The General Rule for Identifying Religious Innovation
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Question:
Our brother asks his final question, saying: What is the limit, or the decisive statement, between religious innovation and new modern matters, the requirements of the age? Or in other words, how do we distinguish between the modern matters present in our current era and the religious innovations mentioned in the noble hadiths? Clarify this topic for us—may Allah reward you with good—and how did the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) warn and caution?
Answer:
New, occurring matters are of two types:
One type relates to worldly affairs, such as clothing, food, drink, vessels, and weapons. There is nothing wrong with these, and they are not called innovations, such as airplanes, cannons, missiles, and the like. These are not called innovations; these are worldly matters. Clothing, vessels, and the variety of food, all of these...
Innovations are those that relate to religion, among the newly invented matters that their proponents consider to be religion, nearness to Allah, and worship. For example, inventing Mawlid celebrations, celebrating Mawlid, such as observing the night of the Isra and Mi'raj, such as observing the Laylat al-Raghaib, the first Friday of Rajab. These are called innovations: inventing things that Allah has not prescribed, worshipping in ways not prescribed, such as observing the middle night of Sha'ban. All of these are innovations for which Allah has not sent down any authority.
That is to say: worshipping with things that Allah has not prescribed, whether verbal or practical, these are the innovations. This is based on his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1718a meaning: in our religion, hSahih Muslim 1718a And he said (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 1718b.
So the intended meaning is in acts of worship. What is invented in acts of worship is called an innovation; what has no basis in the Shari'ah is called an innovation. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah bless you. So, what relates to the requirements of the age, as our brother called them, contains no innovation, nor anything else.
The Shaykh : No, no, these are worldly matters, not called innovations. Even if they were called innovations, it would be a linguistic innovation, not a religious one.
The presenter : Does it not relate to any of the matters of worship?
The Shaykh : No, no, absolutely not. The types of food, drink, vessels, clothing, and weapons, all of these are ordinary matters. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah bless you, and reward you, and may Allah reward you with the best reward.
Our brother asks his final question, saying: What is the limit, or the decisive statement, between religious innovation and new modern matters, the requirements of the age? Or in other words, how do we distinguish between the modern matters present in our current era and the religious innovations mentioned in the noble hadiths? Clarify this topic for us—may Allah reward you with good—and how did the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) warn and caution?
Answer:
New, occurring matters are of two types:
One type relates to worldly affairs, such as clothing, food, drink, vessels, and weapons. There is nothing wrong with these, and they are not called innovations, such as airplanes, cannons, missiles, and the like. These are not called innovations; these are worldly matters. Clothing, vessels, and the variety of food, all of these...
Innovations are those that relate to religion, among the newly invented matters that their proponents consider to be religion, nearness to Allah, and worship. For example, inventing Mawlid celebrations, celebrating Mawlid, such as observing the night of the Isra and Mi'raj, such as observing the Laylat al-Raghaib, the first Friday of Rajab. These are called innovations: inventing things that Allah has not prescribed, worshipping in ways not prescribed, such as observing the middle night of Sha'ban. All of these are innovations for which Allah has not sent down any authority.
That is to say: worshipping with things that Allah has not prescribed, whether verbal or practical, these are the innovations. This is based on his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
He who innovates things in our affairs
من أحدث في أمرناfor which there is no valid (reason) (commits sin) and these are to be rejected.
ذا ما ليس منه فهو ردHe who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
من عمل عملًا ليس عليه أمرنا فهو ردSo the intended meaning is in acts of worship. What is invented in acts of worship is called an innovation; what has no basis in the Shari'ah is called an innovation. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah bless you. So, what relates to the requirements of the age, as our brother called them, contains no innovation, nor anything else.
The Shaykh : No, no, these are worldly matters, not called innovations. Even if they were called innovations, it would be a linguistic innovation, not a religious one.
The presenter : Does it not relate to any of the matters of worship?
The Shaykh : No, no, absolutely not. The types of food, drink, vessels, clothing, and weapons, all of these are ordinary matters. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah bless you, and reward you, and may Allah reward you with the best reward.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.