INNOVATIONS IN ISLAM (BIDA'H)
It is out in the open that there are felonious sects in the Muslim society, who outcry'' the tag line of bida'h.
To these corrupt people, bida'h means anything that wasn't present or practiced in the time of Prophet ﷺ. And all such newness is a deviation from the truth, which in turn will take one to hellfire. These deceptive sects are proclaiming every innovation (bida'h) as haraam.
In a hadith, bad innovation is mentioned as haraam. And these deceptive and people of false belief (badhaqeeda) use this hadith to proclaim every innovation in Islam to be forbidden (haraam), misguidance, and unauthorized; and the ummah who accept and practice these innovations are sinful.
They pick and choose hadith to endorse their corrupt beliefs and outcry every innovation to be haraam, by giving the reference from the hadith that states that bad innovation is haraam. These unscrupulous people profess every innovation as a misguidance.
Bida'h means an innovation- a new practice. But does it really mean that every innovation is bida'h and every innovation is misguidance? Does it really mean that every innovation is forbidden (haraam), and whoever engages in these new practices is a sinner?
To ascertain, if in reality every new practice in Islam is bida'h and every innovation is a misguidance, lets explore this concept of bida'h, as viewed by the interpreters of The Holy Quran (mufassireen) and in light of Hadith.
First, lets have a look at the different types of bida'h.
Allama Ibne Jozi(Rahmatullah Alaih) narrates that bida'h is of 2 types:
Bida'h e Hasna and
Bida'h e Saiyy'ah
He(Rahmatullah Alaih) states that any new practice that is against the commandments of Allah Ta'ala and His beloved ﷺ is bida'h e saiyy'ah. And bida'h e saiyy'ah is forbidden (haraam).
However, a deed that was not practised by Prophet ﷺ, but are practised after his time by the ummah in a good way, and that are not against the divine commandments of Allah Ta'ala and his beloved ﷺ; for such innovations, Prophet ﷺ has preconized great rewards (sawaab). Prophet ﷺ has promulgated great rewards for not only who introduces a good practice in Islam, but for all others who follow and practice the good innovation. These good innovations are bida'h e hasna.
In addition, Prophet ﷺ has also promulgated great sins for not only who introduce a bad practice in Islam, but for all others who follow and practice the bad innovation.
Allama Ibne Mansoor(Radi Allaahu Anhu) states: 'innama you ridu ma khaifan usulu shariya wa lam ma wafiku sunna'
Mubarak Sahib states that bida'h refers to any new practice that is bad and is against the sunnah.
To put a greater emphasis on this, lets have a look at the types of bida'h in light of the hadith, and from the practices of the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) of Prophet ﷺ.
Hazrat Aa'isha Siddiqa(Radi Allaahu Anha) narrates that Prophet ﷺ said that anything added new to the Deen is null and void. (Bukhari).
Anyone practising something not instructed by Prophet ﷺ is a cursed one. (Bukhari, Muslim)
Hazrat Huzaefa(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that Prophet ﷺ said, 'the fasting, prayer, Hajj, Jihad and any other fard and nawafil of an innovator is not accepted in the court of Allah Tabarak Wa Ta'ala. Such a person is taken out of Islam in a manner hair is taken out of the dough. (Ibne Majah)
BUT, we have to be conscious of the fact that all the above instructions relate to bida'h e saiyy'ah. These are orders for bad innovations.
Just as there are classifications for the verses of the Quran (AYAT E MUQATIA'AT, MUTASHAABIHAAT, MUHKAMAT), in the same manner, there are types of hadith of Prophet ﷺ , and in the same way, there are types of bida'h. This will be only be recognized by those whom Allah Ta'ala has given the ability to understand.
There is none other than the companions of Prophet ﷺ who understood Islam more than any other ummati. It was the view of the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhu) that there are types of bida'h, unlike the corrupt persons of these days, who believe that bida'h is of one type only, and every innovation is a misguidance.
Hazrat Mujahid(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that Hazrat Urwa bin Zubair(Radi Allaahu Anhu) and he entered the masjid and saw Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umar(Radi Allaahu Anhu) sitting by the room (hujra) of Hazrat Aa'isha(Radi Allaahu Anha), while the other companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) were performing the 'chasht namaaz'. When I asked Hazrat Mujahid(Radi Allaahu Anhu) about this 'chasht namaaz', they all said, 'faqala bida'h'. This is a good innovation.
Hazrat Ayraj(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that when he asked Ibne Umar(Radi Allaahu Anhu) while he was sitting besides the room of Hazrat Aa'isha(Radi Allaahu Anha) about the 'chasht namaaz', Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umar(Radi Allaahu Anhu) replied, 'faqala bid'atu wa nemal bida'h'. This is an innovation and a very good innovation
Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Qari(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that he and Hazrat Umar(Radi Allaahu Anhum) went to the masjd in one of the nights of Ramadhan. They saw that everyone was performing the taraweeh namaaz individually. Hazrat Umar(Radi Allaahu Anhu) then said that 'it would be a good idea if all of us pray behind a Qari in congregation'. Then, all of them offered their taraweeh namaaz in congregation behind Hazrat Ubay bin Kaab(Radi Allaahu Anhu).
Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Qari(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that in another night after this, he went to the masjid with Hazrat Umar(Radi Allaahu Anhu) and saw everybody performing their taraweeh namaaz in congregation behind a Qari. Hazrat Umar(Radi Allaahu Anhu) said, 'faqala umaru neymal bida'h haza'. This is such a good innovation. (Bukhari).
Since the performing of taraweeh namaaz in congregation was instituted by Hazrat Umar e Farook(Radi Allaahu Anhu), I issue a challenge to the deviant sects who have the corrupt believe that there is only one type of innovation and every innovation is haraam:
Can these deviant sects issue a fatwa declaring Hazrat Umar(Radi Allaahu Anhu) and the esteemed companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) of Prophet ﷺ of' being innovators (bida'ti)? (Ma'az Allah)
Can these corrupt sects with their corrupt belief of every innovation being a misguidance, declare Sayedina Farook e Azam(Radi Allaahu Anhu) as misguided? (Ma'az Allah)
Can these people issue a fatwa that by instituting the taraweeh namaaz in congregation, Hazrat Umar e Farook(Radi Allaahu Anhu) deviated away from the truth? (Ma'az Allah)
The lesson learned is that the belief of the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum)was that every innovation is not bad, but bad innovation are those that are against the commandments of Allah Ta'ala and His beloved Messenger ﷺ. And this is the belief of the Ahlus Sunnah Wa Jama'ah (Sunnis)
Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that Prophet ﷺ has said that whoever institutes a good practice in Islam is rewarded with sawaab for the good deed. Not only this, but he also gets rewarded from this good innovation practiced by others after him.
However, whoever institutes a bad practice in Islam, gets the sin of this bad innovation, as well as the sin from others who practice this bad innovation after him. (Muslim).
Prophet ﷺ himself has given the verdict that every innovation is not bida'h e saiyy'ah and all innovations are not haraam.
Hazrat Abu Hurairah(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that Prophet ﷺ said: 'Whoever invites others towards guidance (hidayat), also gets the reward from those accepting the invites and practicing upon it, without a reduction in the rewards of the invitees. Whoever invites others towards a sin, gets the sin of the bad deeds and also gets the sin from others who practice these bad deeds, without a reduction in the sin of the invitees. (Muslim)
In Tirmizi Shareef and siha 'e sitta, Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that Prophet ﷺ said: 'Whoever institutes a virtuous practice gets rewarded for this practice and he also gets the reward from others who follow and practice this innovation, without a cutback in the reward of the followers. Whoever institutes a bad practice gets the sin of the bad practice and he also gets the sin from his followers engaging in that bad practice, without a cutback in the sin of his followers'.
Imam Bukhari records four hadith in Bukhari Shareef in which it is narrated that there used to be only one adhaan for Juma Namaaz during the time of Prophet ﷺ, Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq(Radi Allaahu Anhu), and Hazrat Umar e Farook(Radi Allaahu Anhu). However, during the caliphate of Hazrat Uthman e Gani(Radi Allaahu Anhu), he instituted another adhaan for Juma Namaaz. This new practice was instituted after the time of Prophet ﷺ, but none outcried that this is a bida'h. The ummati at the time welcomed and accepted this innovation. In one of these four Hadith, it is narrated, 'anna ta'azeenan saniya yawmal jumuate amara bi Uthman'
'There is no doubt that the second adhaan of Juma Namaaz was instituted by Hazrat Uthman e Gani(Radi Allaahu Anhu)'
Subhan Allah. It was the belief of the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) of Prophet ﷺ that a good innovation in Deen is not a bida'h, but for a good new practice Allah Ta'ala 'gives rewards (sawaab).
When the Quran memorizers (Quran Hafiz) got martyred in large numbers in the Battle of Yamama, Hazrat Umar(Radi Allaahu Anhu) addressed Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq(Radi Allaahu Anhu) of his worry about the martyrdom of huffaz-e-kraam and its consequence on the Quran e Kareem. This was because, till now, The Holy Quran was not in a book form.
Hazrat Farook e Azam(Radi Allaahu Anhu), then expressed his wish of securing The Quran e Kareem in a book form. But, Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq(Radi Allaahu Anhu) indicated his reluctance as how could he do something that was not done by Prophet ﷺ.' However, Hazrat Farook e Azam(Radi Allaahu Anhu) was insistent in his wish, and then Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq(Radi Allaahu Anhu) said, 'hatta sharahallaahu sadree'. Allah Ta'ala has opened my heart and I am in agreement with the desire of Hazrat Umar(Radi Allaahu Anhu)'. (Bukhari)
In light of this hadith, it is transparent that every innovation is not bad. A bad innovation (bida'h e saiyy'ah) is one that is against the commandments of Allah Ta'ala and Prophet ﷺ.
