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Some
Common Innovations
Imitating
the Kuffar nowadays has resulted
in many Bid’ah’s. Prophet (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) said: “You will
follow the ways of those who were before you. (Jews and
Christians)”[At-Tirmidhee] Some common Bid'ah today in the Ummah are:
Al-Mawlid
- Celebrating the Prophet's (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) birthday
The
practice of celebrating al-Mawlid (Prophet's birthday) on the 12th day of
Rabee' al-Awwal each Hijri year, has no basis in the Qur'aan and the Sunnah,
rather this celebration is an imitation of the Christians, resembling their
celebration of Prophet Jesus's (alahi as-salaam) birthday, invented in the 4th
century of Hijrah through the Shites This practice is known and performed as a
sign of one's love for the Messenger of Allah (sallallhu alahi wa-sallam).
Although, the Qur'aan has enlightened the issue of loving and establishing the
love of the Messenger (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) in a differing way: Allah
says:
“Say
(O Muhammad (sallallhu alahi wa-sallam): 'If you (really) love Allaah, then
follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allaah is
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
This
verse clarifies the fact that the love of the Prophet (sallallahu alahi
wa-sallam) is merely a claim unless the proof of sincerity is exposed, which
is to submit and abide to the laws and commands of Allah, revealed to Prophet
Muhammad (sallallhu alahi wa-sallam). In accordance to the above mentioned
verse, one who claims to loves the Prophet
(sallallhu alahi wa-sallam), then it is for him to obey his (sallallahu
alahi wa-sallam) commands and follow his (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) Sunnah,
for Allah says: “whatsoever the Messenger gives you, take it, and
whatsoever he forbids you, abstain from it”
[(59): 7]
And
according to the Sunnah of Prophet (sallallhu alahi wa-sallam), exaggerating
his (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) position in calling upon him as is done in
these celebrations is not only against his saying but indeed Shirk. Allah
says: “ invoke not anyone along with Allaah.” [(72): 18]
And
he (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) said: “Do not exaggerate about me, as the
Christians exaggerated about the son of Maryam. I am only a slave, so say
“the slave and Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alahi wa-sallm)”
[Bukhari]
Celebrating
al-Mawlid even if it does not hold calling upon the Prophet (sallallahu alahi
wa-sallam) and other sorts of sins; like the mingling of men and women,
singing, narrating poems about the Prophet (sallallhu alahi wa-sallam), which
contain undeserved praise of the Prophet etc… is an innovation, since this
practice as mentioned earlier is not a part of the religion, neither Prophet
Muhammad (sallallhu alahi wa-sallam), nor his Companions (radhi allahu anhu)
are known to have commemorated this celebration. Rather, when Prophet Muhammad
(sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) was asked about fasting on Mondays, he
(sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) said: “That is the day on which I was born
and the day on which, I was entrusted with the Mission or when I was first
given Revelation.” [Saheeh Muslim]
Consequently,
one who claims to love the Prophet (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) and truly
thankful to Allah, then according to what has preceded, he must celebrate the
birthday of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) as he (sallallahu
alahi wa-sallam) himself did.
Revering
(Tabarruk) from certain places or personal effects
Tabarruk
means to ask for blessing, by means of which a thing is preserved and
protected and increases in goodness. Tabarruk can be asked to Allah Alone, for
He is the One who sends down the Barakah and preserves it. Companions (radhi
allahu anhu) of Prophet (radhi allahu anhu) used to seek Barakah of Allah by
the hairs of Prophet Muhammad (sallallhu alahi wa-sallam), and his personal
effects. This special status is only for the Prophet and only during his
lifetime. After his death, none of his companions (radhi allahu anhu) carried
out such practice, to seek Barakah from certain places, people or thing is
prohibited and considered Shirk. To believe that Barakah can be reached if one
visits or touches certain thing, place or people, or Allah grants Barakah if
one visiting some certain thing, place or people is a way to Shirk. From these
are hanging, kissing or wearing certain Qur'aanic verses for Barakah, using
charms amulets etc..
Bid'ah
in Matters of Worship
The
religion of Islam is 'Tawqifiyah'. No worship can be enacted that has no proof
in the religion, as the Prophet (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) said: “Whoever
does what is not of our matter then it is rejected.” [Muslim]
From
the many Bid'ah in worship are the following: To converse the Niyyah
(intention). It is a very common practice to converse the niyyah in
preparation for prayer, like the saying “I intend to pray for Allah such and
such rakah…” This act is a Bid'ah, for intention is a matter of the heart
and not the tongue and moreover it has no proof from the Qur'aan and the
Sunnah. Rather, Allah says: “Say: 'Will you inform Allah about your
religion? While Allah knows all that is in the heavens and all that is in the
earth and Allah is all-Aware of everything.” [(49): 16]
A
type of Bid'ah in worship is to recite Fatihah in times of celebration or
death, hiring people to recite the Qur'aan if death comes to someone,
celebrating Israa wa Al-Miraj (ascension of Prophet (sallallhu alahi
wa-sallam) and Hijrah. Also from these is to perform Umrah specifically in the
lunar month of Rajab, Rajab is an ordinary month, there are no special
Umrah, prayer or fast in this month, also form these is to specify prayer
during the middle night of Sha'baan and to fast during the 15th of this month.
Major Bid'ah are building monuments on graves, making graves as mosques, and
visiting graves for Baraqah. All these celebrations are not valid in the
Shar'iah
And
we leave you with the hadeeth of the Prophet (sallallhu alahi wa-sallam),
"….so he follows my sunnah has been guided, and he who follows the innovations has been destroyed." [Ahmad]
