Innovation in religion signifies transgressing the texts of the Sharee’ah in issuing rulings, non-observance of the teachings of the Sunnah, following diverse opinions and whims and abandoning the example of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ). Imaam Ash-Shaatibi may Allah have mercy upon him defined innovation in religion as a religious way that is invented in order to resemble a Sharee‘ah-based way; the purpose of such an invented way is to overstate the manners of worship to Allah The Almighty.
Sharee‘ah Texts Condemn Innovation in Religion
Various texts of the Sharee‘ah condemn innovation in religion and warn against it. It was narrated on the authority of Jaabir, may Allah be pleased with him, that when the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ), would give a Khutbah (sermon), his eyes would turn red and his voice would be loud. The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ), would say: “Indeed, the best speech is the Book of Allah The Almighty, and the best guidance is that of Muhammad, the most evil affairs are the originated ones, and every innovation [in religion] is misguidance…” [Muslim]
In a Hadeeth narrated by Al-‘Irbaadh ibn Saariyah, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ), said: “Those of you who outlive me will see enormous differences. You must then follow my Sunnah and that of the rightly-guided caliphs. Abide by it and hold on tight to it [as if] with your eyeteeth. Beware of instigation [in religion], for every instigation is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance.” [Abu Daawood and At-Tirmithi - Hasan Saheeh]
It was narrated on the authority of ‘Aa'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ), said: “Whoever introduces an innovation into this religion, will have it rejected.”[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Innovation in Religion is Misguidance that Thwarts Acts of Worship
Introducing an innovation in religion is misguidance and makes one's acts of worship worthless. This applies to the originator of the innovation as well as anyone who follows that innovation. The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ), said: “Whoever introduces an innovation to this religion, will have it rejected.” An innovator in religion actually thinks that he is doing a good deed, which makes it very unlikely that he would repent for doing it. In this respect, an innovator in religion is different from a non-observant Muslim. It was narrated on the authority of Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ), said:“Allah withholds repentance from every instigator of an innovation in the religion.” [Al-Munthiri and At-Tabaraani, Al-Albaani - Hasan]
The most dangerous religious innovations are the ones pertaining to creed, such as the Khawaarij's (an early Islamic sect) belief that a person who commits a major sin thereby becomes a disbeliever; figurative interpretation of the Names and Attributes of Allah The Almighty (such as interpreting the Istiwaa' (rising) of Allah to mean dominion, His Descent to mean His sending down of commands, His Hand to mean power and so on); believing that some people are exempted from religious obligations; believing in pantheism or incarnation, dedicating acts of worship to the dead; giving precedence to ‘logic’ over textual proofs; believing in the infallibility of Imaams; and cursing the Companions and calling them unbelievers. Innovators are referred to as “the people of innovation” or “the people of whims”.
A Malicious Allegation Rebutted
Any saying or action that does not coincide with the teachings of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ), is considered to be an innovation in religion and misguidance. However, there are those who maintain that some innovations in religion are good. They justify their claim by what ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allah be pleased with him, said when he made Ubayy ibn Ka‘b, may Allah be pleased with him, lead the people in congregational Salaat Taraaweeh during Ramadan. ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “How good this innovation is!”
We refute this claim from many angles. For instance, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ), performed this Salah with men and women for a few nights, but he stopped performing it in congregation because he feared that it might become obligatory on them. After the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ), died and revelation stopped, ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, noticed that some people would perform this Salah individually while others performed it in groups. At this point, ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, gathered them to perform it behind Ubayy ibn Ka‘b and said the phrase stated above. Moreover, ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, was one of the rightly-guided caliphs whom the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ), ordered us to follow. The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said: “Follow my Sunnah and that of the rightly-guided caliphs.”
If the word “innovation” or its equivalents are used in contexts other than the Islamic one, then in this case, it may be praiseworthy. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Say, “I am not something original among the messengers.”}[Quran 46:9] Allah The Almighty is telling Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi was sallam, to say here that he was not the first messenger, and that messengers were sent before him. In another verse, Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And monasticism, which they innovated; We did not prescribe it for them.} [Quran 57:27] This means that Christians themselves originated monasticism. Christians chose to endure the hardships of abstaining from food, drink and marriage and being attached to caves and hermitages, as a reaction to their kings who altered the teachings of their religion. Only a few Christians remained steadfast and became monks. This concept of monasticism does not exist in Islam. In fact, Jihaad is the monasticism of the Muslim Ummah (Nation).
Extremism Versus Negligence
Some Muslims go to extremes regarding religious innovation. They do not distinguish between innovation in religion and innovation in the worldly aspects of life. A group of Muslims has preferred to adhere to the inherited ways of life that it has been bequeathed, although they only pertain to worldly matters. As a result, while other nations have attained progress in worldly matters, this group remains reliant on other nations for what they invent and manufacture.
On the other hand, another group of Muslims has not differentiated between forbidden innovation in acts of worship and permitted innovation in aspects of this worldly life; they went to the other extreme, so that they innovated in the religion what Allah The Almighty has not permitted. They did this under the pretext of urbanization and achieving development.
