Rasool Allah [saww] said:
“Every Bidah is misguidance and every path of misguidance goes to hell”
Shia Reference: Wasail al-Shia Vol.11, page 511
The word “bidah” or “innovation” carries two linguistic meanings:
1) The act of introducing something new.
2) The act of innovating; introduction of something new, in customs, rites, etc. –(Dryden).
Rasool Allah [saww] never presented a literal approach towards the linguistic meaning of Bidah. But he [saww] gave a Shar’i definition of Bidah, depending on one Rule that placed new matters into two categories. The Rule was:
Narrated Aisha:
Allah’s Apostle said, “If somebody innovates something which is not in harmony with the principles of our religion, that thing is rejected.”
Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 49, Number 861
So, these 2 categories are:
1) Any new matters that were not in harmony with the principles of religion were understood as Bidah by Rasool Allah [saww]. It was only these actions, customs, rites etc. that were considered as misguidance and were rejected.
2) All newly introduced matters, that were in conformity with the principles of religion, were not labelled as Bidah’s of misguidance by Rasool Allah [saww]. These were acts of guidance and Rasool Allah [saww] promised for great rewards for them.
Jarir b. Abdullah reported:
Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: He who introduced some good practice in Islam which was followed after him (by people) he would be assured of reward like one who followed it, without their rewards being diminished in any respect. And he who introduced some evil practice in Islam which had been followed subsequently (by others), he would be required to bear the burden like that of one who followed this (evil practice) without theirs being diminished in any respect.
Sahih Muslim, Book 034, Number 6466
Introducing a good practice means that one can perform any act or ritual according to one’s own OPINION, provided that the act / ritual / custom is in harmony with the principles of religion.
The Sahaba performed acts based on their own OPINION, that were never practiced before. (Insha-Allah, in the next parts we shall cite these examples in detail)
They never follow the Shar’i definition of bidah by Rasool Allah [saww]. Instead, they have made their own Shar’i definitions of Bidah, based on their “Literal” approach towards the linguistic meaning of Bidah.
In general, they claim that all the new acts, customs, rites, which were not acted upon in the time of Rasool Allah [saww] come under the Shar’i definition of Bidah. They say that all acts of worship are “tawqeefi” and not subject to personal opinion – one can only practice those acts of worship, that existed in the days of Rasool Allah [saww]. Let me quote the Salafi definition of Bidah from one of the most authentic website of Salafies i.e.:
Islam-QA.com
“It (Bidah) is defined as any invented way in religion that is aimed at worshipping or drawing closer to Allah. This means anything that is not referred to specifically in Sharee’ah, and for which there is no evidence (daleel) in the Qur’an or Sunnah, and which was not known at the time of the Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him).”
At another place, www.islam-qa.com quotes another definition of Bidah by famous Salafi Alim, Shaikh Uthaymeen, who also included the alleged 4 rightly guided caliphs into this:
“Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“According to Sharee’ah, the definition is ‘Worshipping Allah in ways that ‘Allah has not prescribed.’ If you wish you may say, ‘Worshipping ‘Allah in ways that are not those of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) or his rightly guided successors (al-khulafaa’ al-raashidoon).’” (Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, vol. 2, p. 291)
We wonder why Salafies apply their own Innovations when defining Bidah, when Rasool Allah [saww] himself gave the Shar’i definition of Bidah.
Now the question that arises is, ‘what is in harmony with the religion of Islam and what is not?’ This is how the rule applies. The Muslim Ummah has a consensus on this rule i.e. all the acts are permitted unless Allah has forbidden them.
Islam QA states:
Ahle Sunnah Alim Maulana Saeed Asad (may Allah bless him) in his book ‘The Concept of Bid’ah’, writes:
“In Islam, all acts and rituals are permitted unless Allah has forbidden them. This is because Allah does not want to burden the ummah as he is Rahman and Raheem. To prove this, we will read the Qur’an. Allah says:
“Oh you who believe! Ask not about things, which if made plain to you, may cause you trouble. If you ask about them while the Qur’an is being revealed, they will be made plain to you”(5:101).
This verse tells us that those actions about which the Qur’an is silent, they should not become a subject of useless questioning. Allah’s silence is a mercy. If Allah has not prohibited it, then it is permissible for us. Allah also says: “Those who believe and do righteous deeds, there is no sin on them for what they ate (in the past)” (5:93).
Again, we are made aware that until revelation deems something Haram, it is allowed. Before the Qur’an forbade alcohol, it was not just allowed but was consumed by the Muslims but, as soon as Allah forbade it, its consumption became Haram. This is the case for any other act. Until it is prohibited, it is allowed. Allah further says: “Say, I find not in that which has been revealed to me anything forbidden to be eaten unless it be a dead animal or blood poured forth or the swine” (6:145).
