The Statement of Imam Bukhaaree Concerning Innovations

Imaam Bukhaaree (rahimahullaah) said:
I met more than a thousand men amongst the people of knowledge from the people of al-Hijaaz, al-Makkah, al-Madinah, al-Koofah, al-Basrah, Waasit, Baghdaad, Shaam and Misr... and I never saw a single one of them differ with respect to the following matters...
... And they used to forbid and prevent [people] from the innovations - those that the Messenger and his Companions were not upon, due to His saying:
And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allâh (i.e. this Qur'ân), and be not divided among yourselves [Soorah Aali Imraam 3:103]
and due to His saying:
If you obey him [the Messenger], you shall be on the right guidance [Soorah an-Noor 24:54]
[Reported by al-Laalikaa'ee (2/172-5), The Creed of Imaam Bukhaaree p.13,28 - al-Maktabah as-Salafiyyah Publications]

Notes

In the words of Imaam Bukhaaree is a clear indication that Muslim unity is to be attained by removing the innovations - and that is the unanimous understanding of the greatest of scholars of the noble ayah in question. Since it is the newly-invented matters (in the issues of belief, action and methodology) that have divided the hearts of the Muslims and set them against each other. Thus, in order for the hearts of the Muslims to unite and consequently, their word and rank, it is necessary for them to purify their beliefs, actions and methodologies from everything that was never taught by the Messenger and which was never acted upon by the Noble Companions (ra) - whilst humbly submitting to the Pure and Clear Sunnah. But this cannot be attained until the Muslims attend to the authentic and beneficial knowledge - that which has been left by the Messenger and which has been inherited by the Scholars after him, the Ahl ul-Hadeeth (the People of Authenticating the Narrations) and then to nurture themselves upon it. This issue was so clearly understood by the Companions of Allaah's Messenger and those after them, as will become evident by the narrations below.

The Messenger of Allaah said: “Every innovation is misguidance and going astray.” Reported by Abu Daawood, no.4607 and it is saheeh.
The Messenger also warned against the people of innovation, from befriending, supporting or taking from them saying: “Whoever innovates or accomodates an innovator then upon him is the curse of Allaah, His Angels and the whole of mankind.” Reported by Bukhaaree (12/41) and Muslim (9/140)
And in his footsteps, we find the Noble Companions and the Taabi’een after them warning from the danger of innovations upon the Ummah, its people and their unity.
Ibn Abbaas (d. 68H) said: “Indeed the most detestable of things to Allaah are the innovations.” Reported by al-Bayhaqee in as-Sunan al-Kubraa (4/316)
Ibn Umar (d. 84H) said: “Every innovation is misguidance, even if the people see it as something good.“ Reported by Abu Shaamah (no. 39)
Sufyaan ath-Thawree (d. 161H) said:“Innovation is more beloved to Iblees than sin, since a sin may be repented from but innovation is not repented from.” Reported by al-Laalikaa'ee (no. 238)
Al-Fudayl bin 'Iyaad (d. 187H) said: ”I met the best of people, all of them people of the Sunnah and they used to forbid from accompanying the people of innovation.” Reported by al-Laalikaa'ee (no.267)
Al-Hasan al-Basree (d. 110H) said: “Do not sit with the people of innovation and desires, nor argue with them, nor listen to them.” Reported by ad-Daarimee in his Sunan (1/121)
Ibraaheem bin Maysarah (d.132H) said: “Whoever honours an innovator has aided in the destruction of Islam.” Reported by al-Laalikaa'ee (1/139).
Sufyaan ath-Thawree (d. 161H) said: “Whoever listens to an innovator has left the protection of Allaah and is entrusted with the innovation.” Reported by Abu Nu'aym in al-Hilyah (7/26) and Ibn Battah (no.444).
Imaam Maalik (d. 179H) said: “How evil are the people of innovation, we do no give them salaam.” Reported by al-Baghawee in Sharh us-Sunnah (1/234).
Imaam ash-Shaafi'ee (d. 204H) said: “That a person meets Allaah with every sin except Shirk is better than meeting Him upon any one of the innovated beliefs.” Reported by al-Bayhaqee in al-I'tiqaad (p.158)
Al-Fudayl bin 'Iyaad (d. 187H) said: “Whoever sits with a person of innovation, then beware of him and whoever sits with a person of innovation has not been given wisdom. I love that there was fort of iron between me and a person of innovation. That I eat with a Jew and a Christian is more beloved to me than that I eat with a person of innovation.” Reported by al-Laalikaa'ee (no.1149)
Al-Layth bin Sa'd (d. 175H) said: “If I saw a person of desires (i.e. innovations) walking upon the water I would not accept from him." So Imaam as-Shaafi'ee then said: "He (al-Layth) has fallen short. If I saw him walking in the air I would not accept from him.” Reported by as-Suyooti in al-Amr bil 'Ittibaa wan-Nahee anil Ibtidaa'.

