The Proof for “Bid‘ah Ḥasanah”? The Saying:
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The Claim of Innovators
A common proof cited by the people of bid‘ah for the concept of “bid‘ah ḥasanah” is the statement attributed to ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه:
"ما رآه المسلمون حسنًا فهو عند الله حسن، وما رآه المسلمون قبيحًا فهو عند الله قبيح"
"Whatever the Muslims see as good is good with Allah, and whatever they see as evil is evil with Allah."
(Narrated by Aḥmad and others)
Their argument: If Muslims deem something good, it is acceptable in religion even if it has no explicit basis in Qur’an or Sunnah.
Detailed Response
❀ ① This statement is mauqūf, not marfūʿ
This saying is not authentically attributed to the Prophet ﷺ. It is a statement of Ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه, hence mauqūf. Using it as a prophetic ḥadīth to justify bid‘ah contradicts explicit texts.
Shaykh al-Albānī رحمه الله said:
“It is astonishing that some use this athar to prove bid‘ah ḥasanah, when in reality it is mauqūf. It cannot oppose the decisive Prophetic texts declaring every bid‘ah misguidance.”
(al-Silsilah al-Ḍaʿīfah, no. 533)
❀ ② Misinterpretation of Its Meaning
Even if accepted, using it to argue for “bid‘ah ḥasanah” is invalid because:
- The Prophet ﷺ foretold: “My Ummah will split into seventy-three sects; all in the Fire except one.” (Tirmidhī: 2641)
If whatever Muslims see as good were truly good, sectarian division would not exist. - It would imply that religious acts are judged by people’s tastes, contradicting Qur’an and Sunnah.
Correctly understood, the statement refers to issues where no clear text exists and there is consensus (ijmāʿ) of the Ṣaḥābah.
❀ ③ The Context: Appointment of Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه
The full narration shows Ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه said this when Abū Bakr was chosen as caliph:
"Allah looked into the hearts of people and found the heart of Muḥammad ﷺ the best, so He chose him as His Messenger. Then He looked into the hearts after his, and found the hearts of his companions the best, so He made them his helpers. Whatever the Muslims (i.e., the Companions) see as good is good with Allah, and whatever they see as evil is evil with Allah. And all the Companions agreed to appoint Abū Bakr as caliph.”
(al-Mustadrak of al-Ḥākim, 3/78)
Thus, “Muslims” here means the Companions, not all people in every era.
❀ ④ Refers to Recognized Custom, Not Worship
If applied more generally, it relates to ʿurf (custom) in matters where Sharīʿah has no explicit ruling, as expressed in the fiqh principle:
“al-ʿUrf muḥakkam” — Custom is authoritative.
But this applies only in worldly dealings, not acts of worship or creed.
❀ ⑤ Ibn Masʿūd’s Own Rejection of Bid‘ah
Ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه himself said:
"اتبعوا ولا تبتدعوا فقد كفيتم، عليكم بالأمر العتيق."
"Follow (the Sunnah) and do not innovate, for you have been sufficed. Cling to the ancient way."
Reported by Ibn Baṭṭah in al-Ibānah al-Kubrā (174) with a ṣaḥīḥ isnād.
It is therefore contradictory to use his words as proof for bid‘ah when he strongly condemned innovation.
Conclusion
- The saying “Whatever Muslims see as good...” is mauqūf, not a Prophetic ḥadīth.
- Its context relates to the consensus of the Companions, not later generations.
- It cannot be used to justify new innovations in worship.
- Ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه himself explicitly forbade bid‘ah.
Hence, this oft-cited proof for “bid‘ah ḥasanah” is baseless and contrary to the principle laid down by the Prophet ﷺ:
«كل بدعة ضلالة» — “Every innovation is misguidance.”
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