BID’AH (INNOVATION) IN ISLAM!

“Innovation is more beloved to Iblees than sin. A sin may be repented from, but innovation is not repented from.” This comment states that no Bid’ah is tolerable.

We have built a new Mosque on the Street of another side of my house. Its’ name is “HYDE JAMIE MOSQUE & ISLAMIC CENTRE” It is a charity registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales #513337. It is a first-ever Purposed Built Mosque in Hyde town.

When I raised the issue in writing, the Imams of our Mosque issued a similar Fatwa against me and at the beginning of their fatwa, the Imams stated;

“in these place to running after a scientific machine such as the ‘Compass’ or the mathematics is nothing but disobeying or going against the “Sunnah” which is, ”Na-jayej (Wrong)” and “doing the unjust” which is “Haram (prohibited (Sinful).”

We have become a victim of the above “Fatwa’s” all explanations.

The Imams of our Mosque continued to say:
“In the current age, all the Alems as well as non–Alems, for all types of rulings in respect everything about “Qur’an and Hadiths”, there is no ways; but to approach an Alem (Qur’an and Hadiths) learned person.

“Whoever Follows Innovation has rejected the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger”. And, “Innovation is more beloved to Iblees than sin. A sin may be repented from, but innovation is not repented from.” Where it stands? (like themselves) they said, Taklid is Wazib (teacher and student relation). Because the age of ‘Ijthehad’ (discuss and decide about something) in Islam has already ended”!

Using the “COMPASS” as well as the ‘Internet Qiblah finder’ on the internet found out the Mosque has incorrect Qiblah direction to which each and every congregation is offered prayers but not facing the right direction to Qiblah at all!
The Imams who hold Alem’s ‘Certificate’ from a local ‘Cowmi Madrasas’(Primary Teaching Schools) in Bangladesh has rejected my finding as I highlighted above saying ‘Using “COMPASS” an innovation is ‘Khelaf (going against) the Sunnah, according to the Imams using the “COMPASS” is “Najyez” (prohibited) and using the scientific ‘COMPASS’ is “Haram”(Sinful shrick)” as you have circulated in the above so-called ‘Fatwa’.

The question is if I have to (according to the ‘fatwa’ as our Imam) say this scientific and mathematical product “COMPASS” did neither exist in the lifetime of our Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah to be upon him) nor of his (PBUH) companions or it had been used by our Holy Prophet (PBUH) nor his (PBUH) companions to find directions of Qiblah; as because it was invented after their times, the “COMPASS” in their opinion is an innovation, so using this product is ‘Bidah’ and hence it is forbidden for Muslims to use. So, the ‘fatwa’ (Islamic Ruling) is a good warning for all the Ummat-e-Muhammad (peace & blessings of to be upon him)!

So, because of our innocent ‘Imams (Clerics), all the people go to our Mosque to pray, shall pray including the Imams in the wrong direction and therefore all prayers shall be void because of praying toward the wrong direction of Qiblah. And this shall continue to the lifetime of this Mosque. Who should be responsible for this?

The Imam (Cleric) of our Mosque reportedly told the people that he obtained his ‘Certificate’ from local Cowmi Madrassa prior he migrated to the UK in 1981 and taken up the job of Imam of our Mosque. Almost certain that this ‘mathematical and scientific’ item “COMPASS” had been invented after the Imams left. He should have been taught about its existence and applicability by the Muslims, many other scientific things, I may say, for evidence’s sake, the Cowmi Madrassa where he learnt to become an Alem itself as well as thousands of other Cowmi Madrassas, Alia Madrassas even the Universities of Madina Manuwara and of Makkah-tul-Mukarroma too to do come under this ‘Fatwa’ because they too are new that is formed and is used after our Prophet (PBUH)!

