❀ Condemnation of the Innovator in Light of the Qur'an, Hadith, and Sayings of the Salaf ❀
🖋 Adapted from the book “Eid Milad-un-Nabi ﷺ ki Shar'i Haithiyat” by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
Imam Sufyan bin Uyaynah رحمه الله, while explaining the verse:
﴿وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي ٱلْمُفْتَرِينَ﴾
(Al-A'raf: 152)
“We recompense the fabricators in this manner.”
He said:
“كل صاحب بدعة ذليل”
“Every innovator is humiliated.”
(Tafsir Ibn Abi Hatim: 5/1571 – Authentic Chain)
Verse:
﴿وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَا تَصِفُ أَلْسِنَتُكُمُ ٱلْكَذِبَ هَٰذَا حَلَـٰلٌ وَهَٰذَا حَرَامٌ لِّتَفْتَرُوا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ...﴾
(An-Nahl: 116)
“Do not say concerning lies your tongues describe: this is lawful and that is unlawful, forging lies against Allah. Verily, those who forge lies against Allah will never succeed.”
❀ Hafiz Ibn Kathir رحمه الله said:
“This applies to all innovators who legislate without any Shar‘i proof, declaring Allah’s prohibitions as lawful and His lawful matters as forbidden, based purely on personal desires and reasoning.”
(Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 2/779)
Verse:
﴿هُوَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ مِنْهُ ءَايَاتٌۭ مُّحْكَمَٰتٌ...﴾
(Aal-e-Imran: 7)
“Those with deviation in their hearts follow the ambiguous verses, seeking discord and twisted interpretations.”
❀ Imam Al-Tabari رحمه الله:
“Although revealed concerning the polytheists, this verse applies to every innovator in the religion who leans toward innovation by misinterpreting the ambiguous verses of the Qur’an, disputes with the people of truth, and aims to deceive believers.”
(Tafsir Al-Tabari: 3/181)
Verse:
﴿أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةَ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ...﴾
(Al-Baqarah: 16)
“They are those who traded guidance for misguidance. Their deal brought no gain.”
Verse:
﴿وَقَدِمْنَآ إِلَىٰ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ مِنْ عَمَلٍ فَجَعَلْنَـٰهُ هَبَآءًۭ مَّنثُورًۭا﴾
(Al-Furqan: 23)
“We shall turn to whatever deeds they did and scatter them like dust.”
Verse:
﴿فَلَا تَقْعُدُوا۟ مَعَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا۟ فِى حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِۦٓ...﴾
(An-Nisa: 140)
❀ Imam Al-Qurtubi رحمه الله said:
“This verse implies the obligation to avoid the people of sin when they publicly commit evil. Whoever does not avoid them has accepted their actions, and acceptance of disbelief is itself disbelief.”
(Tafsir Al-Qurtubi: 5/418)
Verse:
﴿فَلَا تَقْعُدْ بَعْدَ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ مَعَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ﴾
(Al-An'am: 68)
❀ Ibn Kathir رحمه الله said:
“Do not sit with those who distort the Qur’an and manipulate its meanings for personal gain. If one forgetfully sits with them, he must leave immediately upon remembering.”
(Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 3/278)
“Any statement or act that contradicts the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ, the Rightly Guided Caliphs, and the sayings of the Companions is a bid'ah, a deviation, and will be rejected.”
(Al-Arba‘un Hadithan: 8)
In a lengthy hadith, the Prophet ﷺ described the emergence of innovators and their deceptive methods:
“There will come leaders who guide not with my guidance. You will recognize some things they do as good and some as evil... there will be callers at the gates of Hell... if you live in that time and find no Muslim group or leader, then separate from all sects, even if you must cling to a tree root until death.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 7084, Sahih Muslim: 1847)
❀ Imam An-Nawawi رحمه الله commented:
“These are leaders who call towards innovations and misguidance, such as the Khawarij, Qaramitah, and Mu‘tazilah.”
(Sharh Sahih Muslim: 6/320)
“Whoever honors an innovator has assisted in the destruction of Islam.”
(Al-Shari‘ah by Al-Ajurri: 2040, Tarikh Ibn Asakir: 26/456 – Authentic)
“Whoever introduces a heresy or shelters an innovator — upon him is the curse of Allah, the angels, and all of mankind. None of his deeds will be accepted.”
(Musnad al-Tayalisi: 299, Musnad Ahmad: 2/178–211 – Hasan Chain)
“At the Hawd (Cistern), some people from my Ummah will be turned away. I will say: ‘My Lord, they are of me and my Ummah.’ It will be said: ‘You do not know what they innovated after you.’”
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 6593, Sahih Muslim: 2293)
“The most severely punished on the Day of Judgment will be: one killed by a Prophet, one who kills a Prophet, an innovating leader, and an image maker.”
(Musnad Ahmad: 1/497 – Hasan Chain)
“In the latter days, there will be great liars and Dajjals who will narrate things that neither you nor your forefathers have heard. Beware of them, lest they misguide or put you to trial.”
(Sahih Muslim: 7)
🖋 Adapted from the book “Eid Milad-un-Nabi ﷺ ki Shar'i Haithiyat” by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
① Every Innovator is Humiliated
Imam Sufyan bin Uyaynah رحمه الله, while explaining the verse:
﴿وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي ٱلْمُفْتَرِينَ﴾
(Al-A'raf: 152)
“We recompense the fabricators in this manner.”
