This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Zubair Ali Zai Rahimahullah's Book on the Rules and Issues of Qurbani.
Conditions for the Acceptance of Deeds:
It is essential for the one who offers sacrifice to have the correct belief, to be a Muslim and a follower of the Book and Sunnah, and to be free from polytheism, disbelief, and innovations. Whoever has corrupted belief, none of his deeds are acceptable. There is a Qudsi Hadith in which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that Allah Almighty says:
أنا أغنى الشركاء عن الشرك من عمل عملا أشرك فيه معي غيري تركته وشركه
“I am free from the partners and associates. Whoever does a deed in which he associates someone with Me, I leave both that deed and the shirk (association) therein.”
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 2985)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever does a deed which we have not commanded, that deed is rejected.”
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 1718)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever introduces into our religion something new (an innovation), it is rejected.”
Reference: (Part of Hadith Lu'ayyin: 71 and its chain is authentic)
On the day of the Conquest of Makkah, in the sermon he gave, these words were also included:
من أحدث حدثا أو آوى محدثا فعليه لعنة الله والملائكة والناس أجمعين لا يقبل منه صرف ولا عدل
“Whoever innovates a bid’ah (innovation), or gives refuge to an innovator, upon him be the curse of Allah, the angels, and all people; neither his obligatory worship nor his voluntary worship is accepted.”
Reference: (Itḥāf al-Khīrah al-Muhrah: 7/281, and its chain is Hasan)
Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه used to recite in Qunoot Nazilah:
نخلع ونترك من يفجرك
“O Allah! Whoever disobeys You and commits sin, we dissociate and distance ourselves from him.”
Reference: (Sunan al-Kubra by Bayhaqi: 2/210 and its chain is authentic)
The famous trustworthy and reliable Imam Fudayl ibn ‘Iyad رحمه الله
Reference: (died 187 AH)
said about the people of innovations:لأن آكل عند اليهودي والنصراني أحب إلى من أن آكل عند صاحب بدعة فإني إذا أكلت عندهما لا يقتدى بي وإذا أكلت عند صاحب بدعة اقتدى بي الناس أحب أن يكون بيني وبين صاحب بدعة حصن من حديد وعمل قليل فى سنة خير من عمل صاحب بدعة ومن جلس مع صاحب بدعة لم يعط الحكمة ومن جلس إلى صاحب بدعة فاحذره وصاحب بدعة لا تأمنه على دينك ولا تشاوره فى أمرك ولا تجلس إليه فمن جلس إليه ورثه الله عز وجل العمى
“If I eat food at the house of a Jew or a Christian, I prefer that over eating at the house of an innovator, because when I eat at the house of a Jew or Christian, people will not follow my example, but if I eat at the house of an innovator, people will follow my example. I prefer that there be an iron fortress between me and the people of innovations. A little practice of Sunnah is better than a lot of innovation. Whoever associates with an innovator is not granted wisdom. Beware of sitting and associating with an innovator, and do not be careless about your religion with regard to an innovator, nor consult him in any matter, nor sit or rise at his place. Whoever sits and rises with an innovator, Allah deprives him of insight.”
Reference: (Hilyat al-Awliya: 8/103 and its chain is authentic)
❀ Imam Fudayl ibn ‘Iyad رحمه الله further said:
علامة النفاق أن يقوم الرجل ويقعد مع صاحب بدعة وأدركت خيار الناس كلهم أصحاب سنة وهم ينهون عن أصحاب البدعة
“A sign of hypocrisy is that a person sits and associates with an innovator. I have found all the righteous Ahl al-Sunnah forbidding association with the people of innovations.”
Reference: (Hilyat al-Awliya: 8/104 and its chain is authentic)
The trustworthy and reliable Muhaddith Imam Abu Muhammad al-Husayn ibn Mas’ud al-Baghawi رحمه الله
Reference: (died 516 AH)
said:وقد مضت الصحابة والتابعون وأتباعهم وعلماء السنة على هذا مجمعين متفقين على معاداة أهل البدعة ومهاجرتهم
The Companions, the Followers, the Followers of the Followers, the Imams of the religion, and the scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah and Ahl al-Hadith were unanimous and agreed upon hatred for the people of innovations and dissociation from them.
Reference: (Sharh al-Sunnah: 1/27, understood)
Keeping the Quran, Hadith, and consensus in view, always take special care of your faith and deeds. Qadi Shurayh رحمه الله said that Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه sent this letter to his judges:
إذا جاءك شيء فى كتاب الله فاقض به ولا يلفتنك عنه الرجال فإن جاءك أمر ليس فى كتاب الله فانظر سنة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فاقض بها فإن جاءك ما ليس فى كتاب الله وليس فيه سنة من رسول الله فانظر ما اجتمع الناس عليه فخذ به فإن جاءك ما ليس فى كتاب الله ولم يكن فيه سنة من رسول الله ولم يتكلم فيه أحد قبلك فاختر أى الأمرين شئت إن شئت أن تجتهد برأيك وتقدم فتقدم وإن شئت أن تتأخر فتأخر ولا أرى التأخر إلا خيرا لك
“When a matter comes to you, if it is in the Book of Allah, then judge according to it, and do not pay attention to the opinions of people. And if a matter comes to you that is not in the Book of Allah, then see what the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is. Then judge according to the Sunnah. And if a matter comes to you that is neither in the Book of Allah nor in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, then see what the consensus of the people is. Then base your judgment on that consensus. And if a matter comes to you that is neither in the Book of Allah, nor in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, nor has anyone before you spoken about it, then choose whichever of two matters you like. If you wish, you may exercise ijtihad with your opinion and proceed, and if you wish, you may withdraw, and I consider withdrawal better for you.”
Reference: (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 2/543, Hadith 22980 and its chain is authentic, authenticated by Diya’ al-Maqdisi in Al-Ahadith al-Mukhtarah / 239 Hadith 133)
