Bid‘ah

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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 considered a sin, and the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, stated as such:

'A'isha reported Allah's Messenger as saying: He who innovates things in our affairs for which there is no valid (reason) (commits sin) and these are to be rejected.

—Aisha, Translation of Sahih Muslim, Book 18: The Book Pertaining to Judicial Decisions (Kitab Al-Aqdiyya)^[1]

Allah's Apostle said, "If somebody innovates something which is not in harmony with the principles of our religion, that thing is rejected."

—Aisha, Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Book 49: Peacemaking^[2]

Similar statements are found in other verses of the Qur'an and other Hadith as well.

[edit] According to Sunni Islam

Generally bid‘ah in religious terms is referred to as anything which was not sanctioned by Muhammad or his Sahabah (companions)^{[citation needed]}

Sunni Islamic scholars have divided bid'ah into two types: innovations in worldly matters and innovations in religious matters.^[3]

Bid‘ah as a sin is ranked right below shirk, which makes it the second biggest sin^{[citation needed]}

[edit] In worldly matters

Sunni Muslim scholars have divided bid‘ah in worldly matters into two types^{[citation needed]}.

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 Sharia.
2. Innovations that are purely evil - these are forbidden under Islamic law. Examples of this type of bid'ah include alcohol^[4], or, in modern times, the discovery and synthesis of new intoxicants.

[edit] In religious matters

Religious innovation means inventing a new way of worshipping God 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, Abū Ḥanīfa, Malik ibn Anas, Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi`i, and Ahmad ibn Hanbal.

Muhammad said:

He who innovates (an act or practice) or gives protection to an innovator, there is a curse of Allah and that of His angels and that of the whole humanity upon him.

—Muhammad, Translation of Sahih Muslim, Book 9: The Book of Divorce (Kitab Al-Talaq)^[5]

So whoever innovates in it an heresy (something new in religion) or commits a crime in it or gives shelter to such an innovator, will incur the curse of Allah, the angels and all the people,...

—Muhammad, Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Book 80: Laws of Inheritance (Al-Faraa'id)^[6]

`Abd Allah ibn `Umar said: "Every innovation is misguidance, even if the people see it as something good.^[7]"

Ibn 'Abbaas also said: "Indeed the most detestable of things to Allaah are the innovations."^[8]

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^[9]" and "Whoever listens to an innovator has left the protection of Allaah and is entrusted with the innovation^[10]".

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^[11]".

Hasan al-Basri mentions: "Do not sit with the people of innovation and desires, nor argue with them, nor listen to them".^[12]

Ibraaheem ibn Maysarah mentions: "Whoever honours an innovator has aided in the destruction of Islaam."^[13]

Al-Hasan ibn 'Ali al-Barbahari 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."^[14]

Abu Haatim said: "A sign of the people of innovation is their battling against the people of Narrations."^[15]

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."^[16]

Muhammad ibn al Uthaymeen, a prominent modern day scholar of Islam, wrote: "And there is no such thing in Islaam as bid’ah hasanah (good innovation)."^[17]

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 ^[18] - 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).^[19]

[edit] According to Shia Islam

According to Shia Islam 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 Qur'an or hadith.

Any new good practice that is practiced that does not contradict the Qur'an or hadith is permissible. However, it is not permissible to say that a new good practice (that does not contradict the Qur'an or hadith) is obligatory or highly recommended.

As a general rule in Shi'a belief, anything is permissible except whatever is prohibited through divine revelation such as the Qur'an or hadith.^[20]

[edit] References

This article relies on references to primary sources or sources affiliated with the subject, rather than references from independent authors and third-party publications. Please add more appropriate citations from reliable sources. (October 2007)

[edit] External links

[edit] Opposing views

• The Perfection of the Sharia and an Exposition of the Reprehensible Innovations That Have Crept Into Islam
• Innovation in Light of the Perfection of the Shari'ah
• Shaykh ‘Uthaymeen on innovations

[edit] Supporting view

• Bid’ah: a Detailed Explanation from Living Islam
• The Concept of Bid'a by Nuh Ha Mim Keller

[edit] Shi'a view

• Introduction to Bid'ah from the Shia website Answering Ansar
• Detailed Explanation of the Shi'a view on Bid'ah