Is it true that concluding the second Friday sermon with the words of the Exalted, “And establish prayer, for indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater, and Allah knows what you do,” is an innovation, as stated by the author of the book *Al-Sunan wa al-Mubtada'at*?
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The questioner : Is it true, O honorable Shaykh, that concluding the second Friday sermon with the words of the Exalted: [Al-'Ankabut 29:45] is an innovation, as stated by the author of the book *Al-Sunan wa al-Mubtada'at*?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. I say:
The innovation (bid'ah) about which prohibition and warning have been conveyed is innovation in religion and worship. It is worshipping Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in a manner He has not prescribed, that is, in a manner contrary to the practice of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), his Caliphs, and his Companions, whether in creed, speech, or action.
Making it a habit to recite this noble verse: at the end of the second Friday sermon is an innovation, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not do it. If he did not do it, nor did any of his Caliphs or Companions, then making it a habit is an innovation.
However, if a person recites it for a specific occasion, such that the topic of the sermon is close to this meaning, and he concludes the sermon with it, then there is no harm in it, no blame, and it is not an innovation. This is a matter one should be mindful of, distinguishing between things done on a permanent basis and things done occasionally. A thing may be an innovation if a person does it constantly, but not an innovation if he does not do it constantly.
Let us give an example of this with congregational prayer in voluntary prayers. If a person makes congregational prayer a regular habit in the night prayer, so that he does not pray the night prayer except in congregation, we would say that this is an innovation. But if he prays the night prayer in congregation occasionally, we would say that there is no harm in it and it is not an innovation, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sometimes prayed with some of his Companions in the night prayer, as was the case with 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), and Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman (may Allah be pleased with him). One should know the difference between a thing made a regular, continuous habit and a thing done occasionally that does not contradict the Shari'ah.
The important point is that the preacher making it a habit to conclude the second sermon with this noble verse is an innovation, as stated by the author of *Al-Sunan wa al-Mubtada'at*.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do.
وَأَقِمِ الصَّلاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلاةَ تَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَThe Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. I say:
The innovation (bid'ah) about which prohibition and warning have been conveyed is innovation in religion and worship. It is worshipping Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in a manner He has not prescribed, that is, in a manner contrary to the practice of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), his Caliphs, and his Companions, whether in creed, speech, or action.
Making it a habit to recite this noble verse:
Establish prayer...
أَقِمِ الصَّلاةَ ...However, if a person recites it for a specific occasion, such that the topic of the sermon is close to this meaning, and he concludes the sermon with it, then there is no harm in it, no blame, and it is not an innovation. This is a matter one should be mindful of, distinguishing between things done on a permanent basis and things done occasionally. A thing may be an innovation if a person does it constantly, but not an innovation if he does not do it constantly.
Let us give an example of this with congregational prayer in voluntary prayers. If a person makes congregational prayer a regular habit in the night prayer, so that he does not pray the night prayer except in congregation, we would say that this is an innovation. But if he prays the night prayer in congregation occasionally, we would say that there is no harm in it and it is not an innovation, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sometimes prayed with some of his Companions in the night prayer, as was the case with 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), and Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman (may Allah be pleased with him). One should know the difference between a thing made a regular, continuous habit and a thing done occasionally that does not contradict the Shari'ah.
The important point is that the preacher making it a habit to conclude the second sermon with this noble verse is an innovation, as stated by the author of *Al-Sunan wa al-Mubtada'at*.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.