Understanding t h e Evil

of Innovation
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 T H E D E E N O F IS L A A M IS C O M P L E T E A N D

P E R F E C T

A lla a h t a 'a l a h a s in fo rm e d u s th a t H e h a s p e rfe c te d th e

D e e n (re lig io n : w a y o f life ) f o r u s, a n d a s su c h th e re is n o

n e e d fo r a n y a d d itio n s o r d e le tio n s to o r fro m Is la a m : " T h is

d a y h a v e th o s e w h o r e je c t fa ith g iv e n u p a ll h o p e o f y o u r

r e lig io n : y e t d o n o t fe a r th e m b u t fe a r M e . T h is D a y h a v e 1

p e r fe c te d y o u r D e e n f o r y o u , c o m p le te d M y F a v o u rs u p o n

y o u a n d h a v e c h o s e n fo r y o u Is la a m a s y o u r D e e n " (so o ra h

A l - M a a ’i d a h 5 :4 )

U n d e rs ta n d in g th is a a y a h (v e rse ) is v ita l to a ll c o m b a t

a g a in s t in n o v a tio n s a n d s tic k in g to th e re v e a le d w ay . It is

fa ilu re to a p p re c ia te th e im p o rt o f th is a a y a h th a t e n a b le s a

s in c e re p e rso n to su c c u m b to in n o v a tin g a n d in n o v a tio n s

a n d it is im p e ra tiv e th a t a M u s lim w h o c a re s a b o u t s a v in g

h im s e lf fro m th e F ire d o e s n o t la b o u r u n d e r a n y

m is c o n c e p tio n s re g a rd in g it.

T h e fa m o u s ta fs e e r (e x e g e s is ) o f Ib n K a th e e r q u ite c le a rly

e x p la in s th a t in th e c o m p le tio n a n d p e rfe c tio n o f th e D e e n

lie s th e g re a te s t b le s s in g w h ic h A lla a h t a 'a l a h a s b e s to w e d

u p o n th e M u s lim U m m a h (n a tio n ). A fte r th is th e re n o

lo n g e r re m a in s a n y n e e d fo r a n e w w ay , n o r o f a n e w

P ro p h e t, b u t a ll th a t is H a la a l (a llo w e d b y A lla a h ) h a s b e e n

m a d e H a la a l a n d a ll th a t is H a ra a m (fo rb id d e n b y A lla a h )

h a s b e e n m a d e H a ra a m . T h e D e e n (w a y o f life ) c o n ta in s n o

fa ls e h o o d a n d a ll w e a re in fo rm e d o f is c o rre c t a n d tm e , its

o rd e rs a n d p ro h ib itio n s a re fa ir a n d a c c e p tin g th e D e e n is

o n e 's life m a k e s A lla a h b e p le a s e d w ith u s a n d th a t H e

lo v e s th e D e e n (a s it is p re s e rv e d in th e Q u r 'a a n a n d th e
S u n n a h ). T h u s th e a b o v e a a y a h w a s re v e a le d so w e m a y b e

g ra te fu l to A lla a h a n d n o t d e v ia te , h a v in g th e fu ll

s a tis fa c tio n o f p o s s e s s in g th e c o m p le te m a n n e r a n d th e

a b s o lu te ly p e rfe c t w a y to w o rs h ip A lla a h .

T h is a a y a h w a s re v e a le d o n th e D a y o f A ra fa h a n d n o

H a la a l a n d H a ra a m w a s re v e a le d a fte r it till o u r M e s s e n g e r

(& ) p a sse d a w a y , w h ic h w a s a c c o rd in g to th e T a fse e r o f

Ib n J a re e r e ig h ty -o n e d a y s a fte r it. W h e n th is a a y a h w a s

re v e a le d . U m a r w e p t, so th e M e s s e n g e r ( f t) s a id to h im ,

"W h a t m a k e s y o u w e e p ? ” H e s a id , "1 w e p t s i n c e w e u s e d to

h e in r e c e ip t o f in c r e a s e in o u r D e e n , h o w e v e r, i f it is

c o m p le te d , th e n th a t w h ic h is c o m p le te c a n o n ly d e c re a se

( th e r e a fte r ) ." S o h e (* & ) s a i d , "Y o u h a v e s p o k e n tr u th fu lly ."

