The Shaykh’s mention of some reports from the Salaf clarifying that Islam does not accept change, addition, or subtraction.

The Shaykh : The reports transmitted from the Salaf (may Allah be pleased with them) clarifying that Islam does not accept change, addition, or subtraction, but is exactly as it came from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), word for word. For example, there is the statement of the Imam of the City of Migration, Malik ibn Anas (may Allah have mercy on him), who said: “Whoever innovates in Islam an innovation that he considers good has claimed that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) betrayed the message. Read the statement of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:

This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.

اليوم أكلمت لكم دينكم وأتممت علكيم نعمتي ورضيت لكم الإسلام دينا

[Al-Ma'idah 5:3]

— said Malik — ‘So whatever was not a religion at that time will not be a religion today, and the end of this Ummah will not be set right except by what set right its beginning.’” Malik’s words explain to us the hadith of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) , meaning the pure, unadulterated religion, free from every innovation and every foreign element in Islam. Therefore, if we are serious in our attempt to renew Islamic life, as many Islamic groups claim, then in my opinion, the way to that, and no other way, is by returning to the Islam that Allah chose for us as a religion before it was changed or altered. Some people may be surprised, those who have no knowledge of Islamic history and the severe disagreement and division that occurred in the religion, nor of the reality of the present era in the current Islamic reality, with its various parties, blocs, and associations, each having its own ... paths. We should know well that there is no way to achieve this goal, which the Ummah agreed upon but differed in their methods of reaching, except by following the path of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), for it is the only path that achieves honor and glory for the Muslims. It came in some authentic hadiths that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: In this hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gave glad tidings, or rather commanded the one he addressed to give glad tidings to this Ummah of elevation, nobility, glory, and establishment in the earth. But this is conditioned by two things: the first is that the work of the Muslims be righteous work, and the second is that it be pure for the sake of Allah. This is derived from the like of His statement, Blessed and Exalted is He: .