Aqeeda of Ahlesunnat Wal Jamat, - Concept of Bidah 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]
Qadi Shawkani writes "In Islam there are two kinds of Bid'ah: Bid'ah
Say'iah and Bid'ah Hasana. If a new thing opposes the Qur'an and
Sunnah then it is Say'iah, but if it is not against the Shari'ah then
it is Hasanah.
(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]
Hafidhh ibn Rajjab defines bida to mean new things that have no basis
in the Qur'an or Sunnah. If a new practice has evidence from the
Qur'an or Sunnah it will not be Bid'ah Shari'ah, but it will be Bid'ah
Logaviyya (linguistic).
(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).
Hafidhh ibn Taymiyyah writes that bid'ah is always bad, but some
scholars say that there are two kinds of bid'ah, that one is good and
one is bad. If a new thing has origin in the Qur'an and Sunnah it will
be called Bid'ah Logaviyya (verbally) but not Bid'ah in Shari'ah. Only
the word bid'ah will be used on the new things. Like, the Qur'an was
collected in one book after the Prophet Muhammad [May Allah bless Him
and grant Him peace], and the congregational Taravi prayer was started
in Sayyidna Umar's time but these two things have an origin in the
Sunnah. Therefore, it will be called bid'ah verbally.
(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.
Definition of BID'AH SAYYIAH
Bid'ah say'iah is a new thing, introduced to and made part of the Deen
(Islam) that has no origin what so ever from the Qur'an or the Sunnah
of Rasoolallah [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace]
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]
The reason why our Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him
peace]stopped them from doing what they wanted to do was because it
was against Sunnah(his way). What ever we do which is against the way
of our Prophets [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] Sunnah is a
Bid'ah Say'iah.
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]
From the above Hadith we learn of the innovations from which we have
been warned. Such innovations that make a person Murtad (a non
believer.) A few examples of innovations, which cause a person to
become Murtad:- A person claiming to be a Prophet, deny giving Zakaat.
Perform Haj at a place other than the Ka'ba, or to introduce any other
new belief which is in opposition to Qur'an or Ahadith.
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]
The above narration emphasises the fact that Bid'ah is to hold such an
Aqeedah which is in direct opposition to the Qur'an and Sunnah, i.e.
to become Qadriyyah, Jabriyya etc.
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]
An example of this Bid'ah is given by Hafidhh Ibn Al-Qayyim who
writes: 'The one who denies the punishment of the grave is an
innovater'.
[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"
This verse points out that when something new is invented to please
Allah Ta'ala then it is permissible, and Allah Ta'ala gives reward for
it. Those who do not fulfil the requirements then Allah Ta'ala will
not reward them.
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.
Even our Prophets (Sallallahu'alaihi wa sallams) companions intoduced
new things in Islam that the Messenger of Allah himself had not done,
and our Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace]did not stop
them. If by doing something new without the permission of our Prophet
[May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace]was Bid'ah then these people
would not have done so. Yes it was important for them to remember
that, not to start some thing new which would be against our Prophet
[May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] sunnah in any way.
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"]
This new practice that Bilal RadiAllaho unho started by himself was so
much accepted by Allah Ta`ala that our Prophet [May Allah bless Him
and grant Him peace] heard his foot steps in paradise.
Ibn Hajr writes in his commentary to worship at a set time is permissible.
[Fathul bari by Hafidhh Asqalani]
2) In a Masjid in Quba an Imam used to lead congregation prayers in
every rakat (cycle) after reciting Surah Al Fatiha and a verse of the
Qur'an he also recited Surah Al Ikhlas as well. When our Prophet [May
Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] asked him: 'Why do you do this?
He replied: 'I love reading Surah Al Ikhlas'. Our Prophet [May Allah
bless Him and grant Him peace] said: 'This love will take you towards
paradise'. [Bukhari Kitab as Salaah]
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.
Imam Bukhari writes Umar [May Allah be pleased with Him] ordered that
congregational Taravi prayer should be offered together. When the
people started this and Umar saw this he said This is a good bid'ah.
[Bukhari Kitab-us Taraweeh]
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 Masjid
Minarets of Masjid
Taqleed of the four schools of Fiqh
Fixing congregational prayer times with the clock times
These are all Bid'ah Hasana and have been accepted by the whole of the Ummah.
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.
So why do all these Muslims from the whole world join them in prayer
there. In what Hadith does this say that to recite the whole of the
Qur'an in Salaah (Taraweh) and finish on the 27th of Ramadan?
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?
In Saudi Arabia they do celebrate their National day. They hang the
picture of the King every where even on the Riyals where does this
derive from? So then it would be right to say that to assent that
Bukhari is the second Heighest book (kitab) after the Qur'an is
Bid'ah? Usool-Tafsir, Usool-Hadith, Usool-Fiqh, and Asma e Rijal,
which companions of our Prophet Salalla ho alhi wasallam started this.
So this means that this is also Bid'ah?
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.
These are some new actions done by the Sihaba and the pious which were
not counted as Bidah
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:
Abu Hurairah radhiAllahu anhu would do masah (wiping) of his neck
during wudhu. Umar radhiAllahu anhu would put water in his eyes and do
masah of the ears, Abdullah Ibn Umar radhiAllahu considered it
virtuous to walk along the same routes which the Prophet [May Allah
bless Him and grant Him peace] used in his lifetime also to stop where
the Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] stopped, and to
perform wudhu where (RasoolAllah Sallallahu' alaihi wa sallam)
performed it. Abdullah Ibn Umar would also touch with his hands the
places where (Rasoolallah Sallallahu'alaihi wa sallam) sat to obtain
Baraka (blessings).
[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.'
Firstly: Not all the things mentioned earlier were started by the Companions.
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.
In the following pages we will discuss some of the issues, which are
considered as 'Bidah' by some of the Muslims