Concepts become confused, yet it was necessary that each group is aware of its due right. It should be known that in principle, innovation is forbidden in all acts of worship and such matters are restricted to those that have a basis in authentic texts. However, in principle, innovation that leads to progress in this worldly life is permissible, although it must conform to the rules of Sharee’ah.
Transactions are basically permissible once its relevant criteria are considered. This means that it is not against the teachings of Islam to manufacture planes, drive cars and build hospitals, orphanages and schools. The permissibility or impermissibility of any worldly activity is determined on the basis of the purpose and manner of usage. If the purpose and manner of usage is for a good cause, the activity is permissible; and if they are used for an evil purpose the activity is impermissible. Acts of worship such as prayers, dutifulness to parents and wearing Hijab, however, should be performed without increase or decrease, whether we live in the first century or the hundredth century.
This blessed religion is characterized by its susceptibility to development, on the condition that the teachings of the religion are not altered. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {It is not for me to change it on my own accord. I only follow what is revealed to me.}[Quran 10:15] For this reason, we say that innovation in religion is condemned and is absolute misguidance. This ruling applies to both real innovations and additional innovations (the innovations which combine a Sharee‘ah-based act and an originated act. For instance, the prayer for the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ), after the Athaan (call to prayer) in a loud voice; celebrating the beginning of a new Hijri year; and celebrating the occasion of Al-Israa' and Mi‘raaj.) Some claim that additional innovations should not be condemned, however, this is incorrect. They must be condemned because the prohibition of innovation in religion is general.
The Righteous Predecessors Warned Against Religious Innovation
Maalik may Allah have mercy upon him said, “A person who introduces a religious innovation in Islam and thinks that it is good, is as if he is claiming that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) betrayed his message. This is because Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {This day I have perfected for you your religion.}[Quran 5:3] Therefore, any act that was not originally part of the religion will not be as such today.”
Imaam Ash-Shaafi‘i may Allah have mercy upon him said, “Approving [of an innovated act] is like legislating [an innovated act].”
‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, was reported to have said, “Every religious innovation is misguidance even if people see it as good.”
Ibn Mas‘ood, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “Follow the way of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ), and do not innovate, for what is revealed is enough for you. Always adhere to the old practices.”
Therefore, it is upon the person who introduces any new matter in the creed or acts of worship to provide the text and the evidence for doing so, because doing such an act must be supported by evidence from the Sunnah. Similarly, we have to follow the Sunnah in not performing certain acts that are not part of the Sunnah even though they are called for and were not hindered by any circumstances at the time of prophethood. Examples of acts that were not included in the Sunnah are: the Athaan before the Salah of both Eeds; reciting the Quran for the dead; and reciting the Quran loudly before Salaat-ul ‘Asr and before the Friday congregational Salahs. It is from the Sunnah to not do these acts. It was the knowledge and insight of our righteous predecessors that prevented them from doing these acts.
Al-Hasan may Allah have mercy upon him said, “People in the past were doomed when they followed different paths and swerved from the right path. They left the reported traditions and spoke of the religion according to their own views. Hence, they went astray and led others astray.” He also said, “By Allah, the only One worthy of worship, the Sunnah is between the two extremes. Thus, be patient with it, may Allah have mercy upon you. The followers of the Sunnah were thefewest in the past and they are the fewest among the remaining people. They did not indulge themselves like some others did, and they were not innovators in religion like some others were. They remained patient while adhering to the Sunnah until they met their Lord, so be on the same course – Allah willing.” He also said, “Allah does not accept the fasting, Salah, Hajj or ‘Umrah from the innovator in religion until he gives up his innovation.” He added, “The more acts of worship the innovator in religion performs, the farther he goes from Allah The Almighty.” He also said, “Do not sit with an innovator in religion, for he will cause disease in your heart.”
Hassaan ibn ‘Attiyyah may Allah have mercy upon him said, “No people introduce an innovation in their religion but Allah The Almighty makes them stop doing one of the acts of the Sunnah, and does not let them do it until the Day of Resurrection.”
The teachings of the Sunnah are enough for people. Instead of innovating in religion, let anyone who wants people to do good direct himself to the guidance of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ), learn the teachings of the Sharee‘ah and its rituals, and revive the acts of Sunnah that have been forgotten. There is no contradiction between growing beards or shortening clothes and boarding planes. Similarly, wearing the Islamic dress for women does not contradict development of this worldly life. We are in dire need of creating a civilization based on the methodology of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ). We need to achieve development, and this should be accompanied by adherence to the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah and avoiding innovation in religion.
It is worth mentioning that Satan is pleased with innovation in religion more than he is pleased with sins. It is a calamity for a person to be an innovator in religion, because his acts of worship are not accepted by Allah The Almighty. Whoever supports an innovator is helping to destroy Islam, and whoever marries his daughter off to him is violating the rights of kinship. A person does not draw nearer to Allah The Almighty except through conformity to the teachings of His Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ).
Anyone who wishes to be close to Allah The Almighty via a course other than imitating the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ), will go astray while thinking that he is guided. Moreover, all the ways to Allah The Almighty are blocked except the way of Muhammad, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ). Therefore, follow his guidance, no matter how few its followers may be. Avoid the ways of misguidance and do not be allured by the great number of those who are doomed.
