A student relayed a fatwa from one of the doctors regarding the issue of bid'ah (religious innovation) and his grounding for it, where he said:

The questioner : Naturally, Shaykh, this is also another fatwa he issued: the issue of defining bid'ah (religious innovation).

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : So he said, for example, he said: Bid'ah (religious innovation) is only that which has no origin in the Shari'ah.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : Meaning that anything which has an origin in the Shari'ah, and the servant performs it, even if the manner differs, this is not considered bid'ah (religious innovation). And he gave an example of this—naturally, we objected to him afterwards—regarding the issue, for example, of sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) after the adhan (the call to prayer).

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner : The gathering in a circle, likewise, meaning for dhikr (the remembrance of Allah), he said as long as dhikr (the remembrance of Allah) has an origin.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : Dhikr (the remembrance of Allah) has an origin, so any method and any style by which you remember Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is permissible.

The Shaykh : May Allah guide him!!

The questioner : So the truth is, this is strange.

The Shaykh : Now, let us change our opinion of him.

The questioner : I, this means, truly, I objected to him with the hadith of Ibn Mas'ud.

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner : "When he saw a circle, and ordered them to say..." You know this hadith.

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner : So he said to me.

The Shaykh : No, I not only know it.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : I teach it, heh.

The questioner : I teach it, yes, may Allah reward you with good, my Shaykh.

Another questioner : My Shaykh, this issue is now more severe than the first one, meaning if the first one had remained as he said.

The Shaykh : I am telling you.

The questioner : This is a principle.

The Shaykh : Let us change our opinion of him, meaning.

The questioner : Many cases!!

Another questioner : And this angered me greatly from him, truly.

The Shaykh : This means, at the very least, that he does not understand the subject of bid'ah (religious innovation).

The questioner : Very good.

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner : By Allah, this is an issue.

Another questioner : The Shaykh we mentioned will differ, perhaps the notebook is with me, I brought it today, my Shaykh, not to read because I am.

The Shaykh : But I saw you while you were reading, heh.

The questioner : Yes, I opened it, I brought it because I want to, I will not return to the house now because one of the brothers, I want to go to him.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : I have an exam, I am to make use of the time, meaning.

The Shaykh : Good, if Allah wills.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : May Allah preserve you.

The questioner : But this is truly a good quality that the people of knowledge always advise and do not remain silent upon deviation when they see it, because they are required to clarify for the people.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : So if the people of knowledge remain silent, this is a calamity, may Allah reward you with good, my Shaykh.

The Shaykh : If the people of knowledge remain silent, the people of ignorance speak.

The questioner: Allah is the Greatest!

The Shaykh : And this is the reality today, like this ignorant person who cut off Abu Malik's khutbah (the sermon), may Allah guide him, but once I am amazed at the boldness of these young men.

The questioner : By Allah, my Shaykh, it is strange.

The Shaykh : But I discussed it with myself, I said: No wonder in that, because this is the boldness of a human before a human, so Iblis is bolder than them.

The questioner: Allah is the Greatest!!

The Shaykh : Because he was bold before Allah.