If every innovation is haraam, then what fatwa will the corrupt deviant sects give against the esteemed companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) of Prophet ﷺ; for whom Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself has given the glad tidings of being jannati.
Allah Ta'ala states in The Holy Quran:
'And we placed kindness and mercy in the hearts of his followers. And as for adopting of monkshood by innovations into the religion, it was on their own accord. We never prescribed it for them. Thus they created this for seeking the pleasure of Allah, but they did not observe it as it was to be observed. Therefore, we gave those of them who relieved, the due reward. But most of them are disobedient.'
(Surah Al-Hadid. verse 27)
From this verse of The Holy Quran, we learn that the belief of the Sunnis is the same as stated in The Holy Quran. For those who practice the good innovations, there is a reward for them from Allah Ta'ala. And for those who do not practice the good innovations are deprived of the rewards from Allah Ta'ala.
The proof from The Holy Quran, the instructions of Prophet ﷺ , the practices of the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum), and the judgements of the Islamic scholars; all define that whoever utters that every innovation is a misguidance, are themselves misguided. Because these misguided persons are stopping the ummah from practicing the good deeds. Do these misguided persons regard themselves as better educated, and regard themselves as understanding Islam better than the esteemed companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum)? The practice of the companions has taught us that every innovation is not a misguidance. Misguidance, are those innovations that go against the commandments of Allah Ta'ala and Prophet ﷺ.' Besides, there is great reward from Allah Ta'ala for the innovations that are not against the commandments of Allah Ta'ala and Prophet' Muhammad ﷺ.
The deviants claim that milad shareef and giyaarhvee shareef is a bida'h. They should become conscious of their claims. Can they clarify as to which commandment of Allah Ta'ala or which commandment of Prophet ﷺ is milad shareef and giyaarhvee shareef in breach of?
In the glorious gatherings of milad shareef, the handsomeness, the sunnah, the miracles, and the favours of our beloved intercessor ﷺ is featured. Durood and salutations is sent upon our beloved Prophet ﷺ.' Supplication is made in the court of Allah Ta'ala for the betterment of this world and hereafter. Are these bida'h? 'Are these not permitted in Islam?
Remembering the miracles that took place at the time of the birth of Prophet ﷺ. 'Describing the elegance of Prophet ﷺ. Highlighting the sunnah of Prophetﷺ.' Remembering the birth of our beloved ﷺ. Celebrating being the ummati of Prophet ﷺ. Distributing sweets on the occasion of the birthday of Prophet Muhammadﷺ. Are these haraam?
The reason for claiming these practices as haraam by the corrupt and deviants sects is very easy to understand- they have animosity, hatred and enmity against our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Hazrat Huzaifah bin Yamaan(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that Prophet ﷺ' said, 'Verily, I fear about a man from you who will come to personify Islam. This will continue until Allah wishes when these things will be taken away from him, when he will disregard them by putting them behind him, and attack his neighbour with the sword accusing him of shirk.' The Prophet ﷺ was asked: Which of the two was committing shirk? The Prophet ﷺ replied: 'The attacker (the one accusing the other of shirk)'
So, who are the people whom Prophet ﷺ said he 'verily feared'?' The answer is indisputable. They are the sects, who are misguided, astray, and the infidels who are misinterpreting The Holy Quran and hadith and accusing the Muslims of shirk and bida'h.
All the propaganda of bida'h and accusing the Muslims of shirk by these misguided deviant sects is nothing but contempt of The Holy Quran and uncovering of their hatred and enmity towards Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
In every era and in every situation, it is obligatory upon every Muslim to have the utmost respect of Prophet ﷺ. At all times and in every circumstance, it is totally prohibited to oppose any of the commandments of Prophet ﷺ. Any new practice that goes against the commandments of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is bida'h, and this bida'h is a misguidance.
I have a few questions for all the deviant Wahabis, Deobandis and the Tableegh Jamaat:
' Now, we read The Holy Quran in a book form. Did The Holy Quran exist in a book form in the time of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ?
' Now, we pray in the beautiful and solid built masjids. Did such masjids exist in the time of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ?
' Now, we perform the taraweeh namaaz in congregation. Was it performed in congregation in the time of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ?
' Now, we use amplifiers and loud speakers for Adhaan and Namaaz. Was it used in the time of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ?
' Did Bukhari Shareef exist in the time of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ?
' The books we teach in our Muslim schools and Muslim universities today. Were these books taught in the time of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ?
The Wahabis, Deobandis and the Tableegh Jamaat have to admit that all these that they practice now did not exist in the time of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Now what fatwa will these Wahabis, Deobandis and Tableegh Jamaat give for these innovations they engage in?
Are all these bida'h and misguidance? (Ma'az Allah)
No!
**
This article is an abridged English translation of an Urdu sermon delivered by his eminence, Peer Syed Imroz Dean Saifi, Hanfi, Maturidi of Masjid Anwaar e Madina, Surrey BC Canada
If there is an inaccurate translation, please pardon it and not let it be a means to negatively reflect on the honoured presenter.
