❀ Refutation of Innovations in Light of the Understanding of the Companions and the Salaf ❀
🖋 Adapted from the book “Eid Milad-un-Nabi ﷺ ki Shar'i Haithiyat” by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
Musaib bin Najbah رحمه الله said to Abdullah bin Mas’ud رضي الله عنه:
“I saw a group of people in the mosque saying: Whoever recites SubhanAllah this many times will get this reward...”
Abdullah bin Mas’ud رضي الله عنه said:
“O Alqamah, get up.” When he saw them, he said:
“O Alqamah, distract their attention from me.”
When he heard what they were saying, he said:
“Indeed, you are either holding onto the tail of misguidance, or you think you are more guided than the companions of Muhammad ﷺ!”
(Al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir by al-Tabarani: 9/125, H: 8628 – Hasan)
❀ In a similar incident, Abdullah bin Mas'ud رضي الله عنه said:
“You consider yourselves more guided than Muhammad ﷺ and his companions, or you have indeed grasped the tail of misguidance.”
(Al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir by al-Tabarani: 9/128, H: 8639 – Authentic Chain)
When Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما went to debate with the Khawarij, they asked:
“Why have you come?”
He replied:
“I have come from the companions of the Prophet ﷺ, the Muhajirun and Ansar, to convey to you their view based on revelation. The Qur’an was revealed in their presence, and they understood the revelation better than you.”
(Al-Mustadrak by Al-Hakim: 2/150, H: 2656 – Hasan; Declared Sahih by Al-Hakim on the condition of Muslim and agreed upon by Al-Dhahabi)
In refutation of the Qadariyyah (those who deny predestination), he said:
“You recite the same Qur’an that they (the Salaf) recited, yet you are ignorant of its interpretation, while they were fully aware. Despite your claims, they believed in Qadr and divine decree.”
(Sunan Abi Dawud: 4612; Al-Shari’ah by Al-Ajurri: 223 – Hasan chain)
“The root of every religious innovation lies in distancing from the words of the Salaf and deviating from the beliefs of the first generation.”
(Al-Mawa‘iz wa al-I‘tibar: 4/198)
✔ He said:
“If there was any evidence (for an act), it would not have been hidden from the understanding of the Companions and Tabi'in. If the later generations understood something not known to the early ones, then that contradicts their consensus, and whoever contradicts their consensus is mistaken. The Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ does not unite upon misguidance. Therefore, their actions and abstentions form the Sunnah and the accepted way, and anyone who opposes them is indeed mistaken — and that is sufficient proof.”
(Al-Muwafaqat: 3/72)
✔ He further said:
“Every seeker of Islamic evidence must consider the understanding and practice of the early generations. That is closer to correctness and stronger in both knowledge and action.”
(Al-Muwafaqat: 3/77)
✔ He also warned:
“You will not find a single innovator in the religion except that he cites a Shar‘i proof for his innovation, molding it according to his intellect and desires.”
(Al-I‘tisam: 1/134)
✔ Furthermore:
“Beware! Beware of opposing the early generations. If there were any virtue in what the later ones have introduced, then the early generations would have been more deserving of it.”
(Al-Muwafaqat: 3/56)
✔ He adds:
“In many matters, innovators consider certain actions commendable which have no basis in the Qur’an or Sunnah, nor were they practiced by the righteous Salaf. Yet they persist in these actions as if they are a clear path or an unopposed Sunnah, even declaring them obligatory in some situations.”
(Al-I‘tisam: 1/212)
“It is not permissible to introduce an interpretation of an Ayah or Hadith that did not exist during the time of the Salaf, nor was known or explained by them to the Ummah. To do so would mean claiming that the Salaf were ignorant of the truth, and the later objector discovered it – which is unacceptable.”
(Al-Sarim al-Munki fi al-Radd ‘ala al-Subki, p. 318)
“Whoever explains the Qur’an in accordance with his desires, without following the understanding of the Salaf, even if he hits the mark, is still in error — because he has judged the Qur’an without knowing its origin, nor following the methodology of the people of Athar and transmission.”
