BID'AH - INNOVATION IN ISLAM
Wa sharrul Umoori Muhdathaatuhaa, Wa kulla Bid'atin dhaialah, wa kulla dhalatin fin-naar" Al-Hadith (Sahih Muslim). Translation of the above Hadith:“Every innovation is a misguidance and every misguidance goes to Hell fire.”
IMAM SHAFI'S EXPLANATION OF THE ABOVE HADITH:
"Destroying all things by commandment of its Lord. And morning found them so that naught could be seen save their dwellings".Thus,
the dwellings were not destroyed although "all" things had been
destroyed. "All" here means specifically the lives of the unbelievers of
'Ad and their properties except their houses.
ARE THERE GOOD OR BAD INNOVATIONS IN ISLAM?
Prophetic
saying as stated in Sahih Muslim is known even to common Muslims, let
alone scholars: "He who inaugurates a good practice (sanna fil-islam
sunnatun hasana) in Islam earns the reward of it, and of all who perform
it after him, without diminishing their own rewards in the least. "
Tirmizi, Page 92.
"The
Prophet's saying 'every innovation is a general-particular and it is a
reference to most innovations. The linguists say, 'Innovation is any act
done without a previous pattern, and it is of five different
kinds."'Imam Nawawi also said in Tahzeeb al Asma'wal Sifaat, "Innovation
in religious law is to originate anything which did not exist during
the time of the Prophet, and it is divided into good and bad.
"He
also said, "al-muhdathat (pi. for muhdatha) is to originate something
that has no roots in religious law. In the tradition of religious law,
it is called innovation, and if it has an origin within the religious
law, then it is not innovation. Innovation in religious law is
disagreeable, unlike in the language where everything that has been
originated without a previous pattern is called innovation regardless of
whether it is good or bad."
"Anything that did not exist during the Prophet's time is called innovation, but some are good while others are not."
'Innovation
is of two types: praiseworthy innovation and blameworthy innovation,
and anything that disagrees with the Sunnah is blameworthy."
"Innovations
are of two types: that which contradicts the Quran, the Sunnah, or
unanimous agreement of the Muslims is an innovation of deception, while a
good innovation does not contradict any of these things."
IN CONCLUSION:
Clearly,
we can see from the opinions of the righteous scholars, that to define
innovations in worship as wholly negative without exception is ignorant.
For these pious knowers, among them, Imam Shafi'i and Imam Nawawi,
declared that innovations could be divided into good and bad, based on
their compliance with, or deviance from religious law.
Can
the latter day scholars of Islam (who came after I 1 00 years) claim
that they understand the Quran and Hadith better than the Sahaba and the
Salaf-Us-Saliheen? If 'every' innovation is a misguidance then the
following too are all innovations which originated two centuries or more
after Sahaba RA: Reading eight raka in Tarawih; Translations of Quran;
Writing Tafseers; collection and classification of Ahaadiths; Principles
of Jurisprudence; The four schools of Fiqh, Stoned and carpeted
Mosques, use of loud speakers in mosques etc.
Therefore,
anything that does not have roots originating to the Quran and Sunnah
is considered a bad innovation. But the following practices, such as
recitation of the Quran in gatherings; Recital of Darud-Sharif
(Salaat-o-Salaam) in gatherings and Mawlid (commemorating the birth and
Seerah of the Holy Prophet Muhammed (peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him)has clear and authenticated roots to the Quran and Sunnah.
Where in Quran and Hadith all these gatherings are declared as haram or
prohibited? Proof of such acts is indicated as follows: On Mawlid:
"Abi
Qatadat said that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him) was asked about fasting on Monday and he said 'That was the day I
was born."' This Hadith is a clear evidence of the importance of
the commemoration of the Prophet's e birthday through worship. Al-Hafiz
ibn Rajab al-Hanbali, in his book Lataif al-maarif (p. 98), in
explaining this Hadith of Muslim said, "It is good to fast on the days
that Allah honored and favored his servants."