Newly Invented Matters (in Religion)

Question: What are newly invented matters and what is the meaning of this?

Answer: This comes from the statement of the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam): Beware of newly invented matters. [1] This refers to every innovation people do in the religion of Islam, whether that innovation is in belief or worship etc. All of which is neither from the Book (of Allaah) nor an established Sunnah from the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam). Yet they take these things as religious practice and beliefs, worshipping Allaah with them, claiming that they are lawful when they are not. On the contrary, such acts are prohibited innovations. Examples include calling upon the righteous, be they the dead or the living who are not present. This includes taking graves as places of worship, making Tawaf [2] around them, and seeking help from their inhabitants, or the belief that they can intercede for them with Allaah, or lobby Him on their behalf in order to have their requests granted or to relieve them of their troubles. Honouring the birthdays of Prophets and righteous people as holidays and celebrating on them. They perform deeds they claim will bring them closer to Allaah - especially in the day or the night of the birthday or even in that month. There are many other such things, too numerous to mention, be they innovations or superstitions for which Allaah has revealed no sanction and which have not been confirmed by the Sunnah of Allaahs Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam). Thus, it is clear from what we have said that some of the newly invented matters are Shirk, like seeking help from the dead and swearing oaths to them. Others are simply innovations and do not reach the level of Shirk, such as building over graves and making places of worship over them, so long as excess therein does not lead to actions which would be considered Shirk. [1] Ahmad 4:125 [2] Tawaf: Circumambulation

Permanent Committee for Research and Verdicts

Fatawa Islamiyah Vol. 1 Page 110

Regarding Innovations in the Religion

Regarding innovations in the religion

Question: His eminence, Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-’Uthaymeen (رحمه الله) was asked concerning bid’ah (innovations).

Answer: The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said regarding innovations: “Be careful about the invented matters for every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is in the fire.” And if this is so, then one has to be warned from following any innovation, whether it is initial or continual, for it is, as the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “in the fire”, meaning that misguidance is the cause of the punishment in the fire and the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) warned his nation from the innovations necessitating that that they are a sheer corruption because the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said generally concerning this: “every innovation is misguidance”. Therefore, the innovations, in reality are indirect criticisms of the Shari’ah; because they necessicate the implication that the Shar’iah is incomplete and that the innovation is a more perfect form of worship to seek nearness to Allaah as the innovator claims. Then to the innovator we say: “Every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is in the fire". And it is a duty to warn about all the innovations and that mankind not worship Allaah except by what Allaah and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) have legislated. In this way, one’s Imaam will truly be the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), for whomsoever follows the path of innovation then he has made the innovator his Imaam in that innovation, instead of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم).

Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-`Uthaymeen

Majmoo' Fataawa wa Rasaa'il - Volume Two, Number 345

Which One Has The Greater Punishment: The Sinners Or The Innovators?

The Noble Shaykh Saalih Al-Fawzaan (may Allah preserve him) was asked, "Which o­ne has the greater punishment: The sinners or the innovators?"
Thus the Noble Shaykh answered:

The innovators have a greater punishment, for verily innovation is more severe than mutiny. Hence, innovation is more beloved to the Shaytaan than mutiny. For surely the sinner repents.

