In this article we have decided to place the favourite terminology of the Salafis; Bidah under the microscope. Along with the terms Kufr and Shirk these are the key words that every Salafi holds in his upholstery to counter any opposing viewpoints. To the casual observer / particularly one attracted to Islam this indeed seems attracting after all these bearded gentleman in kaftans are talking about protecting the Deen from additions / corruption that shall change the true image of Islam, and the observer may be misled into concluding ‘can there really exist anyone more sincere than these guys?’ The Salafis are of course aware of how impressive this looks when they carry the term ‘bidah’, ‘kufr’ and ‘shirk’; on the tip of their tongues and drop them into conversations as proof of their devoutness / sincerity and knowledge of the Islamic faith. Sadly a closer inspection of this concept produces some glaring weaknesses in argument that highlights the selective methodology of the Salafis, namely the use of the trump card Bidah to scenarios that their Ulema have themselves defined. In the end what we are left with is a thinking dogged by inconsistency, one where the Salafi clergy and their puppets selectively apply the principles of Bidah as and when they feel like it. Whilst hiding behind the defence of bidah, we witness the Salafi condemning any practices that create an awareness of Islamic dates and events, and this is done as an intentional means to suppress any talk about the life of Rasulullah (s) and Ahlul bayt (as). We therefore have the Salafis deeming:
Whilst the intention of sincere Muslims behind such events is instil in our children the importance of these dates and the corresponding events via religious gatherings, to the Salafi such remembrances are an abhorrent bidah that should be uprooted /banned at all costs. Curiously the same Salafi clergy who enforce these rules in Saudi Arabia via coercion, have no comment when their Kings celebrate the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Day every year; hence the Salafi rule applies when it comes to remembering Imam Husayn (as) but are relaxed when it comes to remembering the creation of the British backed Saudi monarchy. Need one say more of the double standards shown by the Salafis?
Whilst the Salafis deem other Sects such as the Shia to be Ahlul Bidah who are seeking to corrupt the Deen through their practices, the very Salafi whom they seek to emulate were themselves the King Pins of Bidah one in particular deemed Bidah to be his God given right, to the point that he introduced countless Bidah into the Deen as and when he felt like it. Sadly rather than adopt honesty and also acknowledge such practices to be Bidah, the Salafi Cult support such Bidahs and embrace them as part of their aqeedah. What we are left with is a deeply flawed concept that is defined subjectively by the Salafis, that they prejudicially apply to suit their own needs and viewpoints.
This article is a critical study that shall seek to present their concept to the masses; further we seek to expose this double standards and hypocrisy of the Salafis and we shall then leave it to our readers to decide whether there really is any real credibility in their concept or whether it is just a based on the will of the whims of the minority who seek to exploit the Deen for their own endeavour.