It
is incumbent not only on Muslims but on all human beings to rejoice in
his advent, the day of his birth. As al-Hafiz ibn Rajab al-Hanbali said,
"The best favor that Allah has granted this nation is the birth of
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) when he was sent to humanity. " We did not send
you except as a mercy to the whole Universe' (AlAnbiya'107. So we review
and recall Allah's favor of sending the Prophet by fasting on that
day". 'Of the favor and mercy of Allah let them rejoice" (Yunus, 58).
Below
is a divine order for all the believers to send Salutations on Prophet
Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Allah has said in
the Quran- Allah and His angels sends blessings on the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allah be upon him). "-. O'you believes! You too send
Salutation on beloved Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him). " (33:56)
What does the Quran say about Dhiker in gatherings'?
"Those men and women who engage much in Allah's praise. For them has Allah prepared forgiveness and a great reward."(33:35)
"Those who remember their Lord standing, and sitting, and lying on their sides"(3:191)
"Men
whom neither traffic nor merchandise can divert from Remembrance of
Allah nor from regular Salaat, nor from regular practice of Zakaat.”(24:37)
"Those
who believe, and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allah!
Aye! It is in the remembrance of Allah that hearts can find comfort;"(13: 28)
What do the Hadith say about Dhiker in gatherings?
Hadith Qudsi: "Those
that remember Me in their heart, I remember them in My heart; and those
that remember Me in a gathering, I remember them (i.e. make mention of
them) in a gathering better than theirs. (This can include recitation of
Quran, Durood (Salat-o-Salaam) and other Dhiker Allah)”
In Bukhari and Muslim:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that Allah
has angels roaming the roads to find the people of dhikr, i.e. those
who say La ltaha ltiabah and similar expressions, and when they find a
group of people (Qaom) reciting dhikr, they call each other and
encompass them in layers until the first heaven -- the location of which
is in Allah's knowledge. (This is to say, an unlimited number of angels
are going to be over that group
Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:"When you pass by the gardens of Paradise, avail yourselves of them." The Companions asked: "What are the gardens of Paradise, 0 Messenger of Allah?" He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied: "The
circles of dhikr. There are roaming angels of Allah who go about
looking for the circles of dhikr, and when they rind them they surround
them closely." Tirmidhi narrated it (Hasan Gharib) and Ahmad.
Abu
Sa'id Al-Khudri and Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with them)
reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
said, "When any group of men remember Allah, angels surround them
and mercy covers them, tranquility descends upon them, and Allah
mentions them to those who are with Him." Narrated by Muslim, Tirmidhi, Ahmad, lbn Majah, and Bayhaqi.
Those who call upon Bida'h (innovations):
For
those who insist on scrutinizing Bida'h should rather pay more
attention to Haram and major sins. The following are typical examples
that majority of the Ummah is engaged in everyday and so routinely which
are often overlooked and justified through obtaining Fatwa's for the
purpose of legitimizing their actions:
Buying houses on mortgages (interest);
Holding Credit on credit cards;
Eating non halal meat and foods (MacDonald, KFC, etc.)
Disobedience to parents and ill treatment of either wife or husband;
Sending of children to Islamic school but not practicing Islam themselves
Calling other Muslim brothers Miskeen (poor) based upon nationality
Undue extravagance: Luxuries (Castles, Rolls Royces, Cadillacs etc);
Engaging in fraud and corruption
Celebrating own anniversaries and birthdays yet raise objection on Mawlid. Etc.
Islam
cannot be customized to suit individual needs and lifestyles. This is a
great hypocrisy. One can ask themselves how pious and strict follower
of the Quran and Sunnah, am I in reality? Stay away from haram, shirk
and Kufr and try to follow other Hadiths as well in order to fulfill the
claim of being strict followers of Quran and Sunnah.
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