ʿUmar رضي الله عنه Saying About Tarāwīḥ:
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The Barelwi Argument
The Barelwis cite the famous statement of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه regarding Tarāwīḥ:
«نِعْمَتِ البِدْعَةُ هَذِهِ»
(Al-Bukhārī, Kitāb Ṣalāt al-Tarāwīḥ, 2010)
“What an excellent bidʿah this is.”They argue that this proves bidʿah is of two types: ḥasanah (good) and sayyiʾah (bad).
Detailed Refutation
❀ ① The Prophet’s ﷺ Words Take Precedence
Even if ʿUmar’s statement is accepted at face value, it cannot override the explicit words of the Prophet ﷺ:
«كُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ»
(Nasā’ī: 1578; Muslim: 867)
“Every innovation is misguidance.”It is an established principle: the words of any Companion or Imam cannot outweigh the statement of the Prophet ﷺ.
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما said:
"Close is the time when stones from the sky may fall upon you! I say: the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said so-and-so, and you reply: but Abū Bakr and ʿUmar said so-and-so.”
(Aḥmad: 2669, al-Bayhaqī: 6/202)
❀ ② Tarāwīḥ Is Sunnah, Not Sharʿī Bidʿah
The Prophet ﷺ himself prayed Tarāwīḥ in congregation during some nights of Ramaḍān. He said:
«من قام مع الإمام حتى ينصرف كُتب له قيام ليلة»
(Tirmidhī: 806, authenticated by al-Albānī)
“Whoever stands in prayer with the imam until he finishes will have the reward of standing the whole night.”Thus, Tarāwīḥ in congregation is Sunnah. When ʿUmar رضي الله عنه gathered people behind one imam, he merely revived an existing Sunnah.
ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAbd al-Qārī narrates:
"I went out with ʿUmar one night in Ramaḍān and saw people praying in scattered groups. ʿUmar said: I think if I gather them behind one reciter it will be better. He then appointed Ubayy ibn Kaʿb as their imam…”
(Al-Bukhārī: 2010; al-Muwaṭṭaʾ of Mālik: 1/114)
On this occasion, he remarked: “What an excellent bidʿah this is.”
So, this was not a Sharʿī innovation, but rather a linguistic usage of the word bidʿah.
❀ ③ Linguistic vs. Sharʿī Bidʿah
- Sharʿī bidʿah: Always blameworthy, as per the Prophet ﷺ’s words.
- Linguistic bidʿah: Any new arrangement or occurrence, whether good or bad.
The scholars clarified this distinction:
- Ibn Kathīr رحمه الله:
“Bidʿah is of two kinds: Sharʿī… and linguistic, like ʿUmar’s statement: ‘What an excellent bidʿah.’”
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, 1/271) - Ibn Rajab al-Ḥanbalī رحمه الله:
“When the Salaf spoke of good bidʿah, it referred only to the linguistic sense, not Sharʿī.”
(Jāmiʿ al-ʿUlūm wa’l-Ḥikam, 2/128) - Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله:
“As for ʿUmar’s saying: ‘What an excellent bidʿah,’ this cannot oppose the Prophet’s words.”
(Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā, 22/234)
Conclusion
The claim that ʿUmar رضي الله عنه’s words prove “bidʿah ḥasanah” is unfounded.
① The Prophet ﷺ’s principle “Every bidʿah is misguidance” is absolute.
② Tarāwīḥ is Sunnah; ʿUmar merely revived its congregational form.
③ The phrase “excellent bidʿah” was linguistic, not Sharʿī.
Hence, dividing bidʿah into ḥasanah and sayyiʾah contradicts Qur’an, Sunnah, and the Salaf. Islam was perfected in the Prophet’s ﷺ lifetime:
﴿ٱلۡیَوۡمَ أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِینَكُمۡ﴾
(al-Mā’idah: 3)
“This day I have perfected your religion for you.”
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