Bid’ah (Innovation)* Part 1 By Akuvada Abdulmalik Al-Eikawee

 

 The Islamic definition of Bid’ah 

**Imaam Ash-Shaafi’i* , may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “A Bid’ah is anything that has no basis in the Qur’aan and Sunnah or sayings of any of the companions.”

**Ibn Al-Jawzi, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “A Bid’ah is any form of worship that did not exist (at the time of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and his companions) then later it was innovated.”

** *Ibn Rajab* , may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “A Bid’ah is any form of worship which has no basis in the Sharee’ah which would warrant its legislation.”

** *Ash-Shaatibi* , may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: 

“(A Bid’ah) is any matter which closely resembles the Sharee’ah and is intended to be a way of worshipping Allaah."

 General rules to recognise Bid’ah

Any act of worship is based on a fabricated Hadeeth is a Bid'ah, like the prayer in the month of Rajab which is called the prayer of Raghaa’ib.

** Any act of worship which the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam did not perform, although there were no preventing factors is a Bid’ah, like uttering the intention before beginning the prayer, calling Adhaan for any prayer other than the five obligatory ones or praying after finishing Sa’y between mount Safaa and Marwah.

** Any habitual act performed with the intention of pleasing Allaah which Islaam did not consider as an act or worship is a Bid'ah, such as for example: wearing coarse woollen clothes, continuous silence, refraining from eating bread or meat, not drinking cold water or standing in the sun. 

** Performing prohibitions acts with the intention of pleasing Allaah is a Bid'ah, such as singing songs about Him. Moreover, all acts of worship must be performed in exactly the same manner as the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam did them.

 This cannot be achieved unless the following *six conditions are fulfilled:* 

1. The act of worship must coincide with the Sharee’ah in the reason for which it is done, or else it would be rejected. Therefore, celebrating Al-Mawlid is a Bid’ah because it is performed as a rewardable act, despite the fact that it has not been legislated.

2. The act of worship must coincide with the Sharee’ah in its category. Therefore, it is not acceptable if a person were to slaughter a horse instead of a camel or goat as a sacrifice after Hajj. 

3. The act of worship must coincide with the Sharee’ah its quantity. Therefore, if somebody were to add two Rak’ah to the Dhuhr prayer, making a total of six Rak'ah instead of four, this would be unacceptable as it would not be 

coinciding with the Sharee’ah in its quantity.

4. The act of worship must coincide with the Sharee’ah in the manner in which it is performed. 

Therefore, if someone were to begin their wudoo'

by washing their feet instead of their hands, then this act would be unacceptable.

5. The act of worship must coincide with the Sharee’ah in the timing of its performance. Therefore, praying the Dhuhr prayer after sunset is unacceptable.

6. The act of worship must coincide with the Sharee’ah in the place it which it is performed.  Therefore, one cannot perform stand on a mountain other than ‘Arafah during Hajj.

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سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لا إِلَهَ إِلا أَنْتَ ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ ،

To be continue in shaa Allah.