Who is the innovator?

The Shaykh : Answering the first part of your question, as for the second part, the one who is called an innovator is the one who contradicted the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): and then sought nearness to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) by innovating in the religion of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), or by seeking nearness through what another person innovated in the religion of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). As for the one from whom an innovation issues, but he does not intend it, such as a scholar who, based on his principle, is in agreement with the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): but he made a mistake and innovated, as sometimes happens with some scholars of independent legal reasoning—peace be upon you—sometimes they say about something that it is permissible when it is forbidden. This is not permissible in Islam, but if this happens to a scholar of independent legal reasoning, he receives a reward and it is not said that he has fallen into the forbidden. Likewise, if an innovation issues from a non-innovator merely through his independent legal reasoning, but in reality it is an innovation, it is not said that he is an innovator. I think the difference between these two cases is now clear to you, and you have obtained the answer, if Allah wills, to both parts of the question, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

The questioner : In the Musnad of Imam Ahmad, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

The Shaykh : It is a weak hadith.