They are and Muslim students who studied there are Bidah too? (nawjubillaah)!
Apart from these, Wristwatches, almost every one of us are using to see time for prayers and so on, electric lights, Electric wall clocks set in the Mosque, electric Microphone to pronounce Adhan and deliberation of Khutba in Jum’a and Eed congregation prayers in the Mosque, the Radio system to spread Athan outside the Mosque, camera being used in the Mosque to make Videos, riding Buses, Cars, Railways, Aero-planes and so on. None of these existed or were used by our Prophet (pbuh) and his companions. Are all of these not Bidhas? If using these are sinful Bidahs? Why have we as well as our Certificate holding Imams been using them! Who will take all the sins for using those?

I referred it to the President of the “Muslim Council of Britain.” From MCB Sheikh Ibrahim Morga has kindly confirmed to me by email that the use of “COMPASS” is Jayez (permissible) to use “COMPASS” to determine the Accurate Direction of Qiblah.” Because there is confrontation about COMPASS in Allah (subhanuhu-wa-ta’la)’s Qur’anul Kareem.
I forwarded this Fatwa against me to the Imams of Masjidul Haram, Makkatul -Mukarroma. The reputable Imam kindly referred the matter of using “COMPASS” to Riyadh Hadiths’ Office and the letters from learned the honourable, “Mufti” of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Committee of Muslim Eminent Scholars, Department of Religious decrees & Scientific Researches President” further confirmed in writing the using the “COMPASS” to find the Qiblah direction is neither ‘Na-jayez’ nor ‘Haram’; but its’ use is permissible. So our Imams as well as, the concerned people should have learned this.

DEFINITION OF ‘BID’AH’ (INNOVATION)

According to Islamic sharee’ah Law, the definition is

“Worshipping Allaah (SWT) in the ways that Allaah (SWT) has not prescribed.” Or “Worshipping Allaah (SWT) 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).”

Learned Sheikh Qadi Shawkani writes the Masala:

“In Islam there are two kinds of Bid’ah: Bid’ah – Say’iah a ‘new thing’ opposes or contradicting the Qur’an and or Sunnah, then it is Bid’ah – Say’iah; but, if it is not against the Qur’an and the Shari’ah Law then it is a Bid’ah – Hasanah.”

(Nayl-ul-Autaar Qadi Shawkani Chapter Salaah Al Taravee)

GOOD OR BAD ‘Bid’ah’ (INNOVATIONS) IN ISLAM?

Prophetic saying as stated in Sahih Muslim is known even to common Muslims, let alone scholars: “He who inaugurates a good practice (sanna fil-islam sunnatun hasana) in Islam earns the reward of it, and of all who perform it after him, without diminishing their own rewards in the least. “ Tirmizi, Page 92.
BID’AH ANNIHIALATES TRUE SUNNAH!

A famous taabiee (the generation after the companions) Hasan bin Atiyyah said:

“No people introduced an innovation into religion except that an equivalent Sunnah is taken away from them”

(Ad-Daarimee with saheh isnaad)

This is so true! People have given so much importance to certain innovative practices that the true sunnah has been pushed behind and forgotten.

People celebrate the innovated Shab-e-Baraat with great favour and pray all night long but sadly the greatest night of all Shab e Qadr, which can fall on any odd nights of Ramadan and which also includes Chand Raat(Moon night) is spent in traffic jams and malls for last-minute shopping for Eid. People also neglect the true Sunnah of Shabaan by focusing only on the 15th of Shabaan whereas the Prophet used to fast the most in the first fifteen days of Shabaan and forbade his Ummah from fasting from 15th onwards.

‘BIDH’AH’ IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN SINSFUN?

Sufyan ath-Thawree said:

“Innovation is more pleasing to iblees than sin since a person makes repentance from but does not repent from innovations!”

This is because he regards the innovation as being something good for which he receives reward from Allah(swt) and therefore will not repent from it, whereas he who commits a sin knows that it is wrong and Inshallah will repent from it.
So taking any other day to be important and special like shab e mairaj , shab e baraat etc or making up new forms of worship Duas and acts and rituals about which Rasool Allah did not inform us or did himself is clearly innovation –Bidhah (innovation) which leads to Hell-fire.

