Shar‘i Analysis of the Division Between “Good” and “Evil” Innovations (Bid‘ah Ḥasanah vs. Bid‘ah Sayyi’ah)
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Vol. 1 – Kitāb al-ʿAqāʾid, p. 88
Question:
Barelvi scholars often justify their innovations by presenting the following arguments:
➊ ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه) reintroduced the congregational Tarāwīḥ prayer and said:
“What a good innovation this is” (نعمت البدعة هذه) — thus, they claim there is such a thing as good innovation (bidʿah ḥasanah).
➋ The narration in Mirqāt Bāb al-Aḥkām:
“What the Muslims consider good is also good in the sight of Allah.”
➌ The ḥadīth in Mishkāt Bāb al-ʿIlm:
“Whoever initiates a good practice in Islam will receive its reward, as will those who follow him… And whoever initiates an evil practice will bear its burden along with those who act upon it.”
Does this imply that dividing innovation into good and evil is valid, even though the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Every innovation is misguidance (وَكُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ)."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)❖ First Argument: The Meaning of “Na‘imat al-Bid‘ah Hādhihi” and the Two Types of Bid‘ah
ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه) said:“What a good bidʿah this is.”
(Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2010)
☑ This does not prove the concept of Shar‘i bidʿah ḥasanah, because here the word bidʿah is used in its linguistic, not Shar‘i, sense.
According to Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn Rajab, al-Shāṭibī, and other leading scholars, bidʿah is of two types:➊ Shar‘i Bidʿah (Religious Innovation):
Any act newly introduced into religion without Shar‘i evidence — this is harām and misguidance, as the Prophet ﷺ clearly said:
“Every innovation is misguidance.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 867)➋ Lughawī Bidʿah (Linguistic Innovation):
An act originally part of religion but organized or revived in a new way.
Example: When ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه) gathered people to pray Tarāwīḥ in congregation, a practice already established by the Prophet ﷺ.
The Prophet ﷺ himself led Tarāwīḥ for several nights but discontinued it fearing that it might become obligatory on the Ummah.(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2012, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 761)
Ibn Kathīr (رحمه الله) wrote:"Bid‘ah is of two kinds: religious innovation, which adds something new to the faith and is blameworthy, and linguistic innovation, such as ʿUmar’s statement about Tarāwīḥ."
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, 1/348)
Therefore, ʿUmar’s statement was not a justification for religious innovation, but rather a linguistic usage.❖ Second Argument: “What Muslims Consider Good is Also Good Before Allah”
This narration is commonly quoted, but:
Ibn Rajab al-Ḥanbalī (رحمه الله) states:"This narration is not authentically proven with a sound chain."
(Jāmiʿ al-ʿUlūm wa al-Ḥikam, p. 28)
☑ This narration may relate to scholarly consensus, but it has no bearing on the legitimacy of innovations in religion.
Imām Mālik (رحمه الله) said:"Whatever was not part of the religion then, cannot be part of it now."
(al-Iʿtiṣām by al-Shāṭibī, 1/50)
❖ Third Argument: “Whoever Introduces a Good Practice…”
This ḥadīth is authentic and states:
“Whoever starts a good Sunnah in Islam…”
But its context must be understood.
This statement was made by the Prophet ﷺ after some Companions began donating to a poor tribe.Others followed, and he ﷺ said:
“Whoever revives a good practice in Islam…”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1017)
Imām Nawawī (رحمه الله) commented:"This means reviving an already established Sunnah, not creating a new religious practice."
(Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 16/226)
Ibn Ḥajar (رحمه الله) stated:"This ḥadīth does not justify bidʿah. It means whoever initiates a righteous act already sanctioned by Islam."
(Fatḥ al-Bārī, 13/253)
Hence, this ḥadīth does not support the idea of bidʿah ḥasanah, but rather encourages the revival of forgotten Sunnah.❖ Fourth Argument: Is the Division of Bidʿah into “Good” and “Bad” Valid?
There is no division of bidʿah in the Qur’an and Sunnah into ḥasanah and sayyiʾah.
Rather, the Prophet ﷺ clearly declared:
"Every innovation is misguidance."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 867) ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه) said:"Every bidʿah is misguidance, even if people consider it good."
(al-Sunnah by al-Marwazī: 81 – Authentic chain)
Imām al-Shāṭibī (رحمه الله) said:"Every form of bidʿah is an addition to religion and therefore a misguidance."
(al-Iʿtiṣām, 1/50)
Thus, the term “bidʿah ḥasanah” is invalid in Sharī‘ah. Every innovation in religion is a deviation.❖ Summary
✔ The phrase "na‘imat al-bidʿah" refers to linguistic, not religious innovation.
✔ The narration "What Muslims consider good..." is weak and not a valid Shar‘i proof.
✔ The ḥadīth "Whoever introduces a good practice…" refers to reviving established Sunnah, not inventing new religious acts.
✔ The division of bidʿah into ḥasanah (good) and sayyiʾah (evil) is unfounded and contrary to Sharī‘ah, as the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Every innovation is misguidance."
"And Allah knows best what is correct."
