Sex in Islam, - Homosexuality: Refutation of Arguments in its Favor

Homosexuality and lesbianism have been dubbed "alternative
life-styles," "personal preference," "a natural variation," etc. in
the West today. Where homosexuality was considered an illness by the
Association of Psychiatrists, it is now removed from the list and
replaced by homophobia (the dislike of homosexuals and homosexuality).
Consequently, Islam and Muslims are considered intolerant and biased
due to their continued opposition. Arguments in favor of tolerance to
homosexuals are based on the assumption that homosexual behavior is
biologically based and not merely learned from society.
1.Early opposition to homosexuality was based on the argument that
such behavior was unnatural. Sodomy cannot produce children which is
one of the main natural consequences of sexual relations. "Mother
Nature" did not make us that way, it was argued. To counter such
arguments homosexual researchers scoured the earth until they found
supposed homosexual behavior among the animal kingdom. They found that
the males of some species of exotic fishes off the coast of Japan
imitated the behavior of females of the species in order to prevent
other males from impregnating their mates, and some rare butterflies
from islands of the coast of Africa also had males exhibiting female
behavior during mating season, etc. However, if the animal kingdom is
to be used to justify human behavior, there also exists a spider in
South America, whose female is much larger than the male. When mating
is complete, the female eats her mate.
2.During the 80's it was claimed that a gland in the base of the brain
which is small in women and large in men was found to be small among
homosexuals. However, this evidence, while seeming incontrovertible to
the layman, was immediately refuted by scientists. The data was taken
from cross-sections of the brains of dead adult humans whose sexual
preference was identified prior to death. Consequently, the reduced
size among homosexuals could have been a result of the practice and
not its cause. That is, they could have been born with normal sized
glands which then became small due to their deviant lifestyle.
3.Recently genetics has become the most commonly used foundation for
the pro-gay argument. In 1993 Dr. Dean Hamer, a researcher at the
National Cancer Institute, claimed to have discovered "the first
concrete evidence that 'gay genes' really do exist." Homosexual
orientation was supposedly transmitted to males on the X chromosome
from the mother. Hamer's findings, published in the prestigious
journal Science, transformed his colorless career as a government
scientist into a dynamic media personality and penned his memoirs. He
gave expert testimony to the Colorado Supreme Court that formed the
basis of the victorious decision striking down anti-gay Proposition 2.
However, a replication of his study at the University of Western
Ontario failed to find any linkage whatsoever between the X chromosome
and sexual orientation. It was also found that Hamer's study lacked a
control group; a fundamental principle of scientific research.
Furthermore, in June 1994, the Chicago Tribune reported that a junior
researcher in Hamer's laboratory who assisted in the gene mapping in
the homosexuality study, alleged that he selectively reported his
data. She was then summarily dismissed from her post-doctoral
fellowship in Hamer's lab. But a National Institutes of Health
investigation substantiated her claims and gave her another position
in a different lab. Though Dr. Hamer was coy about his own sexuality
in his memoirs, he later admitted in his lectures that the was gay.
4.It should be noted that Islam, in its final form, did not introduce
anti-gay legislature to the world. The texts of the Torah are replete
with clear condemnation of such practices.
5.The consequence of AIDS is enough to prove that homosexuality is
evil and dangerous to society. The early spread of AIDS was
concentrated among the homosexual community. It later spread to the
heterosexual community through blood transfusions and intravenous drug
usage and so-called bisexuals. And continues on a rampage among
promiscuous heterosexuals.
6.Islam considers homosexuality to be the result of a choice. It is
inconceivable that God made people homosexuals then declared it a
crime and prescribed punishments for it in both this life and the
next. To accept such a proposition is to accept that God is unjust.
Inclinations can exist within humans for a variety of natural and
unnatural acts, from fornication to rape and from necrophilia to
bestiality. These inclinations may come from jinn-suggestions, media
influence, or even from human whisperings or direct contact. Human
beings are not like robots who only do what they are programmed to do.
Humans choose and God holds them responsible for their choices. Were
homosexuality a product of genetic destiny, it would be unfair for God
to criminalize it and punish those who practice it. Currently, some
scientists are even claiming that murder is of genetic origin. To
accept that would mean to excuse murderers and tolerate murder.
7.Islam instructs parents to separate their children in their beds by
the age of ten in order to avoid sexual experiences which may result
from childhood experimentation. Such experiences may be reinforced by
contacts in schools and through abuse from adults. Also the
distinctions between male and female are strongly made in Islamic
teachings. The Prophet cursed men who imitated women and women who
imitated men. The Western fashion industry is controlled by
homosexuals who attempt to blur the distinction between males and
females in order to make their behavior more acceptable. Consequently,
men's fashion has become more feminine in style and color and women
are now wearing three-piece suits, ties and hats and traditionally
men's shoes. These distinctions may be relative and vary from society
to society. For example, in Scotland men traditionally wear little
knee-length dresses called "kilts". In Scotland it would not be
considered imitation of females, but in a society where only women
wear such dress it would be considered imitation.

