WHAT IS BIDA’H?
The Islamic definition of Bid’ah:
Imam Ash-Shaafi’i, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: “A Bid’ah is anything that has no basis in the Qur’an, 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 S’aiee between mount Safaa and Marwah.
Any habitual act performed with the intention of pleasing Allaah which Islam 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. Moreover, all acts of worship must be performed in exactly the same manner as the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam did them.
The dangers of Bid’ah and their evil effects:
1. Bid’ah is a pre-cursor to disbelief.
2. Making unfounded statements on behalf of Allaah. Correcting the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam or claiming that he had deficiencies.
3. Dividing the Muslim nation. (Allaah says that which translates as: “And do not be like those who became divided and differed after the clear proofs had come to them. And they will have a great punishment.” (Al-Imran: 105).
Al-Qurtubi, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "This verse refers to the Jews and the Christians according to the majority of the scholars, but others have said that it refers to innovators within the Muslim nation.”)
[We are not Barelwi, not Tabligi, not Ahle Hadith, not Shaafai'i not Hanafi etc. but we are only and only MUSLIM. Tell me Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) and Sahabas belong to which group? We make these all groups after them. Imam Shaafi’i, may Allah mercy upon him etc. born many years after Prophet (SAWS).]
4. Abandoning the Sunnah.
5. Igniting disputes among the Muslims.
6. Accusing the Prophet of not completely conveying the message of Islam.
7. Competing with the Prophets in their Prophethood. Altering the religion. Allaah says that which translates as: “... This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islam as a religion...” (Al-Maa’idah: 3).
Allaah says that which translates as: “[They are] those whose effort is lost in worldly life, while they think they are doing well in work.” (Al-Kahf: 104)
Allaah says that which translates as: “So let those beware who dissent from his [i.e., the Prophet's] order lest trials strike them or a painful punishment.” (An- Noor: 63)
Allaah says that which translates as: “So let those beware who dissent from his [i.e., the Prophet's] order lest trials strike them or a painful punishment.” (An- Noor: 63)
"He who does something which is not according to what we (i.e., the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and his companions) are upon, then it is rejected (by Allaah)”. (Muslim)
Anas Ibn Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Allaah does not accept the repentance of an innovator until he abandons his innovation”. (At-Tabaraani & Bayhaqi)
Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “I will be ahead of you in reaching my fountain, and there will be people who will be prevented from reaching it, therefore, I will say: 'My Lord! These are my followers!' It will be said: 'you do not know what they innovated and altered after you' (i.e., after your death)’. Therefore, I will say: 'let those who altered (the religion) be kept away (in a humiliated place)”. (Bukhaari & Muslim)
Abu Ad-Dardaa’ (may Allaah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “I swear by Allaah that I have left you with it (i.e., the religion) so clear that it is as clear at night as it is during the day (i.e., patently obvious) and only a doomed person will stray away from it.” (Ibn Maajah)
Related stories:
1. Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) was circumambulating the Ka’bah with Mu’awiyah Ibn Abu Sufyaan, may Allaah be pleased with him and his father, during Mu’awiyah reign. Mu’awiyah would touch all four corners of the Ka’bah while circumambulating and so Ibn ‘Abbaas remarked: "The Prophet only touched two corners (the black stone and the Yemeni corner)." Mu’awiyah replied: "No part of the house of Allaah should be neglected." Thereupon, Ibn ‘Abbaas recited (that which translates as):“There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allaah an excellent pattern (i.e., example to be followed) for anyone whose hope is in Allaah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allaah often” (Al-Ahzaab: 21). Upon hearing this, Mu’awiyah refrained.
2. Sa’eed Ibn Al-Musayyib, may Allaah have mercy upon him, saw a man praying too many optional prayers before the Fajr prayer and therefore he forbade him from doing so. The man retorted: "O Abu Muhammad! Will Allaah punish me for praying?" Sa'eed replied: "No, but He will punish you for doing other than the Sunnah."
3. A man asked Imaam Maalik, may Allaah have mercy upon him: "At which point do I initiate my state of Ihraam?" he replied: "From Thul- Hulayfah - where the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam did so" the man retorted: "I wish to do it from the area beside the grave of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam" Imaam Malik said: "Do not do that, for I fear that if you do so, you will be afflicted with trials" the man replied: "Why would I be afflicted with trials? All I wanted was to do it from a place which is only a few miles away from where you told me!" Imaam Maalik said upon hearing this: "What can be more serious than feeling that you performed a righteous deed that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam failed to do? I heard the saying of Allaah (which translates as): “So let those beware who dissent from his [i.e., the Prophet's] order lest trials strike them or a painful punishment.”" (An-Noor: 63)
This article taken from authentic sources with some additional notes by Bint A.Shakoor.