Definition of Bid'ah
In Islam, bid?ah (Arabic: ????) is any type of innovation. Though innovations in worldly matters are acceptable to an extent, innovation within the religion is seen as a sin in Islam, as Muhammad SAW stated as such:
?Whoever innovates something in this matter of ours [i.e., Islam] that is not a part of it, will have it rejected.? In addition, the Qur'an (which Muslims believe is the word of God) states:
" ..This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion."
Similar statements are found in other verses of the Qur'an and other Hadith as well.
DefinitionThe Sharia definition of bid'ah is: "A newly invented way [beliefs or action] in the religion, in imitation of the Sharia (prescribed Law), by which nearness to Allaah is sought, [but] not being supported by any authentic proof - neither in its foundations, nor in the manner in which it is performed.
In worldly mattersMuslim scholars have divided bid'ah in worldly matters into three types.
1)
Innovations that are purely good - these are permissible under Islamic law. This can include anything from inventions such as watches to customs and culture, given they don't violate the Sharia.
2)
Innovations that are purely evil - these are forbidden under Islamic law. Examples of this type of bid'ah include musical instruments.
3)
Innovations that contain both evil and good - this is the majority of worldly matters. Under Islamic law, if they are used for good, then they are permissible; otherwise they are forbidden. This can also include both technological inventions as well as culture and habits.
In religious mattersReligious innovation means inventing a new way of worshipping Allah that was not originally included in the message that Islamic tradition claims was revealed to Muhammad SAW. There is much criticism of bid'ah in the Qur'an and Sunnah, according to Sunni Islam, with Muhammad SAW, his companions, and predecessors all complaining about innovation - particularly the four Imams (Abu Hanifa an-Nu?man, Malik ibn Anas, Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi`i, and Ahmad ibn Hanbal).
Muhammad SAW said:
Whoever innovates or accommodates an innovator then upon him is the curse of Allaah, His Angels and the whole of mankind.`Abd Allah ibn `Umar said: "Every innovation is misguidance, even if the people see it as something good."
Imaam ash-Shaatibee mentions: Ibn Wahb said: From Ibn 'Abbaas, that he said regarding the saying of Allah: On the Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) when some faces will become white and some faces will become black, "The faces of Ahl us-Sunnah will become white and the faces of Ahl ul-Bid'ah will become black". Ibn 'Abbaas also said: "Indeed the most detestable of things to Allaah are the innovations".
Sufyaan ath-Thowree mentions: "Innovation is more beloved to Iblees than sin, since a sin may be repented from but innovation is not repented from[13]" and "Whoever listens to an innovator has left the protection of Allaah and is entrusted with the innovation".
Al-Fudayl bin 'Iyaad mentions: "I met the best of people, all of them people of the Sunnah and they used to forbid from accompanying the people of innovation".
Hasan al-Basri mentions: "Do not sit with the people of innovation and desires, nor argue with them, nor listen to them".
Ibraaheem ibn Maysarah mentions: "Whoever honours an innovator has aided in the destruction of Islaam".
Imaam al-Barbahaaree mentions:
"The innovators are like scorpions. They bury their heads and bodies in the sand and leave their tails out. When they get the chance they sting; the same with the innovators who conceal themselves amongst the people, when they are able, they do what they desire".Abu Haatim said: "A sign of the people of innovation is their battling against the people of Narrations".
Abu 'Uthmaan as-Saaboonee said: "The signs of the people of innovation are clear and obvious. The most apparent of their signs is their severe enmity for those who carry the reports of the Prophet SAW".
The late Shaikh Muhammad Uthaimeen, a prominent modern day scholar of Islam, wrote:
"And there is no such thing in Islaam as bid?ah hasanah (good innovation)." When a religious innovation is committed, it is generally felt that the innovator is assuming that the Sunnah is not good enough, that he must resort to something "better." Even though this statement would be an admission of disbelief - there are some innovations that contain shirk and there are some which allow someone to remain a Muslim, while his action is rejected (regardless of any sincerity it might have had).
