Bid‘ah

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This article is about the Arabic term. For the city see Bida, Nigeria.

In Islam, bid‘ah (Arabic: بدعة) is any type of innovation. Though innovations in worldly matters are acceptable to an extent, innovation within the religion is seen as a sin in Islam, as Muhammad stated as such:

" ..This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion."^[3]

[edit] Bid'ah in Sunni Islam

Islamic scholars have divided bid'ah into two types: innovations in worldly matters and innovations in religious matters.^[4]

[edit] Bid'ah in Worldly Matters

Muslim scholars have divided bid'ah in worldly matters into three types.

1. Innovations that are purely good - these are permissible under Islamic law. This can include anything from inventions such as watches to customs and culture, given they don't violate the Sharia.^[5]
2. Innovations that are purely evil - these are forbidden under Islamic law. Examples of this type of bid'ah include musical instruments.^[6][7]
3. Innovations that contain both evil and good - this is the majority of worldly matters. Under Islamic law, if they are used for good, then they are permissible; otherwise they are forbidden. This can also include both technological inventions as well as culture and habits.^[5]

[edit] Bid'ah in Religious Matters

Religious innovation means inventing a new way of worshipping Allah that was not originally included in the message revealed to Muhammad. There is ample evidence in the Qur'an and Sunnah that bid'ah has never been tolerated in Sunni Islam, be it from Muhammad, or his companions, or the pious predecessors - particularly the four Imams (Abu Hanifa an-Nu‘man, Malik ibn Anas, Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi`i, and Ahmad ibn Hanbal). The late Shaikh Muhammad Uthaimeen, a prominent modern day scholar of Islam, wrote: "And there is no such thing in Islaam as bid’ah hasanah (good innovation)." ^[8]
When a religious innovation is committed, it is generally felt that the innovator is assuming that the Sunnah is not good enough, that he must resort to something "better." Even though this statement would be an admission of disbelief ^[9] - there are some innovations that contain shirk and there are some which allow someone to remain a Muslim, while his action is rejected (regardless of any sincerity it might have had)^[10].

[edit] Bid'ah in Shi'a Islam

According to Shi'a beliefs the definition of bid'ah is anything that is introduced to Islam as either being fard, mustahabb, makruh or haram and/or that contradicts the Quran or hadith. Any new good practice that is practiced that does not contradict the Quran or hadith is permissible. However, it is not permissible to say that a new good practice (that does not contradict the Quran or hadith) is obligatory or highly recommended.

For example, one may introduce establishing the tradition of celebrating Muhammad's birthday through recommended acts such as fasting or giving alms. If someone says performs the tradition with the intention of recommendation or obligation, the tradition becomes bid'ah.

The Shia regard some practices that Sunnis deem Islamic (such as Tarawih prayers in congregation and abrogation of Nikah Mu'tah) to be bid'ah. Both of these are considered to be examples of bid'ahs of the second Sunni Caliph Umar ibn Khattab.

As a general rule in Shi'a belief, anything is permissible except whatever is prohibited through divine revelation such as hadith or the Quran.^[11]

[edit] References

Categories: Articles lacking reliable references from October 2007 | All articles lacking sources | Sharia