Explanation of the saying of Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him): "Whoever introduces a religious innovation in Islam that he considers good..."
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The Shaykh : And so it was reported from the Imam of the City of Migration, Malik ibn Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), that he said: "Whoever introduces a religious innovation in Islam that he considers good has claimed that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) betrayed the message. Read the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He: [Al-Ma'idah 5:3] He said (may Allah have mercy on him): 'The end of this community will not be set right except by what set right its beginning. So whatever was not a religion at that time will not be a religion today.'"
Therefore, drawing near to Allah, Mighty and Majestic, by legislating a form of worship that did not exist in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), while the reason for it being a Shari'ah in his time is present, is the very essence of religious innovation in the religion, and it has no connection to the transmitted public interests. This is if the reason for adopting that public interest was present in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Then Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) follows up by saying: "And if the reason for adopting that means was not present in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then it is considered: if the reason for adopting that means is the Muslims' neglect of some of the rulings of the Shari'ah, then this neglect is what was the cause for resorting to another means that was not in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), resulting from not acting upon what was in the Sunnah along with this public interest. In that case, it is not permissible to adopt it, because the reason for it is the Muslims' shortcoming in carrying out some of the rulings of their religion."
This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.
اليوم أكملت لكم دينكم وأتممت عليكم نعمتي ورضيت لكم الإسلام دينًاTherefore, drawing near to Allah, Mighty and Majestic, by legislating a form of worship that did not exist in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), while the reason for it being a Shari'ah in his time is present, is the very essence of religious innovation in the religion, and it has no connection to the transmitted public interests. This is if the reason for adopting that public interest was present in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Then Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) follows up by saying: "And if the reason for adopting that means was not present in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then it is considered: if the reason for adopting that means is the Muslims' neglect of some of the rulings of the Shari'ah, then this neglect is what was the cause for resorting to another means that was not in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), resulting from not acting upon what was in the Sunnah along with this public interest. In that case, it is not permissible to adopt it, because the reason for it is the Muslims' shortcoming in carrying out some of the rulings of their religion."