The definitions of the Bad and Good Innovation (Bid’at-e-Sayyia and Hasana) have already been given (an Innovation that goes against Islam or erases a Sunnah is Sayyia, and that which is contrary to this is Hasana). Now follows the recognition of these given categories:
Permissible (Jaaiz) Innovation – Every new action that is not prohibited by the Shariah and is carried out without any intention of goodness, e.g. eating various types of food, etc. Reference for this from Mirqaat and Shaami has already been presented. There is no reward or punishment accumulated in these actions.
Preferred (Mustahab) Innovation new action that is not prohibited by the Shariah and which the general Muslim public deems to be a deed of reward,” that which a person completes with the intention of goodness, e.g. gatherings of Meelad and making the Fatiha of the pious, as the general Muslim public deems these actions to be of reward. The person who completes these actions will attain thawaab and the person who doesn’t will not be a sinner. Proof of this follows.
Mulla Ali Qaari رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ writes, “It has been narrated from Hadrat Ibn Abbas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ, “An action that is deemed to be good by Muslims is also good according to Allah عزوجل.
A marfoo Hadith states, “My Ummah will not agree upon deviance.” -Mirqaat; Baabul-Itisaam
Mishkaat Sharif records the following Hadith, “Actions are based on intentions and a person attains for whatever he intended.”
Durre-Mukhtaar states, “Mustahab is an action which the Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم sometimes did and sometimes didn’t, or an action deemed to be good by the past Muslims.” – Vol. 1, Discussion on the Preferred (mustahabaat) of Wudhu. Shaami states, Because food intentions make habits and actions to become acts of worship (ibaadat). – Vol. 5, Discussion on Qurbaani
The above is also said in Mirqaat, under the discussion of Niyyat.
These Ahadith and extracts of Fiqh prove that any permissible action that is completed with the intention of thawaab, or a deed deemed by Muslims to be full of reward, is also an action of thawaab in the sight of Allah عزوجل. So, whatever they testify to be good is acceptable and whatever they deem to be bad isn’t acceptable.
An appropriate discussion on this can be seen in my book, Shaane Habibur-Rahman, and a brief insight in this book under the discussion of the Urs of the Saints.
Waajib Innovation – A new action that is not prohibited by the Shariah and, by leaving it out, the deen becomes impaired, e.g. adding the zabar, zer and pesh of The Holy Qur’an, building Madrassahs of the deen, learning Arabic grammar (nahw), etc. Reference to this has already been given.
Makrooh Innovation – A new action through whose completion a Sunnah is missed. If the Sunnah missed is a Ghair-Muakida Sunnah, the innovation is Makrooh-e- Tanzeehi. If it is a Muakida Sunnah, then the innovation is Makroohe-Tahrirni. Examples and references for this have already been given.
Haraam Innovation – An Innovation that causes a Waajib to be abandoned (i.e. it erases one).
Durre-Mukhtaar, Baabul-Adhan, states that reciting Salaam after the Adhan was introduced in 781 AH but this is a Good Innovation (Bid’at-e-Hasana). Under his, the book Shaami states in the discussion of Adhan in a troop, “This proves that whatever admirable practice becomes current amongst Muslims leads to thawaab being attained.”
We now demonstrate that no act of worship (ibaadat) is free from a Good Bid’at.
Imaan – Every Muslim, even children, learn and memorize the Imaan-e-Mujmal and Imaan-e-Mufasal. These categorizations of Imaan as well as both of their names are Innovations. Their prevalence in the Quroon-e-Thalaatha (times of Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and the two generations after him, ie. The Sahaaba and Taba’een) are unfound.
Kalima – All Muslims learn and memorize the six Kalimas. These, along with their number, progression
(i.e. the first, second, etc.) and names are all Innovations. These things were not found in the time of The Holy Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and two generations after him.
Qur’an – Dividing the Holy. Qur’an into 30 chapters, appointing Rukus in it, placing zabar, zer and pesh, binding and printing it by press are all Innovations. Such things were also not prevalent in the Quroon-eThalaatha.
