Refutation of “Bidʿah Ḥasanah” through the Example of Ibn Masʿūd (RA)
Compiled by: Toheed.com
❖ Introduction
Islam is a perfect and comprehensive religion revealed through the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, preserved in the Qur’an and Sunnah. There is no room for addition or subtraction in it. Any act introduced into religion as worship or dhikr, which was not established by the Prophet ﷺ, is bidʿah — even if it outwardly seems like a good deed. The famous incident of ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd (RA) demonstrates this principle clearly.
❖ Authentic Report from Sunan al-Dārimī
Ḥaḍrat Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī (RA) told Ibn Masʿūd (RA) that he saw groups in the mosque sitting in circles, each with pebbles in hand. Their leader would say: “Say Allāhu Akbar 100 times,” and they would say it. Then: “Say Lā ilāha illa Allāh 100 times,” and they would say it. Then: “Say Subḥānallāh 100 times,” and they would say it.
Ibn Masʿūd (RA) went to them and said:
“Count your sins; I guarantee none of your good deeds will be lost. Alas, how quickly you are ruined! The Companions of the Prophet ﷺ are still among you, his clothes have not worn out, and his vessels are not broken. Either you are upon a path more guided than the path of Muḥammad ﷺ, or you are opening a door of misguidance!”
They replied: “But Abā ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, we only intended good.”
He answered:
“How many intend good, but never attain it!”
The narrator ʿAmr ibn Salimah adds:
“Later, we saw most of those people fighting against us at Nahrawān alongside the Khawārij.”
(Sunan al-Dārimī: 210, authenticated by al-Albānī in al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah 2005)
❖ Key Points from the Incident
① Dhikr in itself is good, but Ibn Masʿūd (RA) rejected this specific form because it was not from the Prophet ﷺ.
② The words used (takbīr, tahlīl, tasbīḥ) were correct, yet their new form, collective style, and counting method made it a religious innovation.
③ Ibn Masʿūd (RA) warned that such innovations open the door of misguidance, even when done with a good intention.
❖ Refutation of “Bidʿah Ḥasanah”
According to proponents of bidʿah ḥasanah:
- The act involved dhikr,
- It had no apparent sin,
- It was done with good intentions.
But Ibn Masʿūd (RA) firmly rejected it, declaring:
- “Either you are upon a better path than Muhammad ﷺ or you are opening a door of misguidance.”
- “How many intend good but never attain it.”
This is a direct refutation of the concept of bidʿah ḥasanah.
❖ Conclusion
◈ In matters of worship and dhikr, only what is established by the Prophet ﷺ is acceptable.
◈ Even acts that appear righteous, if innovated, are bidʿah, as shown by the stance of the Companions.
◈ The idea of bidʿah ḥasanah has no basis in the understanding and practice of the Companions.
◈ True success lies in following the Sunnah, not in self-invented practices.
هذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