Sex in Islam, - Zina - a Major Sin

Allah ta`ala says:"Do not come near Zina, for it is a shameful deed
and an evil path."17:32
"The male and female who commit fornication - flog each one of them
with one hundred lashes, and do not let compassion for the two of them
keep you from (complying with) Allah's religion, if you believe in
Allah and the Last Day. And let a group of believers witness their
punishment."[24:2]
The Jurists say that the last verse quoted above is the punishment for
fornicators who have never been married. If a person was ever married
before committing the crime of Zina, he or she is to be punished by
stoning to death. This is established by the practise of the Prophet
sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam. If they are not punished in this world
and die without repentance (by regretting, leaving the sin, and so
forth), they will be punished in the Fire with whips of fire.In a
tradition transmitted by Bukhari, on the authority of Samurah ibn
Jundab (raa), concerning a dream of the Prophet in which the Prophet
accompanied by Jibreel and Mikaail, the Prophet (saws) said: "We went
on and arrived near a pit which was like an oven, out of which we
could hear cries. We glanced into it and saw naked men and women, who
cried out when the flames reached them from below. I asked, "Who are
these, o Jibreel?" He replied: "Males and females who have committed
fornication."
In explaining the meaning of the verse concerning Hell,"It has seven
gates, to each of these gates a class (of sinners) is
assigned."(15:44); `Ataa says: "The most severe of these gates in
terms of heat, pain, sorrow, and stinking air is the gate for the
doers of fornication, who did it (even) after knowing the awfulness of
it."