Hadith – This includes gathering the Hadith in book form, relating their Chains of Narration, criticizing the integrity (Isnaad) of the Narrations, categorizing them to be Sahih, Hasan, Dhaeef, Mawdhoo, etc, appointing the rank of acceptance to them (i.e. Sahih first, then Hasan, then Dhaeef) and emplacing rules on them (i.e. Halaal and Haraam things will be deduced from Sahih Ahadith. Dhaeef Ahadith are accepted in Fadhaail, etc.). In short, the entire science of Hadith is an Innovation. The era of the Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and two generations after him do not mention such things.
Usoole-Hadith (Principles of Hadith) – Science is completely Innovated. Even its name is a Bid’at, and so are all of its rules and guidelines.
Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) – Today, Islam is based on this knowledge, which is an Innovation from the beginning until the end. The time of The Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and the two generations after him don’t mention it.
Usoole-Fiqh & Usoole-Kalaam (principles of Scholastic Theology) - These two Sciences are also Innovations, and so are their rules and guidelines.
Salaah – To say the intention of salaah by mouth is an Innovation and is unfound in the Quroon-e- Thalaatha, and so is it to be constant in 20 Rakaats of Taraweeh during Ramadaan. Even Hadrat
Umar رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ said, concerning Taraweeh, ‘This is a good Innovation.”
Fasting - Saying the dua “Allahuma laka sumtu and “Allahuma Asooma laka at the time the lftaar and Sehri respectively are all Innovations.
Zakaat – Giving out Zakaat in today’s currency of coins and notes is an Innovation. Coins and notes with pictures and designs were not available in the time of The Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلمand the two generations after him and neither were acts of worship such as Zakaat fulfilled with such currency. To deduce Fitrah of grains in the form of present coins is also an Innovation.
Hajj - To travel by car, train, bus and airplane to perform Hajj or going to Arafat by cars and taxis are all Innovations. These forms of transport were not used in previous times and Hajj was not completed with their usage.
Tareeqat - Approximately all practices and rules of Tareeqat and Tasawwuf (Spiritualism) are Innovations: Muraaqabah, Tasawur-e-Shaikh, the different forms of Dhikr, etc. The Quroon-e-Thalaatha does not directly refer to these things.
The Four Silsilas (Spiritual Chains or Orders) – Both the Shariah and the Tareeqah have four major Silsilas each, i.e. Hanafi, Shafee, Maliki and Hanbali (related to the Shariah) and Qadiri, Chishti, Naqshbandi and Suharwardi (related to the Tareeqah). All of these are Innovations. Some of their names are not even in Arabic (Chishti and Naqshbandi). No Sahaabi or Tabi’een was a Hanafi or Qadiri.
Now, the question the Deobandis need to answer is, can they claim to be alive on the deen and reject the above Innovations? When even the Kalima and Iman are comprised of Innovations, how can they save themselves from it?
Worldly affairs – Today, there are many things that have been invented but were non-existent in the Khairul-Quroon (Best Period of Time). However, worldly life without these things is difficult. Every person is forced to use them, e.g. trains, cars, airplanes, ships, envelopes, phones, radios, etc. All of them and their usage are Innovations, but every category of people unceremoniously uses them. Deobandis and Wahabis! Can you lead your worldly lives without these Good Innovations? Definitely not!
One once, a Maulwi Sahib went to perform a person’s Nikah. When he reached the place, he saw that the bridegroom was wearing a garland (sehra) and immediately, he said, “Sehra is Bid’at, Shirk and Haraam. Neither did The Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم use it nor did any of the Sahaaba, Taba’een or Taba-Taba’een. Where is it written that a sehra should be worn at such an occasion?” After hearing this, the people removed it from him.
After Nikah, the father of the bridegroom took out a Rs. l00 note and gave it to Maulwi. He took it, but while stashing it in his pocket, his hand was grabbed by the bridegroom who asked, “Maulwi Sahib! Taking money after performing Nikah is Bid’at, Shirk and Haraam. Neither did the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم take such money nor did any of the Sahaaba, Taba’een or Taba-Taba’een. Where is it written that fees for Nikah should be given?” The Maulwi replied, “This money is for a happy occasion,” which caused the bridegroom to say, “The garland was also for a joyous occasion.” The Maulvi’s face turned red with embarrassment.
This is Innovation according to such people.
OBJECTIONS AND ANSWERS TO THIS DEFINITION OF BID’AT AND ITS CATEGORIZATION