(Al-Faqih wal-Mutafaqqih by Al-Khatib: 2238 – Authentic Chain)
“If the Companions and their followers had a certain interpretation for a verse, and later individuals come up with a new interpretation based on their own ideology – one not found among the Companions and Tabi‘in – then they are akin to the Mu‘tazilah and other innovators. Whoever deviates from the interpretation and methodology of the Salaf is mistaken — indeed, a deviant innovator. Even if he is a Mujtahid and forgiven for his mistake, he is still in error both in the evidence and the interpretation.”
(Majmu‘ al-Fatawa: 13/362)
“If someone brings forth an interpretation of the Qur’an that contradicts the understanding of the Salaf and the Imams, then one of two things must be true: either he is mistaken, or the Salaf were wrong — and no intelligent person doubts that it is the latter who is correct.”
(Mukhtasar al-Sawa‘iq al-Mursalah: 2/128)
❀ Conclusion:
Had there been any Shar‘i proof or permissibility for celebrating the Prophet’s ﷺ birthday (Eid Milad-un-Nabi), then the righteous Salaf and the Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah would have preceded us in doing so. Their abstention is proof of its invalidity.
“They began to innovate new matters of belief and issues not legislated in the religion, while abandoning the prescribed religious matters.”
(Sharh al-‘Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah: p. 593)
“Many sects from among the people of innovation held false beliefs and then interpreted the Qur’an according to their own views. They have no precedent among the Companions or the Tabi‘in, neither in their beliefs nor in their interpretations.”
(Al-Itqan: 4/206)
🖋 Adapted from the book “Eid Milad-un-Nabi ﷺ ki Shar'i Haithiyat” by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
① Refutation by Abdullah bin Mas'ud رضي الله عنه
Musaib bin Najbah رحمه الله said to Abdullah bin Mas’ud رضي الله عنه:
“I saw a group of people in the mosque saying: Whoever recites SubhanAllah this many times will get this reward...”
Abdullah bin Mas’ud رضي الله عنه said:
“O Alqamah, get up.” When he saw them, he said:
“O Alqamah, distract their attention from me.”
When he heard what they were saying, he said:
“Indeed, you are either holding onto the tail of misguidance, or you think you are more guided than the companions of Muhammad ﷺ!”
(Al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir by al-Tabarani: 9/125, H: 8628 – Hasan)
❀ In a similar incident, Abdullah bin Mas'ud رضي الله عنه said:
“You consider yourselves more guided than Muhammad ﷺ and his companions, or you have indeed grasped the tail of misguidance.”
(Al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir by al-Tabarani: 9/128, H: 8639 – Authentic Chain)
② Statement of Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما
When Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما went to debate with the Khawarij, they asked:
“Why have you come?”
He replied:
“I have come from the companions of the Prophet ﷺ, the Muhajirun and Ansar, to convey to you their view based on revelation. The Qur’an was revealed in their presence, and they understood the revelation better than you.”
(Al-Mustadrak by Al-Hakim: 2/150, H: 2656 – Hasan; Declared Sahih by Al-Hakim on the condition of Muslim and agreed upon by Al-Dhahabi)
③ Statement of Umar bin Abdul Aziz رحمه الله (d. 101H)
In refutation of the Qadariyyah (those who deny predestination), he said:
“You recite the same Qur’an that they (the Salaf) recited, yet you are ignorant of its interpretation, while they were fully aware. Despite your claims, they believed in Qadr and divine decree.”
(Sunan Abi Dawud: 4612; Al-Shari’ah by Al-Ajurri: 223 – Hasan chain)
④ Statement of Al-Maqrizi رحمه الله (d. 845H)
“The root of every religious innovation lies in distancing from the words of the Salaf and deviating from the beliefs of the first generation.”
