Refuting the division of religious innovations into good innovations and bad innovations.
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The Shaykh : If someone were to say: "Some of our scholars divided bid'ah (religious innovation) into five categories, and some into three, until some of them said that some innovations are obligatory," we would say: No, by Allah, by Allah, we will not divide something that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) described comprehensively as bid'ah into good bid'ah and bad bid'ah. He said, "Every bid'ah is misguidance." Pay attention, my brother; do not be deceived by the embellishment of words in some books, never. You have the words of whom? The words of whom? The words of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), the most knowledgeable of creation without doubt, the most advising of creation—walk with me—without doubt, the most eloquent of creation without doubt. Is it possible for him to announce from the pulpit on Friday: Sunan Abi Dawud 4607Sahih (Al-Albani) And then we come after him and say that innovations have categories? I ask you by Allah, is this possible? Yes, by Allah, it is absolutely impossible. Therefore, we say: whoever approves of an innovation, whoever innovates an innovation and approves of it, then either it is not an innovation, or it is not good. Pay attention with me, my brother; this is a useful rule, pay attention to it. Whoever innovates an innovation, either it is not an innovation, and he thought it was an innovation, or it is not good, and he thought it was good. This is a useful rule for you, O student of knowledge; keep it in your mind. Whoever innovates in the religion and says it is good, what do we say? Get up, my brother, get up. Yes, you. There is no god but Allah.
The student: Whoever innovates in the religion of Allah...
The Shaykh : Whoever innovates an innovation in the religion of Allah and says it is good, what do we say to him?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : No, you did not say it that way. You see, some people, my brothers, are not present in their body or heart. Where did you go? Yes, here.
The student: Present.
The Shaykh : Present in body,
The student: ...
The Shaykh : and in heart? Give the answer. I repeated it two or three times. Rest. Whoever knows it, please?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : I do not allow a person, especially those around me, to remain silent when he does not know what I said. He must ask, and praise be to Allah, everyone asks.
The student: Whoever innovates something in the religion of Allah
The Shaykh : and says it is a good innovation. Yes.
The student: Either it is not an innovation, or it is bad.
The Shaykh : Or it is bad. May Allah bless you. This is a rule, pay attention to it. Whoever worships Allah and innovates in the religion of Allah and says that this is good, we say: either it is not an innovation, and what? Or it is not good. That it is an innovation and good is impossible, impossible. And our Imam and Master Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And what?
every novelty is an innovation, and every innovation is an error
كل محدثة بدعة وكل بدعة ضلالةThe student: Whoever innovates in the religion of Allah...
The Shaykh : Whoever innovates an innovation in the religion of Allah and says it is good, what do we say to him?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : No, you did not say it that way. You see, some people, my brothers, are not present in their body or heart. Where did you go? Yes, here.
The student: Present.
The Shaykh : Present in body,
The student: ...
The Shaykh : and in heart? Give the answer. I repeated it two or three times. Rest. Whoever knows it, please?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : I do not allow a person, especially those around me, to remain silent when he does not know what I said. He must ask, and praise be to Allah, everyone asks.
The student: Whoever innovates something in the religion of Allah
The Shaykh : and says it is a good innovation. Yes.
The student: Either it is not an innovation, or it is bad.
The Shaykh : Or it is bad. May Allah bless you. This is a rule, pay attention to it. Whoever worships Allah and innovates in the religion of Allah and says that this is good, we say: either it is not an innovation, and what? Or it is not good. That it is an innovation and good is impossible, impossible. And our Imam and Master Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: