What is a Bid’ah ?1

[bamalli]

What is a Bid'ah ?
The word Bid'ah in Arabic is taken from 'Al-Bada', that is to create something without precedence. Allah says in the Qur'aan, which translated means: "Badei' (the Originator) of the heavens and the earth." [Soorah Baqarah (2): 117]

This means that Allah created the heavens and the earth without precedence. He also said: "Say (O Muhammad (sallallhu alahi wa-sallam): I am not Bid'an (a new thing) among the Messengers." [Soorah Ahqaf (46): 9]

This means: 'I am not the first of Allah's Prophets to His slaves, many (Prophets) preceded me.' When it is said that a person has performed a Bid'ah, this means that he has innovated a new thing without precedence.

Bid'ahs in the matters of life, like the new scientific inventions are permissible because originally, what is a matter of life or habit is permissible. The prohibited Bid'ah is to innovate in the religion. This is because the religion is 'Tawqifiyah' which means that religion can only be revealed by Allah and He has completely revealed His religion. Consequently, there is no room for any innovation. As will be manifest and clear from the following text.

Allaah Alone has the right to tell us how to worship Him.
Allah says: "Follow what has been sent down to you from your Lord (the Qur'aan and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhaamd (sallallhu alahi wa-sallam) and follow not any Auliya (protectors, or helper etc. who order you to associate partners in worship with Allah), besides Him (Allah)..." [Soorah Al-Aa'raf (7): 3]

From the Tafseer (explanation) of this verse, we learn that this verse is a definite statement, explaining the right of Allaah Alone; to reveal and command His slaves, the manners of worshipping Him. And how could it be otherwise, when the true meaning of 'Ibaadah' is to worship Allaah in the way, which pleases Him, not following one's own desires. As is known from the following verse: "And who is more astray then one who follows his own lust (desires) without the guidance from Allah (revelation)" [Soorah Al-Qasas (28): 50]

In regards to this Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) said: "I warn you of the newly invented matters (in the religion), and every newly invented matter is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Hellfire" [An-Nasa'ee]

And he (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) used to declare at the beginning of his lectures, "....and the best speech is the Speech of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (sallallhu alahi wa-sallam), and the worst of all affairs are the newly invented matters (in the religion)" [Saheeh Muslim]

And he (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) also commanded us, to reject everything, which has no basis in the religion saying: "Whosoever does an action, which we have not commanded then it must be rejected." [Saheeh Muslim]

"Whosoever introduces into this religion of ours that which is not a part of it then it must be rejected" [Musnad Ahmad]

In this Hadeeth is a clear evidence that every action which is not legislated in the Sharee'ah must be rejected' [Jaami al-Ulum of ibn Rajab 1/120]

Consequently, every Bid'ah, that is introduced in the religion has to be rejected as for the reason that only Allaah and His Messenger (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) have the right to legislate in the Sharee'ah.

The Deen is complete
Allaah says in the Qur'aan: "This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islaam as your religion" [Soorah Maidah (5): 4]

This verse embodies a clear statement that the religion has been completed and so has no need of addition and deletion, and our noble Messenger (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) said: "There is nothing that Allaah ordered you with except that I have ordered you with it, and there is nothing that Allaah forbade you from except that I have forbidden you from it" [al-Bayhaqee and others]

And he (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) said, "There is nothing that will take you closer to Paradise but that I have enjoined it upon you, and there is nothing that will take you closer to Hell but that I have warned you from it" [Musnad ash-Shafi'e and others]

So, Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) fulfilled the trust placed upon him by Allaah completely, explaining the religion to the people in it's inward and outward form, making clear the lawful from the prohibited, the encouraged from the discouraged, even to the extent that he (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) taught us the manners of going to the toilet, the manners of having sex with our partners etc.

Allaah also says in His Book, "and We have sent down to you Book (the Qur'aan) as an exposition (explanation) of everything, a guidance, a mercy and a glad tiding for those who have submitted themselves (to Allah)." [Soorah al-Maidah (16): 89]

Hence, Qur'aan contains the explanation of the entire religious principles, tawheed in all it's various categories, even to the extent that it teaches us the manners of sitting in circles, visiting other people's houses, the correct clothing etc. ...

In the light of what has preceded we can now give the formal Sharee'ah definition of bid'ah... "A newly invented way (in beliefs and actions) in the religion, in imitation of the Sharee'ah, by which nearness to Allaah is sought, not being supported by any authentic proof, neither in it's foundations nor in the manner in which it is performed." [al-I'tisaam 1/231 of ash-Shaatibee]

Reasons behind the Existence of Bid'ah

(a) IGNORANCE: Whenever people separate from the True Message, knowledge will decrease and ignorance will flourish. The Prophet of Allah (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) informed us about this adversity when he said: "Whoever lives (long) will witness many differences." [Abu Dawood]

And he (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) also said: "Allah does not erase knowledge (from earth) by erasing knowledge from slaves (hearts). Rather, He erases knowledge through the death of scholars. When He leaves (earth) without scholars, people will take the ignorant as leaders (and scholars). They (the ignorant) will be asked and then give fatawah without knowledge. Then, they will be lead, and will lead astray." [Ahmad]

People of knowledge are those who fight against Bid'ahs. When knowledge and scholars disappear from earth, then Bid'ah will see the light. Bid'ah will then appear and spread.

(b) FOLLOWING ONE'S OWN DESIRES: Whoever shuns the Qur'aan and the Sunnah, and follows his own desires, then pertaining him Allah says: "But if they answer you not (O Muhammad (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) (i.e. do not believe in your teachings of Islamic Monotheism, nor follow you), then know that they only follow their own lusts. And who is more astray then one who follows his own lust (desires) without the guidance from Allah (revelation)" [Soorah Al-Qasas (28): 50]

"Have you seen him who takes his own desires as his god, and Allah knowing (him as such) left him astray, sealed his hearing and his heart, and put a cover on his sight. Who then will guide him after Allah." [Soorah Al-Jathiyah (45): 23]

So, following one's own desires leads one to straying away from the Straight Path and indulging in evil innovation

(c) BLIND FOLLOWING: "When it is said to them: 'Follow peoples opinion blindly prevents one from following the Straight path. Allah said what translated means: "Follow what Allah has sent down." They say: "Nay! We shall follow what we found our fathers following. Even though their fathers did not understand anything, nor were they guided." [Soorah al-Baqarah(2): 170]

This is the case today with those who blindly follow a Madh-hab. If they are called to following the Qur'aan and the Sunnah, leaving their traditions, what opposes them, they claim to follow their own Madh-hab, scholars, fathers or grandfathers, which leads them to indulge in many evil affairs known as rituals and traditions, originated from the worst of affairs; Bid'ahs resulting to the final abode in Hellfire.

(d) IMITATING THE KUFFAR: Imitating the Kuffar is what befalls one most in Bid'ahs, because actions of the Kuffar are built only upon corruption and misguidance.

Abu Waqid Al-Laithi (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) said: "We were still new Muslims when we went to the battle of Hunain with the Prophet (sallallhu alahi wa-sallam). We found that the Mushrikeen had a tree, called 'That Anwar', which they revered and on which they hanged their weapons on. When we passed by a similar Sidrah we said: "O Messenger of Allah (sallallhu alahi wa-sallam), make for us 'That Anwar' as they have.. Prophet (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) said: "Allahu Akbar! It is the Sunnan (traditions of the Mushrikeen). You said by He Who has my soul in His Hand, what the children of Israel said to Moses: "Make for us gods as they have gods. He said: 'Verily! You are a people who know not." [7:138] and he (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) said: You will follow the traditions of those before you (Jews and Christians)" [at-Tirmidhee]

In this hadeeth, we find that imitating the Kuffar (non-believers) is what drove Jews (before them), and some of the companions (radhi allahu anhu), to ask for this ugly matter. They wanted gods to worship and revere other than Allah. This is the case with the majority of Muslims today, imitating the disbelievers, which is an opening to ruthless Bid'ahs in Islam.

Bid'ah is more Beloved to Shaytaan than Sinning Sufyaan ath-Thawree (rahimahullah) said: "Innovations are more beloved to Shaytaan than sin. Since a sin may be repented from but an innovation is not repented" [Sharh Usul I'tiqaad of al-Laalikaa'ee (d.414) no.238]

This is because the innovator believes that he is doing something good and therefore sees no need to repent.

He also said, "...so cling to the original state of affairs" [al-Hilya 6/376] meaning stick to the way of Muhammad (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) and Companions

Imaam Abu Haneefah (rahimahullah) said, "Stick to the narrations and the way of the salaf, and beware of the newly invented matters for all of it is innovation"

[Sawnul Muntaq of as-Suyutee pg.32]

Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) said, "He, who innovates an innovation in Islaam regarding it as something good, has claimed that Muhammad (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) has betrayed his trust to deliver the message as Allaah says: "This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islaam as your religion" [Soorah Al-Maidah (5): 4] [al-I'tisaam]

Imaam Ahmad (rahimahullah) said, "The fundamental principles of the sunnah with us are...avoiding innovations and every innovation is misguidance" [Usul as-Sunnah of Imaam Ahmad pg.1]

     

    Bid'ah – Corrupting the Sunnah

    We are taught in the revelation that the Sunnah shall become corrupted and this corruption would become the norm (custom), so much so that the people who follow the Sunnah would become as strangers, and those who call to purifying the sunnah would be slandered and reviled (hated).

    The Prophet (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) said: "Islaam began as something strange, and it shall return as something strange as it began. So (radhi allahu anhu) give glad tidings to the strangers." It was asked, "who are the strangers?" He replied, "Those that purify and correct what the people have corrupted of my sunnah" [Tabaraanee in al-Kabeer [6/202]

    And what is this corruption, it is none other than innovation, introducing into the pure religion of Allaah, new ways of worshipping Him that He has not taught, blemishing His religion with one's own whims and desires, something that Allaah Himself condemns:

    "Or do they have partners with Allah, who have instituted for them a religion which Allah has not allowed." [Soorah Ash-Shura (42): 21]

    The Companion Abdullaah ibn Mas'ud (radhi allahu anhu) laments: "How will it be when the trials overcome you, in which the young grow old and the old grow senile. And the people take the Bid'ah as the sunnah, and when it changes they say: the sunnah has changed. "It was said: When will this be? O Abu Abdur Rahmaan!" He replied: When your speakers are many and your scholars are few, and the wealthy ones are plenty and the trustworthy ones are few." [ad-Daarimee]

    How true this statement is today, that the innovations have become so widespread in the religion that the people have taken them to be the Sunnah. And when the true scholar speaks out against these innovations, he is labelled as a 'wahhabi' by the people because to them it seems that he is changing the sunnah. To Allah, we complain of the ignorance of our times!

    So, once this topic becomes clear, a truth that none can deny; that all these innovations in the religions are a clear denial of the above mentioned verses and ahaadeeth, for none were done by the Companions (radhi allahu anhu). And in what has preceded is ample evidence for any fair-minded Muslim that all Bid'ah is blameworthy, and in fact a major sin. But unfortunately, the Muslims are in such a state today that the Words of Allaah and His Messenger (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) are no longer enough to convince them and certain groups of people have come up with belief that has very frail grounds in the Sunnah. For example, the belief of 'Bid'ah hasanah', i.e. a good Bid'ah, meaning that a scholar can introduce a new action of worship in Islaam, which can be considered to be good as long it does not contradict any of the principles of Islaam. This belief is completely false and has no basis in the Qur'aan neither in the Sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad (sallallhu alahi wa-sallam).

    This issue has been discussed in details, under the title "The Arguments of the Misguided"

[Dan-Borno]

Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Raji'un, Allah Ya
Gafarta wa Malam Sheik Ja'afar Mahmud Adam.
When I was reading this post on bid'ah, i hardly
control my grief in remembrance of Late Ja'afar,
this was because the posts is just like Ja'afar
delivering the lecture on bid'ah.

The issue of bid'ah is a serious and fundamental
thing all Muslims should know, not merely knowing
it, but practically understanding the differences
and implications of bid'ah vis-a-vis its effect on our
daily ibadat.

So many scholars emphasized and concentrated
most of their teachings on bid'ah, because the act
of bid'ah is one worst disease that eats up ones
good work like fire.

While the debate on bid'ah are still raging from all
perspectives of Ulama, I must advice my fellow friends
who are not deeply learned in the field of islamic
jurisprudence to adhere strictly to the hadith of our
Holy Prophet that said "verily those things that are
permitted for you are clear and those things that are
being forbidden to you are also clear, in between these
two there are things that are so ambigous, whoever
amongst you shun ambiguity is safe and whosoever
found himself in a state of ambiguity has surely falls
into for a prey"  the Holy Prophet sited an example of
one who animal rearer, who rears his animal very close
to a farmland, it was stated that hardly his animal did
not graze into that farmland.  That is to show us the
dangers of going closer to things that are ambiguity.

Brothers in Islam, we should stick to those things that
are Fard and clear sunnah of the Prophet.  In the recent
time, issues like:-
gathering people during naming ceremony,
3, 7 and 40 days sitting of our dead ones,
mauludun nabiy,
participating in cultural festivities
sighting of the moon
reciting/drinking certain forms of prayers
and lots other too numerous to mention should not be
allowed to deviate us from our main cause.  lets stick
to those things that no one has dispute performing it
and shun all things that there is dispute.

We have to remember that we shall all die, and after
it we will be raise back to life and we shall account to
all our deeds of this world.  we were created for a purpose,
a manual was sent for us to use throughout our stay on
earth and all that is being asked on the day of judgement
must be justified.

Allah ya sa mu dace da sunnan Manzon Allah (SAW).

[bamalli]

Amin,