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This article is about the Arabic term. For the city, see Bida, Nigeria. Bid‘ah (Arabic: بدعة) is any type of innovation in Islam. Though innovations in worldly matters, such as science, medicine and technology are acceptable and encouraged, Bid`ah within the religion is often seen as a sin or innuendo, and the prophet of Islam, Muhammad, stated as such: “Whosoever originates an innovation in this matter of ours [i.e., Islam] that is not a part of it, will have it rejected.” [1][2] In addition, the Qur'an (which Muslims believe is the word of God) states:
Similar statements are found in other verses of the Qur'an and other Hadith as well.
[edit] DefinitionThe Sharia definition of bid'ah is: "An innovation in the religion, in imitation of the Sharia (prescribed Law), by which nearness to God is sought, [but] not being supported by any authentic proof - neither in its foundations, nor in the manner in which it is performed[4] CONCEPT OF BID'AH IN ISLAM Bid'ah is a word that has been misused so often today, that it's definition needs to be explained clearly. Definition of Bid'ah Bid'ah, literally means innovation. In special terms it means carrying out actions which displease Allah ta`ala and his messenger. [Tirmizi chapter Il]
(Nayl-ul-Autaar, Qadi Shawkani chapter Salaah Al Taravee). Imam Nawawi writes that there are certain types of Bid’ah. Two of them are Bid’ah Sayyiah and Bid’ah Hasanah. Bid’ah sayyiah is a Bid’ah that opposes the Qur’an and sunnah and Bidah Hasanah is a Bid’ah that is not against the Qur’an or Sunnah. For example: To invent the usool (principle) of Hadeeth, usool of Fiqh, usool of Tafsir etc. [Tahzeeb al Asma wal lughaat word Bid’ah by Imam Nawawi]
(Jaami' Al Uloom Al Hukkam page 252 by Hafidhh ibn Rajjab). Hafidhh Asqalani writes if a new thing is against Islam, it will be bad. If it is not against Islam, it will be hasanah (Good). (Fathul Bari chap on Taravi by Hafidhh Asqalani).
(Iqtidah al Sirat al Mustaqeem chap on Bid'ah by Hafidhh ibn Taymiyya). From the above, the conclusion is that if a new thing has been started, and it neither goes against the Qur’an or Sunnah, then it can be declared a ‘good’ innovation. However, if a new act is initiated against the Qur'an and Sunnah, that will be called bad bid'ah, or a reprehensible innovation.
Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim write that there was some companions talking and the Prophet was listening. One of them said: 'I will make prayers (Salaah) all night long.' The second said: 'I will fast (sawm) all the time.' The third said: 'I will never marry.' When our Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace]heard them say this he said: 'I am the most God conscious of Allah (Ta`ala) than any of you. I pray (Salaah,) I fast (sawm) as well, and I do marry woman too. And who so turns his face from my Sunnah, cannot be of my Ummah'. [Mishkat Muslim, Bukhari chapter Ihtisam]
RasoolAllah [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] stated: "On the Day of Judgement, some people will come to me when I will be standing by Haudh-e-Kauser (Well). They will be grabbed and taken towards the Hellfire. I shall say: "These are my people" but in reply I will be told: "These are the people who introduced innovations after you, so they are unbelievers." [Bukhari & Muslim, Kitaab-ul-Haudh]
A person once sent salaam to Abdullah Ibn Umar radhiAllahu anhu who replied: I do not accept his salaam, as this person has innovated by becoming Qadriyyah (A sect which does not believe in destiny) [Mistake, Kitaab-ul-Iman wa-al-Qadr, transmitted by Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah]
RasoolAllah [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] stated: "Every innovation leads astray and every creator of the astray goes in the Fire." [Muslim chapter Al-jumah]
[Kitaab-ur-Rooh chap10] PROOF OF BID'AH HASANA Allah Ta'ala says in the Holy Qur'an: "And we ordained in the hearts of those who followed him Compassion and Mercy. But the Monasticism which they innovated for themselves which we did not prescribe for them" Surah Al Hadeed, verse 27"
RasoolAllah [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] stated: "The person who introduced a good thing in Islam, shall obtain the reward for it and also the reward for those who adopt it. As for the one who introduces a bad thing (Bid'ah Sayyi ah) he will obtain the punishment for introducing it and also for those who adopt it, will also be punished." (Sahih Muslim in Kitaab-uz-Zakaat Tirmidhee chapter Eleleven). This Hadith gives proof of the fact that it is permissible to introduce a good act in Islam, also it gives permission to follow that deed with the intention of reward.
