WARNING AGAINST BID’AH (INNOVATION IN THE RELIGION)
All praises and thanks are due to Alláh, Who ordered us to follow the revelation and avoid innovating in the religion. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Alláh Alone without partners in the worship, just as He has no partners in creating the creation. I also bear witness that Muhammad is Allah’s slave and Messenger, whom He sent to be followed and obeyed. May Allah’s peace and blessings be on Muhammad, his progeny and Companions and all those who followed him with excellence.
O people! Fear Alláh and know that He has completed this religion for us and commanded us to follow and hold to it. Alláh said:
“And verily, this is My straight path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His path.” (6:153)
In another narration, the Prophet(pbuh) said:
“Whoever invents in our matter (religion) what is not a part of it, then it (the innovation) is rejected.”
O Alláh’s slaves! Know that Bidah (innovation in the religion) destroys the true religion and takes the place of the Sunnah. Imam Ahmad narrated that the Prophet(pbuh) said:
“Whenever people invent a Bid ‘ah, Allah removes from them a Sunnah in its place.”
There are many evil consequences for inventing a Bid’ah, such as replacing the Sunnah as we stated. For every time a Bid ‘ah is invented, it replaces a Sunnah, until the religion fades away completely. This is why we find the innovators dedicating more effort to their Bid’ah than they dedicate their effort to the Sunnah, since the devil makes the path of Bid ‘ah seem appealing in their eyes and hearts.
Furthermore, the innovator invents Bid’ah because he thinks that the religion is incomplete and thus seeks to complete it with his innovation! Otherwise, if he thought that the religion was complete, why would he invent any Bid’ah at all? AIso, the innovators in the religion shy away from the Sunnah and do not feel the strength to practice it, even though they are active in practicing the Bid’ah. They might spend their wealth and energy and waste their time resurrecting all types of Bid ‘ah. Moreover, innovating in the religion resurrects the practices of Jahiliyyah (the pre-Islamic era of ignorance) in people’s lives and surely directs to division and disputes. Each group feels that what they have is better than what the others have, just as Alláh described them.
“Each group rejoicing in what is with it (as its beliefs).” (23:53)
“And follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His path.” (6:153)
The Sunnah, in contrast, unites people, gathers their hearts and makes them brethren who love each other, follow one path and embrace one religion.
“And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Alláh (i.e., this Qur’án), and be not divided among yourselves.” (3: 103)
Moreover, among the evil consequences of Bid ‘ah is that it directs to denying the truth, especially when the innovator is called to it. When called to the truth, he would insist on the Bid’ah and even defend it! Further, Bid’ah spoils the correct religion, just as the devils among mankind and jinn wish and hope for, especially the disbelievers and hypocrites. Enemies of Islam try their best to corrupt it using all means at their disposal, especially and foremost the weapon of Bid’ah and superstitious beliefs. They do this in order to distort the image of Islam and cover the true essence of the correct religion. By doing so, those who do not have knowledge of the true essence ofIslam will think that it is a collection of superstitious, empty practices and thus shy away from embracing it. Adding to this evil, is the fact that those who propagate Bid’ah earn material benefits or acquire fame because of their Bid ‘ah. This is how they satisfy their lusts and desires and collect the enormous wealth that is paid for these Bid’ah. Sometimes, illegal sexual activities occur in the process of practicing Bid ‘ah, as well as, shameless mingling between men and women.
There is no doubt that various media outlets, such as the newspapers, radio, TV, and so forth, play a primary role in spreading all types of Bid ‘ah and transmitting them to various parts of the world. Those who read, hear of or watch such evil broadcasts think that these Bid’át are a part of Islam. Moreover, we should not forget the role that wicked scholars play in resurrecting Bid ‘ah, propagating them and portraying them in the shape of legal Islamic practices. Consequently, all Muslims, especially scholars and those who deliver Jumu ‘ah speeches, are required to warn people against the evils of Bid ‘ah.
O Alláh’s slaves! Celebrating the Prophet’ s birthday, the night of Isrá and other ‘religious’ celebrations are also a type of invented Bid’ah in the religion. The Messenger of Alláh(pbuh), his Companions and the best generations of Islam did not celebrate these occasions–even though they knew about them! Rather, these celebrations were invented in the latter, less righteous generations as an act of imitating the Christians in contradiction to the Prophet’s guidance. This is exactly what the Prophet(pbuh) foretold would happen, when he said:
“You will follow the practices of those who were before you (Jews and Christians), step by step, that even if they enter a lizard’s den, you will enter it after them!”
It is amazing to witness the energy and dedication of those who resurrect the Bid’ah of celebrating the night of Isrá’ and Mi ‘raj (when the Prophet(pbuh) was transferred from Makkah to Jerusalem and then to heaven, then back to Makkah, overnight). Yet, they do not show much dedication to the five compulsory daily prayers during that very night, for they do not attend it in Jama ‘ah (congregation), if they pray that is! The devil beautifies this Bid’ah in their eyes and makes the Sunnah hateful to them. It is therefore not strange to realize that the innovators are not religious in general, since the religion that they know is the one that they invented for themselves.
O Alláh’s slaves! The Prophet(pbuh) warned against the Bid’ah and used to say these words in his Khutbah:
“Amma Ba ‘du (Then)! The best speech is Alláh’s Book, the best guidance is that sent with Muhammad(pbuh), the worst matters are matters of innovation, and every Bid ‘ah is a heresy.”
The Prophet’s Companions were firm in their rejection of all types of Bid ‘ah and warned stemly against them. For instance, Ibn Mas’ud was told that Amr bin ‘Utbah and his friends had built a mosque on the outskirts of Kufah (in Iraq). Therefore, Ibn Mas’ud commanded that it be torn down. Then he (Ibn Mas’ud) was told that a group of people were gathering in a comer in the mosque at Kufah around Amr bin ‘Utbah and were praising Alláh together and mentioning His Oneness. Ibn Mas’ud wore a veil over his face and went to that group, sat with them and made sure they were doing what he was told they did. He then unveiled his face and said, “I am Abu Abdur-Rahman (and he was the commander of Kufah during that time).” He then said, “You either have acquired more knowledge than the Companions of Muhammad(pbuh), or have invented a Bid’ah in injustice and transgression.” Amr bin ‘Utbah replied, “We seek forgiveness from Alláh,” thrice. Aman from Bani Tamim said, “By Alláh! We neither collected better knowledge than the Companions of Muhammad(pbuh), nor did we invent a Bid ‘ah in transgression. Rather, we are a people who were remembering Alláh.” Ibn Mas’ud replied, “Rather (you have invented a Bid ‘ah). By He in Whose Hand is Ibn Mas’ud’s life! If you follow the practices of the people (Muhammad(pbuh) and his Companions), you will indeed achieve a great achievement. Otherwise, if you deviate to the right and left, you will be led astray in a tremendous way.”
O Alláh! Show us the truth as such and grant us the favor of following it, and expose to us evil as such and grant us the favor of avoiding it.
“Say (O Muharnmad(pbuh)): ‘If you love Alláh, then follow me, Alláh will love you and forgive you your sins. And Alláh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’ Say: ‘Obey Alláh and the Messenger.’ But if they turn away, then Alláh does not like the disbelievers.”(3:31 ,32)
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