Explaining the meaning of the hadith: (Whoever introduces a good practice in Islam...)
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : ... [Al-Baqarah 2:254] Then He confirmed the meaning of the verse by commanding them to the end of the hadith. So, no religious innovation occurred in that occasion at all; there was only charity, and charity is of two types: obligatory and recommended. So what is the meaning of "whoever introduces"? The meaning of "whoever introduces" linguistically and by the implication of the hadith and the occasion is that he opened a path to a good practice, and this is what happened. The first man was the first to set out to the house to bring the charity, and the others followed him. So he was recorded the reward of his charity and the charity of the others, because he was the one who moved the good and the one who opened the door. So the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 1017a Meaning, this first man has his reward and your rewards, all of you, but your rewards are preserved and not lost in any way. So the meaning of the hadith is very clear: "Whoever introduces in Islam," meaning whoever opens a path in Islam, a good path that is recognized by the Shari'ah, not that I say it is good and you say no, it is bad, and vice versa. In that case, the hadith would be in one sphere, and "every religious innovation is misguidance" would be in another sphere. So the hadith remains in its generality and comprehensiveness, and there is no specification in it, as those who imagine do, mistakenly thinking that this hadith means "whoever innovated." But this is a very grave error, a very grave error, to attribute to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said, on the occasion of opening the door of charity which is legislated by the explicit Qur'anic text and the Sunnah, "whoever innovated in Islam." May Allah protect us! I am ashamed to say this... Al-Albani, O Abu Mustafa, we are ashamed of this, what about the Messenger of Allah, the most eloquent of those who spoke in the Arabic language? Glory to Allah!
The questioner : Abu 'Adil has a question.
Another questioner: The Companion did not bring anything new.
The Shaykh : Never.
Another questioner: He did not bring anything new.
The Shaykh : He did not bring anything new.
Another questioner: Well, the bad practice...
Another questioner: ... the opposite as well.
The Shaykh : Yes, well, do you have anything else, or have you apparently gotten bored?
O you who have believed, spend from that which We have provided for you
يا أيها الذين آمنوا أنفقوا مما رزقناكمA man gave charity with his dirham, his dinar...
تصدّق رجل بدرهمه ، بديناره ...He who sets a good precedent in Islam
من سنّ في الإسلام سنّة حسنة ...Every religious innovation...
كلّ بدعة ...Whoever introduces...
من سنّ ...The questioner : Abu 'Adil has a question.
Another questioner: The Companion did not bring anything new.
The Shaykh : Never.
Another questioner: He did not bring anything new.
The Shaykh : He did not bring anything new.
Another questioner: Well, the bad practice...
Another questioner: ... the opposite as well.
The Shaykh : Yes, well, do you have anything else, or have you apparently gotten bored?
