The authenticity of attributing the statement on good innovation to Imam Malik
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Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. This questioner says: It is attributed to Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) that he said, "Whoever thinks that there is a good innovation has claimed that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) betrayed the message." Then he recited the word of Allah[Al-Ma'idah 5:3]. He asks: Is this attribution to Imam Malik authentic?
Answer:
Yes, this is authentic. It is part of the jurisprudence and firmness of Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) in that there is no good sunnah; there is no good innovation. Rather, there is only a good sunnah. Yes.
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. This questioner says: It is attributed to Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) that he said, "Whoever thinks that there is a good innovation has claimed that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) betrayed the message." Then he recited the word of Allah
This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِيAnswer:
Yes, this is authentic. It is part of the jurisprudence and firmness of Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) in that there is no good sunnah; there is no good innovation. Rather, there is only a good sunnah. Yes.
Source
شرح إغاثة اللهفان من مصائد الشيطان لابن القيم، فصل والفتنة نوعان : فتنة الشبهات وهي أعظم الفتنتين وفتنة الشهوات — islamhouse.com (57:53)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.