How to know whether something is a custom or an act of worship.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : The hadith of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her)—was it reported regarding acts of worship, or regarding transactions, objects, and actions? It is regarding acts of worship, which are those by which a person intends to worship and draw near to Allah. So we say to him: "Bring the evidence that this is an act of worship, otherwise it is rejected. Bring evidence that this is an act of worship, otherwise it is rejected."
And this hadith, in reality, requires thorough clarification. First: to know whether this is an act of worship or a custom? That is, is it from the acts of worship or from the ordinary acts? This must be clarified and known.
For example, if someone said: "When a person says to his companion, upon being saved from a calamity, 'What Allah willed, congratulations to you,' and then someone comes and says, 'Do not congratulate him, this is a religious innovation (bid'ah),' is it correct to say this is a religious innovation (bid'ah)?"
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Why? Because this is from the matters of custom, not from the matters of worship. Although it is possible to bring evidence from the Shari'ah for the establishment of such a thing. So Ka'b ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), when Allah granted him repentance, the people congratulated him on Allah's acceptance of his repentance. Many people now, in the congratulations that occur between people, say to you, "This is a religious innovation (bid'ah). Bring evidence that Islam congratulates on such an action, otherwise do not do it." Do we agree with this or not?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Why? Because this is not from the acts of worship, and the original ruling for things other than acts of worship is permissibility and lawfulness, until evidence is established for their prohibition.
A man met a person who succeeded in the exam, so he said to him: "What Allah willed, congratulations on the success, may Allah reward you for it." Then a third man said: "You are an innovator, you have innovated." Is this correct? Is the one who said "you have innovated" correct or incorrect?
The student: Not correct.
The Shaykh : Why? Because this was not said by way of worship, nor was his intention with it to draw near to Allah the Exalted and Majestic, but this is done from the perspective of customs.
So this point is a sensitive one that a student of knowledge should be cautious about.
So if the matter revolves around whether it is an act of worship or a custom, the original ruling is that it is a custom and it is not forbidden, until evidence is established that it is an act of worship that deserves to be forbidden except by evidence. So, every act of worship by which a person draws near to Allah the Exalted and Majestic, it is not permissible except by evidence that it is permissible or that it is prescribed.
And this hadith, in reality, requires thorough clarification. First: to know whether this is an act of worship or a custom? That is, is it from the acts of worship or from the ordinary acts? This must be clarified and known.
For example, if someone said: "When a person says to his companion, upon being saved from a calamity, 'What Allah willed, congratulations to you,' and then someone comes and says, 'Do not congratulate him, this is a religious innovation (bid'ah),' is it correct to say this is a religious innovation (bid'ah)?"
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Why? Because this is from the matters of custom, not from the matters of worship. Although it is possible to bring evidence from the Shari'ah for the establishment of such a thing. So Ka'b ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), when Allah granted him repentance, the people congratulated him on Allah's acceptance of his repentance. Many people now, in the congratulations that occur between people, say to you, "This is a religious innovation (bid'ah). Bring evidence that Islam congratulates on such an action, otherwise do not do it." Do we agree with this or not?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Why? Because this is not from the acts of worship, and the original ruling for things other than acts of worship is permissibility and lawfulness, until evidence is established for their prohibition.
A man met a person who succeeded in the exam, so he said to him: "What Allah willed, congratulations on the success, may Allah reward you for it." Then a third man said: "You are an innovator, you have innovated." Is this correct? Is the one who said "you have innovated" correct or incorrect?
The student: Not correct.
The Shaykh : Why? Because this was not said by way of worship, nor was his intention with it to draw near to Allah the Exalted and Majestic, but this is done from the perspective of customs.
So this point is a sensitive one that a student of knowledge should be cautious about.
So if the matter revolves around whether it is an act of worship or a custom, the original ruling is that it is a custom and it is not forbidden, until evidence is established that it is an act of worship that deserves to be forbidden except by evidence. So, every act of worship by which a person draws near to Allah the Exalted and Majestic, it is not permissible except by evidence that it is permissible or that it is prescribed.