He said:
“كل صاحب بدعة ذليل”
“Every innovator is humiliated.”
(Tafsir Ibn Abi Hatim: 5/1571 – Authentic Chain)
② Innovators Declare Halal and Haram by Whims
Verse:
﴿وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَا تَصِفُ أَلْسِنَتُكُمُ ٱلْكَذِبَ هَٰذَا حَلَـٰلٌ وَهَٰذَا حَرَامٌ لِّتَفْتَرُوا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ...﴾
(An-Nahl: 116)
“Do not say concerning lies your tongues describe: this is lawful and that is unlawful, forging lies against Allah. Verily, those who forge lies against Allah will never succeed.”
❀ Hafiz Ibn Kathir رحمه الله said:
“This applies to all innovators who legislate without any Shar‘i proof, declaring Allah’s prohibitions as lawful and His lawful matters as forbidden, based purely on personal desires and reasoning.”
(Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 2/779)
③ Innovators Rely on Ambiguous Verses
Verse:
﴿هُوَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ مِنْهُ ءَايَاتٌۭ مُّحْكَمَٰتٌ...﴾
(Aal-e-Imran: 7)
“Those with deviation in their hearts follow the ambiguous verses, seeking discord and twisted interpretations.”
❀ Imam Al-Tabari رحمه الله:
“Although revealed concerning the polytheists, this verse applies to every innovator in the religion who leans toward innovation by misinterpreting the ambiguous verses of the Qur’an, disputes with the people of truth, and aims to deceive believers.”
(Tafsir Al-Tabari: 3/181)
④ Innovators Exchange Guidance for Misguidance
Verse:
﴿أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةَ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ...﴾
(Al-Baqarah: 16)
“They are those who traded guidance for misguidance. Their deal brought no gain.”
⑤ Their Actions Will Be Rendered Worthless
Verse:
﴿وَقَدِمْنَآ إِلَىٰ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ مِنْ عَمَلٍ فَجَعَلْنَـٰهُ هَبَآءًۭ مَّنثُورًۭا﴾
(Al-Furqan: 23)
“We shall turn to whatever deeds they did and scatter them like dust.”
⑥ Avoid Sitting with Innovators
Verse:
﴿فَلَا تَقْعُدُوا۟ مَعَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا۟ فِى حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِۦٓ...﴾
(An-Nisa: 140)
❀ Imam Al-Qurtubi رحمه الله said:
“This verse implies the obligation to avoid the people of sin when they publicly commit evil. Whoever does not avoid them has accepted their actions, and acceptance of disbelief is itself disbelief.”
(Tafsir Al-Qurtubi: 5/418)
⑦ Command to Withdraw from Wrongdoers
Verse:
﴿فَلَا تَقْعُدْ بَعْدَ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ مَعَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ﴾
(Al-An'am: 68)
❀ Ibn Kathir رحمه الله said:
“Do not sit with those who distort the Qur’an and manipulate its meanings for personal gain. If one forgetfully sits with them, he must leave immediately upon remembering.”
(Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 3/278)
⑧ Abu Bakr Al-Ajurri رحمه الله
“Any statement or act that contradicts the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ, the Rightly Guided Caliphs, and the sayings of the Companions is a bid'ah, a deviation, and will be rejected.”
(Al-Arba‘un Hadithan: 8)
⑨ Hadith of Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman رضي الله عنه
In a lengthy hadith, the Prophet ﷺ described the emergence of innovators and their deceptive methods:
“There will come leaders who guide not with my guidance. You will recognize some things they do as good and some as evil... there will be callers at the gates of Hell... if you live in that time and find no Muslim group or leader, then separate from all sects, even if you must cling to a tree root until death.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 7084, Sahih Muslim: 1847)
❀ Imam An-Nawawi رحمه الله commented:
“These are leaders who call towards innovations and misguidance, such as the Khawarij, Qaramitah, and Mu‘tazilah.”
(Sharh Sahih Muslim: 6/320)
⑩ Hadith of A’ishah رضي الله عنها
“Whoever honors an innovator has assisted in the destruction of Islam.”
(Al-Shari‘ah by Al-Ajurri: 2040, Tarikh Ibn Asakir: 26/456 – Authentic)
⑪ Curse Upon the Innovator and His Supporter
“Whoever introduces a heresy or shelters an innovator — upon him is the curse of Allah, the angels, and all of mankind. None of his deeds will be accepted.”
(Musnad al-Tayalisi: 299, Musnad Ahmad: 2/178–211 – Hasan Chain)
⑫ Hadith of Asma’ bint Abi Bakr رضي الله عنها
“At the Hawd (Cistern), some people from my Ummah will be turned away. I will say: ‘My Lord, they are of me and my Ummah.’ It will be said: ‘You do not know what they innovated after you.’”
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 6593, Sahih Muslim: 2293)
⑬ Hadith on the Worst of Punishments
“The most severely punished on the Day of Judgment will be: one killed by a Prophet, one who kills a Prophet, an innovating leader, and an image maker.”
(Musnad Ahmad: 1/497 – Hasan Chain)
⑭ Hadith of Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه
“In the latter days, there will be great liars and Dajjals who will narrate things that neither you nor your forefathers have heard. Beware of them, lest they misguide or put you to trial.”
(Sahih Muslim: 7)