There are many examples, but for the moment we shall highlight two: Our Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] asked Bilal radiAllahu unho "What do you practice that from which you look forward to a lot of reward from Allah Subha Nahu Wata’ala. The reason being I heard your footsteps in Paradise. (junnaah") Bilal radiAllahu unho replaid: "Whenever I do Ablution (Wudhu,) after it I always say a Prayer (Nafil Salaah") ["Bukhari, Kitab Tahajud"]
Ibn Hajr writes in his commentary to worship at a set time is permissible. [Fathul bari by Hafidhh Asqalani]
Our Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] did not stop either of these two companions, but instead gave them inspiration of the glad tidings they were going to receive.
Umar RadiAllaho unho ordered the people to offer congregational prayers of Taraweeh, and called this “Bid'ah Hasana.” From this we can prove two things. 1) After our Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] any new thing that was initiated and was not against his sunnah or the Qur'an is called Bid'ah Hasana. 2) To start something new in Islam, which is not already there and does not affect the sunnah then this will be the Sunnah of Umar radiAllaho unho. This Hadith supports the fact that if a new thing does not oppose the Qur'an or Ahadith then it is a Bid'ah Hasana. During the Khilafa of Abu Bakr Siddique RadhiAllahu anahu, Umar RadhiAllahu anhu came to Abu Bakr Radiallaho and said: "In the Battle of Yamama many Hufaad of Qur'an have been Martyred. I fear that if the Hufaad continue to die in such battles the Qur'an could disappear. I recommend that you command for the Qur'an to be collected". Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu anhu replied: "How can I do a thing, which was not a practice of (Rasoolallah Sallallahu' alaihi wa sallam") Umar RadhiAllahu anhu replied: "By Allah this is a good thing." Umar RadhiAllahu anhu mentioned this many times to the Khalifa. Later Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu anhu said: "Allah has opened my heart to the fact that this was not an action of (Rasoolallah Sallallahu' alaihi wa sallam) but this is a good thing". Abu Bakr Radiallahu unhu then told Zaid RadhiAllahu anhu to start collecting the Qur'an who questioned the Khalifa by asking: Abu Bakr Radiallaho Why are you doing something which was not an action of (Rasoolallah Sallallahu' alaihi wa sallam?") Abu Bakr Radiallaho replied: "By Allah this is a very good thing". Zaid RadhiAllahu anhu later said: "Allah Subha Nahu Wata’ala opened my heart to the fact that this was a good thing so I started collecting the Qur'an until it was collected." (Bukhari in Kitaab Fadhaa il-ul-Qur'an). The above Hadith goes a long way in proving that the introduction of a good thing (which was not an action of Rasoolallah Sallallahu' alaihi wa sallam) is the Sunnah of the Sahaba RadhiAllahu Ta'ala Ajma'een. During the time of RasoolAllah Sallallahu' alaihi wa sallam, seven different types of Qir'aat (recitation techniques) were used to recite the Qur'an. But Uthman RadhiAllahu anhu united the people to one type of Qirat. This was a thing not done by the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, Abu Bakr nor Umar RadhiAllahu anhum but by Uthman RadhiAllahu anhu. ['Bukhari in Fadhaa il-ul-Qur'an'] Some examples of Bid'ah Hasana. Punctuation in the Qur'an Names of Surahs written in the Qur'an Mihrabs in the Mosques Minarets of Mosques Taqleed of the four schools of Fiqh Fixing congregational prayer times with the clock times
In the Haramian (Makkah and Madina) they celebrate on the 27th of Ramadan “Lai latul qader”, it is not establishd in Hadith. Is there any set date for Lai latul Qadar or even to congregate for hours on end? To give the Ka'aba a bath twice in a year is not mentioned in the Qur’an.
In which Hadith does it say that Bukhari is the next book after the Holy Qur'an, or did any of our Prophets [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] companions say this?
Our Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] and his Companions used to call Saudi Arabia “Jaziratul Arab” but the present Government has taken that name out and changed it to Saudi Arabia.
Hafidhh Ibn Taimiyyah writes: "Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal would place his hand on the grave of a person who had just died and then supplicate to Allah". He also says: "There were some people from amongst the Salaf who would never narrate a Hadith of (Rasoolallah Sallallahu' alaihi wa sallam) without performing wudhu (ablution)". [Ibn Taimiyyah in Al-Tawasul page 90] Hafidhh Ibn Taimiyyah did not refer to the above as innovations even though both acts are not evident from the life of (Rasoolallah Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam,) or the rightly guided Khalifa s. This clearly proves that the Salaf believed that it was permitted to do something which did not oppose the Qur'an and Sunnah of the Messenger (Sallallahu'alaihi wa sallam) It is in this same book of Hafidhh Ibn Taimiyyah where it mentions many other cases where the Sahaba started things that were not present during the time of (RasoolAllah Sallallahu' alaihi wa sallam) A few examples of these are:
[Qaydah Jaleelah page 223 by Hafidhh Ibn Taymiyyah] All of this is evidence in support of the fact it is permitted to do something not done by the Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] so long as it does not oppose the Sunnah and is intended for reward alone. As this was the practice of the Sahaba radhiAllahu anhum. The objection, which could arise, is that: 'The Companions had the authority to start something new but we do not.'
Secondly, Hafidhh Ibn Taimiyyah writes: "Apart from the Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] no one has the right to introduce anything new to the Deen (Religion) and then call it Sunnah, the Khulafa Rashideen followed the Sunnah, therefore their way is called the way of the Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace]. Wajib is only what Allah has made Wajib and Haraam is only that which Allah and his Messenger has forbidden, the authority of classifying Mustahab (Desirable), Mubaah (permissible), and Makrooh (Disliked), is with the Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] alone. No others have such authority". He continues by saying, "The majority of Scholars do not consider the (above) practice of Abdullah Ibn Umar to be permitted" ["Hafidhh Ibn Taimiyyah] [Qaydah Jaleelah chap action of Sihabah by Hafidhh Ibn Taymiyyah] According to Hafidhh Ibn Taymiyyahs statement we can see that the sunnah can only be something that was practised by the Prophet not by anyone else. Some people consider something to be Bid’ah, which was not practised by the Prophet, or His Companions. According to the above statement they cannot say this as the Prophet [May Allah bless him and grant him peace] only had such Authority to do so.
[edit] According to Sunni IslamSunni Islamic scholars have divided bid'ah into two types: innovations in worldly matters and innovations in religious matters.[5] [edit] In worldly mattersSunni Muslim scholars have divided bid'ah in worldly matters into three types.
[edit] 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. There is much criticism of bid'ah in the Qur'an and Sunnah, according to Sunni Islam, with Muhammad, his companions, and predecessors all complaining about innovation - particularly the four Sunni Imams (Abu Hanifa an-Nu‘man, Malik ibn Anas, Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi`i, and Ahmad ibn Hanbal). Muhammad said:
`Abd Allah ibn `Umar said: "Every innovation is misguidance, even if the people see it as something good[9]." Imaam ash-Shaatibee mentions[10]: Ibn Wahb said: From Ibn 'Abbaas, that he said regarding the saying of God: On the Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) when some faces will become white and some faces will become black[11], "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[12]". 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[14]". 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[15]". Hasan al-Basri mentions: "Do not sit with the people of innovation and desires, nor argue with them, nor listen to them[16]". Ibraaheem ibn Maysarah mentions: "Whoever honours an innovator has aided in the destruction of Islaam[17]". 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".[18] Abu Haatim said: "A sign of the people of innovation is their battling against the people of Narrations[19]". 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[20]". 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)." [21] When a religious innovation is implemented, 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 [22] - 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)[23]. [edit] According to Shi'a IslamAccording to Shi'a beliefs the definition of bid'ah is anything that is introduced to Islam as either being fard, mustahabb, makruh or haram and/or that contradicts the Quran or hadith. Any new good practice that is practiced that does not contradict the Quran or hadith is permissible. However, it is not permissible to say that a new good practice (that does not contradict the Quran or hadith) is obligatory or highly recommended. For example, one may introduce establishing the tradition of celebrating Muhammad's birthday through recommended acts such as fasting or giving alms. If someone performs the tradition with the intention of recommendation or obligation, the tradition becomes bid'ah. As a general rule in Shi'a belief, anything is permissible except whatever is prohibited through divine revelation such as the Quran or hadith.[24] [edit] References
[edit] External links[edit] Opposing views
[edit] Supporting view
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