Compiled by: Toheed.com
Some people argue:
“The fact that the Prophet ﷺ did not perform a certain act does not mean it is haram. Unless there is a clear prohibition, the act remains permissible. Therefore, new practices (innovations) cannot be rejected merely on the basis that the Prophet ﷺ did not do them.”
Allah ﷻ clearly said:
﴿ٱلۡیَوۡمَ أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِینَكُمۡ وَأَتۡمَمۡتُ عَلَیۡكُمۡ نِعۡمَتِی﴾
(al-Ma’idah: 3)
Translation:
“Today I have perfected your religion for you and completed My favor upon you.”
Since the religion was completed, there is no room left for inventing new acts of worship afterwards.
Acts of worship are of two types:
For example:
This means that giving adhan in these contexts is an innovation.
Imam Ibn Rajab (رحمه الله) said:
«فأما ما اتفق السلف على تركه فلا يجوز العمل به؛ لأنهم ما تركوه إلا على علم أنه لا يعمل به.»
(Jami‘ al-‘Ulum wal-Hikam, p. 233)
Translation:
“As for those things that the Salaf agreed to abandon, it is not permissible to practice them—because they only abandoned them with knowledge that such things were not to be practiced.”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلاً لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ»
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1718)
Translation:
“Whoever performs an act not upon our command, it is rejected.”
This proves that only those acts done according to the Prophet’s ﷺ way are part of the religion.
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) wrote:
«ومن هاهنا يعلم أن القول باستحباب ذلك خلاف السنة؛ فإن تركه سنة كما أن فعله سنة.»
(I‘lam al-Muwaqqi‘in, 2/281)
Translation:
“From this it is known that declaring something recommended while the Prophet ﷺ abandoned it is against the Sunnah; for his abandonment is itself Sunnah, just as his actions are Sunnah.”
✔ The Prophet’s ﷺ abandonment (tark) is also Sunnah.
✔ Any worship that he deliberately refrained from is not part of the religion.
✔ Religion is complete; introducing new acts amounts to legislating in religion.
✔ The Sahabah and Salaf strictly prohibited innovations on this basis.
Therefore, the claim that “the Prophet’s abandonment is not proof of prohibition” is false. In reality, his abandonment itself proves that such an act is not a valid part of worship.
✿ The Objection Raised
Some people argue:
“The fact that the Prophet ﷺ did not perform a certain act does not mean it is haram. Unless there is a clear prohibition, the act remains permissible. Therefore, new practices (innovations) cannot be rejected merely on the basis that the Prophet ﷺ did not do them.”
✿ Response: The Prophet’s ﷺ Abandonment is Itself a Sunnah
➊ Declaration of the Completion of Religion
Allah ﷻ clearly said:
﴿ٱلۡیَوۡمَ أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِینَكُمۡ وَأَتۡمَمۡتُ عَلَیۡكُمۡ نِعۡمَتِی﴾
(al-Ma’idah: 3)
Translation:
“Today I have perfected your religion for you and completed My favor upon you.”
Since the religion was completed, there is no room left for inventing new acts of worship afterwards.➋ Abandonment is Also a Sunnah
Acts of worship are of two types:
- Sunnah Fi‘liyyah (Actions of the Prophet ﷺ) – what he did.
- Sunnah Tarkiyyah (Abandonments of the Prophet ﷺ) – what he deliberately refrained from doing.
For example:
- The Prophet ﷺ did not give the adhan for Eid prayer, even though adhan is a form of dhikr.
- He did not give the adhan for Janazah either.
This means that giving adhan in these contexts is an innovation.Imam Ibn Rajab (رحمه الله) said:
«فأما ما اتفق السلف على تركه فلا يجوز العمل به؛ لأنهم ما تركوه إلا على علم أنه لا يعمل به.»
(Jami‘ al-‘Ulum wal-Hikam, p. 233)
Translation:
“As for those things that the Salaf agreed to abandon, it is not permissible to practice them—because they only abandoned them with knowledge that such things were not to be practiced.”
➌ The Clear Principle of the Prophet ﷺ
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلاً لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ»
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1718)
Translation:
“Whoever performs an act not upon our command, it is rejected.”
This proves that only those acts done according to the Prophet’s ﷺ way are part of the religion.➍ Practical Examples
- Collective du‘a after every prayer – The Prophet ﷺ never did this, even though du‘a is virtuous. His abandonment shows that this particular form is an innovation.
- Adhan for Eid or Janazah – Never done by the Prophet ﷺ, hence including it in religion is innovation.
➎ Scholarly Clarification
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) wrote:
«ومن هاهنا يعلم أن القول باستحباب ذلك خلاف السنة؛ فإن تركه سنة كما أن فعله سنة.»
(I‘lam al-Muwaqqi‘in, 2/281)
Translation:
“From this it is known that declaring something recommended while the Prophet ﷺ abandoned it is against the Sunnah; for his abandonment is itself Sunnah, just as his actions are Sunnah.”
✿ Conclusion
✔ The Prophet’s ﷺ abandonment (tark) is also Sunnah.
✔ Any worship that he deliberately refrained from is not part of the religion.
✔ Religion is complete; introducing new acts amounts to legislating in religion.
✔ The Sahabah and Salaf strictly prohibited innovations on this basis.
Therefore, the claim that “the Prophet’s abandonment is not proof of prohibition” is false. In reality, his abandonment itself proves that such an act is not a valid part of worship.