(Al-Mawa‘iz wa al-I‘tibar: 4/198)
⑤ Statements of Imam Al-Shatibi رحمه الله (d. 790H)
✔ He said:
“If there was any evidence (for an act), it would not have been hidden from the understanding of the Companions and Tabi'in. If the later generations understood something not known to the early ones, then that contradicts their consensus, and whoever contradicts their consensus is mistaken. The Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ does not unite upon misguidance. Therefore, their actions and abstentions form the Sunnah and the accepted way, and anyone who opposes them is indeed mistaken — and that is sufficient proof.”
(Al-Muwafaqat: 3/72)
✔ He further said:
“Every seeker of Islamic evidence must consider the understanding and practice of the early generations. That is closer to correctness and stronger in both knowledge and action.”
(Al-Muwafaqat: 3/77)
✔ He also warned:
“You will not find a single innovator in the religion except that he cites a Shar‘i proof for his innovation, molding it according to his intellect and desires.”
(Al-I‘tisam: 1/134)
✔ Furthermore:
“Beware! Beware of opposing the early generations. If there were any virtue in what the later ones have introduced, then the early generations would have been more deserving of it.”
(Al-Muwafaqat: 3/56)
✔ He adds:
“In many matters, innovators consider certain actions commendable which have no basis in the Qur’an or Sunnah, nor were they practiced by the righteous Salaf. Yet they persist in these actions as if they are a clear path or an unopposed Sunnah, even declaring them obligatory in some situations.”
(Al-I‘tisam: 1/212)
⑥ Statement of Hafiz Ibn Abdul Hadi رحمه الله (d. 744H)
“It is not permissible to introduce an interpretation of an Ayah or Hadith that did not exist during the time of the Salaf, nor was known or explained by them to the Ummah. To do so would mean claiming that the Salaf were ignorant of the truth, and the later objector discovered it – which is unacceptable.”
(Al-Sarim al-Munki fi al-Radd ‘ala al-Subki, p. 318)
⑦ Statement of Imam Ibn Al-Anbari رحمه الله (d. 328H)
“Whoever explains the Qur’an in accordance with his desires, without following the understanding of the Salaf, even if he hits the mark, is still in error — because he has judged the Qur’an without knowing its origin, nor following the methodology of the people of Athar and transmission.”
(Al-Faqih wal-Mutafaqqih by Al-Khatib: 2238 – Authentic Chain)
⑧ Statement of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله (d. 728H)
“If the Companions and their followers had a certain interpretation for a verse, and later individuals come up with a new interpretation based on their own ideology – one not found among the Companions and Tabi‘in – then they are akin to the Mu‘tazilah and other innovators. Whoever deviates from the interpretation and methodology of the Salaf is mistaken — indeed, a deviant innovator. Even if he is a Mujtahid and forgiven for his mistake, he is still in error both in the evidence and the interpretation.”
(Majmu‘ al-Fatawa: 13/362)
⑨ Statement of Imam Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله (d. 751H)
“If someone brings forth an interpretation of the Qur’an that contradicts the understanding of the Salaf and the Imams, then one of two things must be true: either he is mistaken, or the Salaf were wrong — and no intelligent person doubts that it is the latter who is correct.”
(Mukhtasar al-Sawa‘iq al-Mursalah: 2/128)
❀ Conclusion:
Had there been any Shar‘i proof or permissibility for celebrating the Prophet’s ﷺ birthday (Eid Milad-un-Nabi), then the righteous Salaf and the Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah would have preceded us in doing so. Their abstention is proof of its invalidity.
⑩ Statement of Imam Ibn Abi al-‘Izz al-Hanafi رحمه الله (d. 792H)
“They began to innovate new matters of belief and issues not legislated in the religion, while abandoning the prescribed religious matters.”
(Sharh al-‘Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah: p. 593)
⑪ Statement of Imam Al-Suyuti رحمه الله (d. 911H)
“Many sects from among the people of innovation held false beliefs and then interpreted the Qur’an according to their own views. They have no precedent among the Companions or the Tabi‘in, neither in their beliefs nor in their interpretations.”
(Al-Itqan: 4/206)