WARNINGS of ALLAH (SWT)

We should be aware of Allah(swt)’s warning that, Allah(swt) Says,

“Seek they other than the religion of Allah, when unto him submitted whosoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, and unto Him they will be returned?

[Al-Qur’an – Aal-I -Imraan 3: Ayah 83]

“And whoever seeketh religion other than the Surrendering (to Allah) – it never will be accepted from Him, and he will be among the losers in the Hereafter.”

[Al-Qur’an –Aal-I=Imraan 3 : Ayah:85]

“O you who have you believed; Do not forward in the presence of Allah and His Messenger, and keep duty to Allah . But fear Allah is Hearing and Knowing.”

[Al-Qur’an – Al-Hujuraat 49: Ayah 1]

“It is not fitting for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His messenger have decided an affair (for them). That they should (after that) have any say in their affair; and whoso is rebellious to Allah and messenger, he verily goeth astray in error manifest.”

[Al-Qur’an – Al-Ahzaab 33: Ayah 36]

AGAINST ANY INNOVATIONS!
WARNINGS OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD PBUH

“I urge you to adhere to my way (Sunnah) and the way of the rightly-guided successors (al-khulafa’ al-raashidoon) who come after me. Hold fast to it and bite onto it with your eyeteeth [i.e. cling firmly to it], and beware of newly-invented matters.” and
“Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours (Islam) that is not part of it will have it rejected.”

(Sahih Bukhaari, Muslim)

“Indeed every new thing is an innovation and every innovation is deviation and every deviation leads to fire”

( Sahih Jama Assabir)

“Allah Tala does not accept the repentance of an innovator until he quits doing the innovated things.” 

(Sahih At Targhib wa Tarhib)

“I will be at my pond from before and some of you will be brought in front of me and then they will be removed from in front of me. So I will ask Oh My Lord, these are my people! But I will be told; you don’t know about the new things they innovated after you” 

(Sahih Bukhari)

“The person who innovated something new in our religion which is not a part of our religion will be shunned and rejected.”

(Sahih Bukhari)

“Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours (Islam) that is not part of it will have it rejected.” 

(Sahih Bukhaari, Muslim)

“Indeed every new thing is an innovation and every innovation is deviation and every deviation leads to fire” 

(Sahih Jama Assabir)

“Allah Tala does not accept the repentance of an innovator until he quits doing the innovated things.”

(Sahih At Targhib wa Tarhib)

“I will be at my pond from before and some of you will be brought in front of me and then they will be removed from in front of me. So I will ask Oh My Lord, these are my people! But I will be told; you don’t know about the new things they innovated after you”. 

(Sahih Bukhari)

“The person who innovated something new in our religion which is not a part of our religion, will be shunned and rejected.” 

(Sahih Bukhari)

CELEBRATING NON-MUSLIM FESTIVALS

Celebrating Non-Muslim Festivals is also not allowed in Islam as it comes under following the Kuffar as Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has said:

Narrated By Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri, the Prophet (PBUH) said, 

“You will follow the ways of those nations who were before you, span by span and cubit by cubit ( i.e., inch by inch) so much so that even if they entered a hole of a mastigure (a kind of lizard), you would follow them.”
We said, “O Allah’s Apostle! (Do you mean) the Jews and the Christians?”
He said, “Whom else?”

(Bukhari: Vol 009, Book 092, Hadith 422)

Narrated By Abu Huraira: The Prophet (PBUH) said,

“The Hour will not be established till my followers copy the deeds of the previous nations and follow them very closely, span by span, and cubit by cubit (i.e., inch by inch).” He asked, “O Allah’s Apostle! Do you mean by those (nations) the Persians and the Romans?” The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Who can it be other than they?”

It means those who will follow these are among the Romans Christians!

Some of them are:
• Birthdays
• Anniversaries
• Mother’s day, father’s day
• Valentine’s Day
• Engagement
• Mehendi
• Christmas
• Easter
• Halloween
• Dewali
• Basanti

Zazakallah khair