Sufyaan Ath-Thawree may Allah bestow mercy upon him said: "Innovation is more beloved to Iblees (Shaytaan) than mutiny; for verily mutiny is repented from and innovation is not repented from." [Majmoo Fatawaa vol.11 pg.472]

As for the innovator, then it is rare that he repents. Because he (the innovator) thinks that he is upon truth opposed to the sinner who knows that he is a sinner and commits mutiny. As for the innovator, he sees himself as being a follower, and that he is upon obedience. Thus, for that reason innovation - and the protection is with Allah - is more evil than mutiny. Hence for that reason the Salaf used to warn against sitting with the innovator.

Al-Hassan Al-Basree may Allah bestow mercy upon him said: "Do not sit with the companion of innovation; for verily he will sicken your heart." [Al-Bi'dah wan Nahee 'Anhaa pg.54]

Because they have an affect o­n those who sit with them and their danger is severe. Without a doubt innovation is more evil than mutiny, and the danger of the innovator is greater upon the people than the sinner and for this reason the Salaf said: "Thriftiness with the sunnah is better than perseverance upon innovation."[Al Ajwibah Al-Mufeedah q.5 pg.26]

Definition of Bid'ah and it Categories

Bid’ah- is every belief, saying or action which came about after the death of the Prophet (sallaahu alaihe wa sallam) with the intention of worship and seeking nearness (to Allaah) without any evidence for it from the Book (Qur’aan) or from the Sunnah.
There are five categories of bid’ah. All of them are misguidance and some of them are more evil than others.
Bid’ah I’tiqaadeeyah It is every belief opposing the Book and Sunnah.
Bid’ah Lafdheeyah It is every saying which a person utters [intended] as worship and it is in opposition to the Book and the Sunnah.
Bid’ah Badaneeyah It is every movement, which originates from a person [intended] as worship, in opposition to the Book and the Sunnah.
Bid’ah Maaleeyah It is every item of wealth, which is spent as worship on things which are in opposition to the Book and the Sunnah.
Bid’ah Tarkeeyah It is everything that is abandoned from the Deen or permissible and lawful, intended as worship, such as the one who leaves marriage or leaves eating meat intending worship, piety and self-denial.

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-This was taken from the book " Beneficial Speech in Establishing the Evidences of Tawheed" By Shaykh Muhammad Bin Abdil- Wahhaab Al- Wasaabee
Foreword by the Noble Scholar, Al-Allaamah, Ash-Shaykh Muqbil Bin Haadee Al- Waadi'ee (Died 1422 AH May Allaah's mercy be upon him, ameen)

Shaykh ‘Uthaymeen on innovations

Author: Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-'Uthaymeen (:rahim:)
Source: Majmoo' Fataawa wa Rasaa'il - Volume Two, Number 345

His eminence, Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-’Uthaymeen (:rahim:) was asked concerning bid’ah (innovations).
Then he answered by saying:
The Prophet (:pbuh:) said regarding innovations:

“Be careful about the invented matters for every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is in the fire.”

And if this is so, then one has to be warned from following any innovation, whether it is initial or continual, for it is, as the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “in the fire”, meaning that misguidance is the cause of the punishment in the fire and the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) warned his nation from the innovations necessitating that that they are a sheer corruption because the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said generally concerning this: “every innovation is misguidance”.
Therefore, the innovations, in reality are indirect criticisms of the Shari’ah; because they necessicate the implication that the Shar’iah is incomplete and that the innovation is a more perfect form of worship to seek nearness to Allaah as the innovator claims.
Then to the innovator we say: “Every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is in the fire”. And it is a duty to warn about all the innovations and that mankind not worship Allaah except by what Allaah and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) have legislated.
In this way, one’s Imaam will truly be the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), for whomsoever follows the path of innovation then he has made the innovator his Imaam in that innovation, instead of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم).