How to respond to those who cite the hadith: “Whoever introduces a good practice in Islam…” as evidence for the innovation of the Mawlid?
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The questioner : Oh Shaykh, they say that those who celebrate his (peace and blessings be upon him) birthday have a basis for it in that…
The Shaykh : And he?
The questioner : And they saySahih Muslim 1017a.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : And they say that 'Umar ibn al-Khattab introduced the practice of the Tarawih prayer, so how do we respond to these people?
The Shaykh : Yes, we say they are truthfulSahih Muslim 1017a but Sunan Abi Dawud 4607Sahih (Al-Albani) For this reason, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 1017a The meaning of his statement “whoever introduces a good practice” is one of two things: either it means whoever initiates the action, as indicated by the occasion of the hadith, or it means whoever revives it after it has died out. Do you understand? It does not mean creating a new act of worship. This is not possible, because the occasion of this hadith was that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged charity, and a man from the Ansar came with a bag that weighed down his hand and placed it before the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he said: Sahih Muslim 1017a And it is not possible for an innovation to be good, ever, and the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said that every innovation is misguidance.
As for the action of 'Umar, 'Umar never introduced the congregational prayer for standing in the night. The first to introduce the congregation for standing in Ramadan was the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). He prayed with his Companions for three nights, then he stayed away on the fourth night and said:Sahih al-Bukhari 924 Then it was left and abandoned during the days of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). In the time of 'Umar, he went out one day and found the people praying in scattered groups, a man praying with one man, and a man praying with two men, scattered about. He said, “If only I could gather them under one imam.” So he ordered Tamim al-Dari and Ubayy ibn Ka'b to lead the people under one imam. Thus, 'Umar did not invent this innovation, but he revived it after it had been left. Yes.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes, it is authentic, established in al-Muwatta with the most authentic chain of narration.
The Shaykh : And he?
The questioner : And they say
He who sets a good precedent in Islam, there is a reward for him for this (act of goodness) and reward of that also who acted according to it
من سنّ في الإسلام سنّة حسنة فله أجرها وأجر من عمل بهاThe Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : And they say that 'Umar ibn al-Khattab introduced the practice of the Tarawih prayer, so how do we respond to these people?
The Shaykh : Yes, we say they are truthful
He who sets a good precedent in Islam, there is a reward for him for this (act of goodness) and reward of that also who acted according to it subsequently
من سنّ سنّة حسنة فله أجرها وأجر من عمل بها إلى يوم القيامةAvoid novelties, for every novelty is an innovation, and every innovation is an error.
إيّاكم ومحدثات الأمور فإنّ كلّ محدثة بدعة وكلّ بدعة ضلالةHe who sets a good precedent in Islam
من سنّ في الإسلام سنّة حسنةHe who sets a good precedent in Islam, there is a reward for him for this (act of goodness) and reward of that also who acted according to it subsequently
من سنّ في الإسلام سنّة حسنة فله أجرها وأجر من عمل بها إلى يوم القيامةAs for the action of 'Umar, 'Umar never introduced the congregational prayer for standing in the night. The first to introduce the congregation for standing in Ramadan was the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). He prayed with his Companions for three nights, then he stayed away on the fourth night and said:
I was afraid that this prayer (Prayer of Tahajjud) might be made compulsory and you might not be able to carry it out.
إنّي خشيت أن تفرض عليكم فتعجزوا عنهاThe questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes, it is authentic, established in al-Muwatta with the most authentic chain of narration.