Bi’ daa - The Innovation

Bi'dah - The Innovation
By Azhar Khalid Abbas Jafri

Islam is the last message of God to all mankind, sent down upon Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h), recorded in broad outlines in the Qur'an, and described in detail in the Sunnah [the way of Prophet Muhammed (p.b.u.h.)]. Islam is an Arabic word which means "Submission to One God”. The religion of Islam, is the religion of Muslims, it is based on only one teaching. In other words there is only one 'true' Islam. There is no such thing as different versions of Islam or different types or classes of this religion. The true path is only one and it lies under the shade of Qur'an, Sunnah and the understanding of the Companions.

Bid'ah is an Islamic term meaning innovation of religious beliefs or worship. Linguistically, bid'ah means "a newly invented matter". In the terms of Islam, bid'ah refers to religious innovation, for example, religious practices that were not advocated by Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h (Wikipedia).

Aisha (raa) reported Muhammad (saw) said, "Whoever innovates into this affair of ours (Islam) something that we have not commanded it is to be rejected." Another is: "Every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is in the hellfire." (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim).

Wa sharrul Umoori Muhdathaatuhaa, Wa kulla Bid'atin dhaialah, wa kulla dhalatin fin-naar" Al-Hadith (Sahih Muslim).

The Good and Bad Innovations

There are types of innovations; the good and the bad. In order to understand what is good and what is bad we should first know what innovation really is. Many Muslims especially the new converts in Islam are often in a state of confusion when someone says, "This act is an innovation," and other will reply, "Yes, but it is a good innovation". This confuses them thinking weather this act is bi'dah or not, scared that this act will take them step away from Allah (swt). Today Muslims perform several acts today that the Prophet [peace be upon him (p.b.u.h)] never performed.

First of all, it should be borne in mind that bi’dah is something related to religion as a belief or worship or transaction, so all matters outside this scope such as innovations and discoveries in the scientific, industrial and military fields, means of transportation, facilities and advancement of technology which don’t bring any harm to Islamic beliefs and make every day life easy, are welcome in Islam and have nothing to do with bi’dah.

The difference between a good innovation and the bad innovation is that, the good innovations are those that comply with the Qur'an and the narrations of Prophet Muhammad (saw), whereas the bad innovations or 'innovations of misguidance' are those that do not comply with the Qur'an and hadith. Proof of this judgment is indicated by the following authentic hadith of Prophet Muhammad (saw) narrated by Muslim:

"The one who innovates a good innovation in Islam has its reward and the reward of those who would practice with it until the Day of Judgement without lessening the rewards of those who practice with it. The one who innovates the innovation of misguidance, would take the sin for it and the sin of those who practice with it until the Day of Judgement without lessening the sin of those who practice with it".

An example of a good innovation: Yahya Ibn Ya^mar added the dots above and below some of the Arabic letters in the Qur'an according to the Arabic grammar rules. These did not change the meaning of the Qur’an instead made it easy for the Muslim’s who were not from the Arab world hence this is considered a good innovation.

Some examples of bad innovation are:


Celebrating birthdays

This ceremony reffered to as “birthdays” (eid milaad in Arabic) by many high societal communities, including muslims, is normally celebrated in great masses by non-Muslims as their custom which we Muslim’s blindly follow. Following hadith speaks about this imitation:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, warning us against following their ways and traditions: “You would follow the ways of those who came before you step by step, to such an extent that if they were to enter a lizard’s hole, you would enter it too.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, (do you mean) the Jews and Christians?” He said, “Who else?” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari and Muslim).

Based on this, Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) issued the following fatwa:

“Everything which is taken as an ‘eid’ (something which is celebrated regularly) and is repeated each week or each year and is not prescribed in sharee’ah, is a kind of bide (reprehensible innovation). The evidence for that is the fact that the Lawgiver prescribed ‘aqeeqah for the newborn, and did not prescribe anything after that. When they adopt these observances every week or every year, it means that they are making them like the Islamic Eids, which is haraam and is not permitted. There are no celebrations in Islam apart from the three prescribed Eids: ‘Eid al-Fitr, ‘Eid al-Adha, and the weekly ‘Eid’ which is Friday (Yawm al-Jumu’ah).

This does not come under the heading of customs because it is repeated. Hence when the Prophet (pbuh) came to Madina and found that the Ansaar had two festivals which they used to celebrate, he said, ‘Allah has given you something better than these: Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr.’ (Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 1556; Abu Dawood, 1134; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Silsilat al-Ahaadeeth al-Saheehah, no. 124), even though this was one of their customs.” (Sharh Kitaab al-Tawheed, 1/382)

Therefore the confirmation given in the Qur’an and Hadith’s indicates that celebrating birthdays is a type of bi'dah or innovation in Islam, which has no base in the pure sharee’ah. Hence it is advised not to accept invitations to birthday celebrations, because this involves supporting and encouraging bi’dah which is haraam.

Saying Prophet Muhammad (saw) is created from light & calling him for help

Saying that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) is not like the rest of humanity, and that he is created from the Light of Allah (swt) is not a proper belief, because it contradicts Allah’s word, the Qur’an itself. Allah has stated that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) is human and is created exactly like us as we have been created, but has also explained what makes the Prophet different from the rest of mankind. Allah (swt) says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Say (O Muhammad): ‘I am only a man like you. It has been inspired to me that your God is One God (Allah). So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord.” [Surah al-Kahf 18:110]

So when people say that Prophet Muhammad (saw) is created from Allah’s light then they are associating him as a partner with Allah (swt) they do such a thing which leads us to our next example Shirk.

Shirk

This is the worst of all the bi’dah as it is a major sin too. A Muslim should believe in Allah alone, call on His Almighty alone and seek His help alone. He should not call on or seek the help of anyone else. The penalty of shirk are shocking, as it will wipe out all a person’s good deeds and lead to his doom in Hereafter and is bound to go to Hell.

"Narrated Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him): "These are the names (of the idols) which formerly were pious men from the people of Noah. When they died, Satan inspired the people to (prepare) and erect idols at the place where they used to sit, and to call these idols by their (the pious men) name. The people died, but the idols were not worshipped until t