Sex in Islam, - Defining Pornography

Have you ever notice the magazines staring at you from one side of the
checkout lane of every supermarket? I have. So one day I decided to
take action. I turned the first magazine in every row to its backside.
Not surprisingly, when I returned the next day they were turned back.
Why did I turn them over? Because they were pornographic. Why were
they turned back? Because they sell.
Perhaps most Muslims think that pornography is only that uncensored
filth that is accessible through XXX movies and certain Internet
sites, but in fact, by Islamic standards, much of what is considered
normal in American advertising is actually pornographic. The purpose
of flailing these seductive images is to arouse the lower desires of
people and to weaken their self-restrain and taint their thoughts. It
bombards the Muslim, especially the youth, with indecent and
suggestively seductive images. Unfortunately, most Muslims are so
oblivious of the presence and influence of these Shaytanic (Satanic)
images, that they regularly view them through various types of media.
Defining Pornography
Pornography is defined in the English language as an indecent form of
art or literature. Islam also views it as indecent and terms it
asfaahishain the Quran.
Allah says (what means):
"Say: The things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are: shameful deeds
whether open or secret…"
Faahishahis translated as "shameful deeds" because it refers to every
bad deed that is noticeably ugly to human beings. In many places in
the Quran, Allah (swt) refers to zinaa, adultery and fornication as a
faahishah. In another verse, Allah (swt) refers to the marrying of
one's father's wife also as being a faahishah because, like adultery,
anyone with a pure nature will clearly see it as hideous. Allah (swt)
also calls the crime of the people of Lut (as), homosexuality, a
faahishah. Likewise to view pictures of nudity, sexual suggestion,
intimacy between two people, or a person of the opposite gender who is
improperly covered (Islamically) is also an ugly sin to anyone who
wishes to adhere to piety.
Television
One of the most pervasive tools of pornography is the television.
Shows like "Dawson's Creek" and "Baywatch" have no other purpose
except to display blatant degrees of nakedness and indecent scenes of
intimacy. Movies also succeed in conveying lewd imagery by almost
always including a love/lust story in the story line. However there
are other forms of pornography on TV that are much more subtle. For
example, most Muslims would not realize that the viewing of several
sports events includes pornographic images. The swimsuits that are
worn by both men and woman during the Olympics are iniquitously
revealing. They expose the'awrahof a woman and a man for their
respective genders and the opposite gender.
The word 'awrah refers to those parts of the body which are
Islamically prohibited to expose in front of another (either the
opposite gender or the same gender). For example, it is a must for a
woman to cover all of her body except for her face and hands in front
of men who are permissible for her to marry - that is her 'awrah.
Likewise the man's 'awrah is everything between his navel and knees
while in front of a woman or a man. The skimpy swimsuits worn by these
athletes just don't meet the Islamic dress code.
Underwear Ads
Another subtle example regards women who view advertisements that
contain pictures of other women modeling bras and underwear. The
'awrah of Muslim women in front of other Muslim women doesn't allow
these areas of the body to be exposed and hence it is haram for even a
woman to view them.
It is also important to keep in mind that a person could be "clothed
but naked" as Rasoolullah (saws) said. For example, competitors in
races usually wear some sort of bodysuit that adheres very tightly to
their skin and the exact shape of their body parts is apparent. This
is almost equivalent to being naked, since it doesn't take much
imagination to figure out what is under such type of clothing.
Lowering the Gaze
When such images become prevalent in a society, what is deemed
pornographic changes drastically. The very standard of modesty, which
should be a defining characteristic of Muslim dress and behavior, will
become degraded. The Islamic standard must be upheld. The true
believer fears Allah's judgement and knows that no act will go
unaccounted for and that even his own eyes will bear witness against
him on the Day of Judgement. Allah (swt) says:"Until, when they reach
it (Hell-Fire) their hearing and eyes and skin will testify against
them as to what they used to do."Rasoolullah (saws) warned us that
there is a zinaa of the eyes just as there is a zinaa of the private
parts.
The Islamic solution to living in a society where pornographic images
are so visible is to lower one's gaze.
Allah (swt) says:
"Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard
their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah
is well aquainted with all they do. And say to the believing women
that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they
should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must
ordinarily) appear thereof… "
The scholars of tafseer say that this means that both men and woman
are obliged to direct their sight away from that which is haram and
that there is no harm in looking at that which is halal (such as
viewing one's spouse while they are uncovered).
In regard to these verses Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullah) says:
"So He (Allah) put purity after lowering of the gaze and protecting of
the private parts. For this reason lowering the gaze away from the
prohibited things warrants three great benefits. The first of them is
the sweetness of Imaan and the pleasure that comes from it, which is
more sweet and pleasing than that which he diverted his eyes away from
for Allah's sake. Verily, whoever abandons a thing for Allah's sake,
He (swt) compensates him with better than it…The second benefit is a
light in the heart and quality of intuition… and the third benefit is
the strength of the heart and steadfastness and courage. So Allah
(swt) would give him, by His strength, the ability of wisdom and
substantiation, and the devil would flee from him as it has been
mentioned in the saying, "Whoever fears his whims, the devil would
race out of his shadow."
Indeed, the opposite is also true. This is because the eyes are the
most direct path to the heart. One who allows his whims to overwhelm
him and indulges his eyes in the viewing of haram things has weakened
his heart, corrupted his soul, and invited shaytan to control him.

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