The Definition of Bid'ah (Religious Innovation) and Its Scope in Acts of Worship and Transactions

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Question:
His other question says: When is an act described as bid'ah (religious innovation) in the pure Shari'ah? And is the term bid'ah applied only to the chapters of worship, or does it include both worship and transactions?

Answer:
Bid'ah (religious innovation) is an act of worship for which there is no evidence from the Book or the Sunnah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

'A'isha reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who innovates things in our affairs for which there is no valid (reason) (commits sin) and these are to be rejected.

من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو رد

Sahih Muslim 1718a

, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said in another narration:

He who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.

من عمل عملا ليس عليه أمرنا فهو رد

Sahih Muslim 1718b

. Therefore, bid'ah occurs in acts of worship for which there is no evidence from the Book or the Sunnah. This is bid'ah, and it is the newly invented matter.

every novelty is an innovation, and every innovation is an error

كل محدثة بدعة وكل بدعة ضلالة

Sunan Abi Dawud 4607Sahih (Al-Albani)

. As for bid'ah in transactions and bid'ah in customs, there is no harm in them. Bid'ah only exists in acts of worship, not in customs or transactions. The default ruling in transactions is permissibility, except for what evidence indicates is forbidden. The default ruling in acts of worship is prohibition, except for what evidence indicates is prescribed. Thus, the difference between the two defaults is understood. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you,

Source نور على الدرب - الفوزان - 03/185 — archive.org (16:32)

The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.

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