Once again, the Qur’an is showing us that all things are allowed except for what is forbidden. Hence, to say that something is Haram without it being deemed as Haram is wrong. Sayyadina Abdullah ibn Abbas said that “Whatever the Qur’an termed as Halal is Halal and whatever it deemed Haram is Haram and about which it remained silent, this is forgiven” (Abu Dawud Vol 2).
Shah Abdul Haq Dehlwi, pioneer of the science of hadith in the subcontinent, says in relation to the above hadith that: “The reason why ibn Abbas recited this was to let it be known that something can only become Haram by way of revelation and it was not permitted to make anything Haram through ones own desires” (Ash’atul Lum’aat Vol 3).
Therefore, to say that anything is Haram without there being revelation about it is incorrect in itself. Allah also says “Who has forbidden the adornment with clothes given by Allah which he has produced for His slaves and the pure foods? (7:32). This verse again reveals that no person today has the right to declare a pure item Haram. Prohibition is only proven through revelation.
Those who continue to say that acts, which the Prophet (saw) didn’t perform are Haram, then Allah announces “Say, bring forward your witnesses who can testify that Allah has forbidden this” (6:150).
This verse clearly proves that everything is in essence permissible. Only those things are Haram which Allah or the Prophet (saw) decree as Haram. If everything had in essence been Haram, Allah would never challenge people to bring evidence against certain items.”
While talking with a group of people, one Extreme Salafi claimed that another Bidah by (Imam) Khomeini (alaihi rahmah) was this that he announced a Bounty on the head of Murtad Sulman Rushdie as a prize. And there existed no such Bounties on the heads of Murtad in the time of Rasool Allah [saww].
But surprisingly, another Salafi brother (who was not so extreme) pointed him out that he was making a mistake by declaring it a bidah. He said that Sharia has no-where prohibited doing this and all that has not been prohibited by Sharia, it is Mubah (i.e. allowed to do it).
One wonder, if all the acts like giving prizes to the children who take part in Qur’an recitation competitions, or those who take first positions in their classes etc., are Bidhas of misguidance? Why haven’t Salafis declared all of them Bidahs up till now?
About bounty on head of Salman Rushdie, one has to pay attention to words of Rasool Allah (saww), when he said:
He who introduced some good practice in Islam which was followed after him (by people) he would be assured of reward like one who followed it, without their rewards being diminished in any respect. And he who introduced some evil practice �
Sahih Muslim, Book 034, Number 6466
The glowing tradition of sacrifice set by Hazrat Ibrahim and his son Hazrat Ismail (Peace be upon them) has been upheld in varying degrees by great personalities of history. But Karbala became an abiding frame of reference because of an epic encounter to preserve the pristine purity of Islam in letter and in spirit. The martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain, his family members and faithful followers (May Allah bless these souls) in that encounter has inscribed a saga of devotion and determination unparalleled in the annals of human struggle. The hallowed memory of heroes like those of Karbala keeps the flame of truth and righteousness burning.
The incident of Karbala must be remembered and acted upon by the Ummah to frustrate the designs aimed at distorting the true image of Islam. The Yazidi tendencies to deviate from the accepted code of the faith must be checked before they assume overpowering proportions
In human and emotional terms, the event is a moving experience relived.
Commemoration of Majalis in Muharram-ul-Haram is a call to Jehad against oppression and tyranny, answered in the spirit of the heroes and martyrs of Karbala.
But Yazidi forces (alaiham lanah) are afraid of spreading of the truth and want to extinguish this Light in every possible way. One of their tactics to mislead the Muslims is misuse of concept of Bidah. This ploy has been used by the Salafi and Deobandi in equal measure. The leading scholar of the Deobandi Nasibi Allamah Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi in his ‘Fatawa Rasheediya” page 120 issued an edict deeming the act of speaking about the martyrdom of Imam Husayn during Muhurrum was Haram. One of the leading newspapers of Pakistan published a letter of one such Yazidi (alaihi lanah), who demanded that Government should ban the commemoration of Majalis-e-Aza and processions during Muharram-ul-Haram, while this practice didn’t exist in time of Rasool Allah [saww].
But these Yazidi forces (alaihum lanah) will never succeed in their conspiracies. Insha-Allah. The commemoration of Majalis and processions in Muharram-ul-Haram will keep on serving as a call to Jehad against oppression and tyranny.
Note:
Actually, the publishing of this letter in one of the leading newspapers of Pakistan, motivated us to write this article. May Allah give the sharpness of Dhulfiqar-e-Haideri (the sword of ‘Ali) to our Qalam (pen) against these Batil forces of Yazid. (Illahi Amin).