This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri's book Aamad Mustafa ﷺ.
Deeds and Good Innovations
What is the scope of Bid'ah (innovation)? Does it intrude into every aspect of Islam or only in beliefs? This is a new debate, which was not present among the Salaf; according to them, Bid'ah is an absolute matter, it can be in actions as well as in beliefs. However, in our time, this debate has started. Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Naeemi Sahib, while translating a Hadith, writes:
من أحدث فى أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه، فهو رد .
"The person who innovates beliefs in our religion that are against the religion, he is rejected. We have taken the meaning of 'Amr' as belief because religion is the name of beliefs, and actions are branches."
Reference: Jaa al-Haqq: 204-205
The restriction of belief in the meaning of Hadith is not correct, because the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) declared every innovation as misguidance, whether it is in beliefs or in actions.
Because Mufti Sahib himself wrote in one place:
The Shariah meaning of Bid'ah is that belief or actions which were not present during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) but were invented later. The conclusion is that Bid'ah in Shariah is of two types: Bid'ah in belief and Bid'ah in practice.
Reference: Jaa al-Haqq p. 204
Now, if we accept their logic that innovations in beliefs are forbidden while in actions they are permissible, then what will be the ruling on a good innovation (Bid'ah Hasanah) in beliefs? If a person, considering some belief good, includes it in Islamic beliefs by saying it is a good innovation, then what is the opinion about him?
Also, if someone introduces such innovations in actions that are unpleasant to their delicate nature, such as the Adhan for the two Eids and the funeral prayer, will it be called a good innovation? Remember that not considering actions as part of religion and faith and merely calling them branches is itself an innovation. Even a low-level Muslim understands that actions are part of religion; this is a unanimous and agreed issue among the rightly guided Muslims.
◈ Hafiz Baghawee (may Allah have mercy on him, died 516 AH) writes:
اتفقت الصحابة والتابعون، فمن بعدهم من علماء السنة على أن الأعمال من الإيمان ..... وقالوا : إن الإيمان قول، وعمل، وعقيدة .
"The Companions of the Prophet (may Allah be pleased with them), the great Tabi‘in (followers) (may Allah have mercy on them), and the scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah after them are unanimous that actions are part of faith. They say that faith is the name of speech, action, and belief."
Reference: Sharh al-Sunnah: 388
◈ Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him, died 728 AH) says:
لكن أعظم المهم فى هذا الباب وغيره تمييز السنة من البدعة إذ السنة ما أمر به الشارع والبدعة ما لم يشرعه من الدين فإن هذا الباب كثر فيه اضطراب الناس فى الأصول والفروع حيث يزعم كل فريق أن طريقه هو السنة وطريق مخالفه هو البدعة، ثم إنه يحكم على مخالفه بحكم المبتدع فيقوم من ذلك من الشر ما لا يحصيه إلا الله .
"The most important matter in these issues is to distinguish between Sunnah and Bid'ah, because Sunnah is the name of the ruling of the Shariah, and Bid'ah is called such religious acts which the Shariah has not legislated. People are very confused about this; their beliefs and actions differ, and each group calls the other an innovator. These things have spread evil so much that no one can count except Allah."
Reference: Al-Istiqaamah: 13/1
Innovations in Beliefs and Faith
Contrary to the above explanation, Naeemi Sahib says that the blameworthy innovation is only in beliefs. Observe his statement:
Both Shariah and Tariqah have four orders each, namely Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki, Hanbali, and similarly Qadri, Chishti, Naqshbandi, Suhrawardi; all these orders are complete innovations. Some of their names are not even Arabic, like Chishti or Naqshbandi. No companion, follower, Hanafi, or Qadri existed. Now let the Deobandi tell if they can survive by avoiding innovation while maintaining their identity? When innovations are included in faith and the declaration of faith, then how can one get rid of innovation?
Reference: Jaa al-Haq : 1/222
The answer to this will be given by those who are questioned. The surprise, however, is why defend the innovation in beliefs that is being condemned? Are innovations also included in faith and the declaration of faith?
Innovation is Contrary to the Quran, Hadith, and Consensus
Some say that innovation (Bid'ah) is a new act that is against the religion; their statement is not correct, because innovation is baseless, the Shariah has prohibited innovation, and understand well that becoming involved in innovation is itself opposition to the Quran, Hadith, and consensus.
