب الله ما ليس منه، أو أن يأول بما يأبى عنه اللفظ ويخالف المحكم، كما فعلت اليهود بالتوراة من التبديل والتحريف، والزيادة فى كتاب الله كفر، وتأويله بما يخالف الكتاب والسنة بدعة
"Excess in the Book of Allah means adding things that were not in the Book of Allah, or it means a distortion and alteration like that of Jews and Christians, which is an interpretation contrary to the apparent and clear text. Excess in the Book of Allah is disbelief, and interpreting it contrary to the Quran and Sunnah is innovation."
Reference: (Sharh al-Mishkat: 572/2)
◈ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
لكل عمل شرة ولكل شرة فترة فمن كانت فترته إلى سنتي فقد اهتدى ومن كانت فترته إلى غير ذلك فقد هلك
"Every deed has intensity, then laziness comes later. Whoever remains a follower of the Sunnah even in times of laziness is on guidance, and whoever deviates during times of laziness is destroyed."
Reference: (Musnad Imam Ahmad: 158/2, As-Sunnah by Ibn Abi Asim: 51 and its chain is authentic)
Imam Ibn Hibban (may Allah have mercy on him) said it is "authentic."
◈ Khalid bin Sa'd, the freed slave of Abu Mas'ud Ansari (may Allah have mercy on him), says:
دخل أبو مسعود على حذيفة، فقال: اعهد إلي، فقال له: ألم يأتك اليقين، فقال: بلى وعزة ربي قال: فاعلم أن الضلالة حق الضلالة أن تعرف ما كنت تنكر وأن تنكر ما كنت تعرف، وإياك والتلون، فإن دين الله تعالى واحد
"Sayyiduna Abu Mas'ud Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) asked Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) for advice. Sayyiduna Hudhayfah said: Has the certain news (revelation) not reached you? He said: Yes, by the honor of my Lord! He said: Know that true misguidance is to consider good as evil and evil as good. Leave duplicity and be sincere, for the religion of Allah is sincere."
Reference: (Musnad Ali bin al-Ja'd: 3083 and its chain is Hasan)