U m a r u n d e rs to o d th a t if th e re v e la tio n h a s c e a se d

c o n c e rn in g re c o m m e n d a tio n , c o m m a n d a n d p ro h ib itio n

p e rta in in g to w o rs h ip p in g H im , th e n th e M e sse n g e r (its )

w a s so o n to le a v e th is w o rld , a n d h o w tru e h e w a s in

o b s e rv in g th a t o n ly d e c re a se in g u id a n c e c a n ta k e p la c e is

b o rn e o u t b y th e fu lfilm e n t o f th e H a d c c th w h e re th e

M e sse n g e r (S s) in fo rm e d u s, " V e r ily Is la a m b e g a n a s a

s tr a n g e r a n d w ill r e tu r n a s a s tr a n g e r - th e r e fo r e g iv e g la d

tid in g s to th e s tr a n g e r s ."

N o w it h a s b e c o m e a s tru g g le to p ra c tic e th e S u n n a h s in c e

it is lo o k e d u p o n b y th e v a st m a jo rity to b e a n o d d ity a t b est

a n d o n th e o th e r s c a le s o m e th in g to b e c o v e re d u p fo r th e

sa k e o f p ra c tic e a s e s ta b lis h e d b y a p a rtic u la r sc h o o l o f

th o u g h t. R e in fo rc in g th e S u n n a h is ta k e n a s a n a ffro n t to

c iv ilis a tio n a n d th e c u ltu re o f th e M u s lim s , a n d th e o n e

b lin d ly fo llo w in g h is m e n to r re s e n ts it a s a n a tta c k u p o n

2
 h is " re lig io n " ! In n o v a tio n s h a v e lo d g e d its e lf so s tro n g ly

th a t c o u n te rin g th e m w ith th e S u n n a h is w id e ly h a te d a n d

d e p lo ra b le te rm s a re c o in e d to la b e l th o s e w h o in th e ir

h u m b le w a y s try to re v iv e th e w a y o f th e M e sse n g e r ( f t) so

th e ir e ffo rts c a n b e re n d e re d in e ffe c tiv e , b u t th e s u b lim e

w ay o f th e M e s s e n g e r ( f t) c a n n o t b e d im m e d by th e ir

tra n s p a re n t lie s .

T h e p e o p le a n d th e ir fa v o u rite c o n d e s c e n d in g " s c h o la rs "

h a v e s im p ly n o t c a re d to d o ju s tic e to th is a a y a h . E v e n th e

a c c u rse d Je w s re c o g n is e d th e s ig n ific a n c e o f th is a a y a h a n d

th u s a p p ro a c h e d U m a r a n d e x c la im e d , a s o c c u rs in

B u k h a a re e , " Y o u r e a d a v e rse w h ic h i f it h a d b e e n

r e v e a le d to u s w e w o u ld h a v e ta k e n it a s a n 'F .i d ( a p u b l i c

h o lid a y f o r c e le b r a tio n s ) " S o U m a r s a id , " / k n o w w h e n it

w a s r e v e a le d a n d w h e re it w a s r e v e a le d a n d w h e re th e

M e s s e n g e r ( f t) w a s w h e n it w a s r e v e a le d : T h e p a y o f

A r a fa h - a n d b y A lla a h I w a s a t A r a fa h ." In a s im ila r

n a rra tio n in M u s n a d A h m a d , U m a r fu rth e r s ta te s th a t it

w a s in th e e v e n in g o f A ra fa h b e in g th e D a y o f J u m u 'a h .

A le e s a id , " T h is a a y a h w a s r e v e a le d to th e M e s s e n g e r (ft)

w h ile h e w a s s ta n d in g in th e e v e n in g (b e tw e e n A s r a n d

M a g h r ib ) o f A r a fa h ." (re p o rte d b y Ib n M a rd a v v a ih )

D o n 't y o u se e ? T h e C o m p a n io n s k n e w th e e x a c t tim e a n d

p la c e o f th e re v e la tio n o f th e a a y a h w h ic h fa v o u re d th e m

w ith th e a s s u ra n c e a n d a p p ro v a l o f A lla a h o f h a v in g th e

c o m p le te a n d p e rfe c t D e e n , a fa v o u r fro m th e L o rd o f th e

w o rld s w h ic h is e n v ia b le to th e e x tre m e fo r a n a tio n , a fa c t

to g iv e ris e to ju s tif ie d h o p e a n d e x u b e ra n t jo y in th e h e a rts

a n d m in d s o f p e o p le o f th a t n a tio n , y e t, fo r a ll th a t it

c o n s titu te d a n d a ll th e a b o v e a n d m o re so th a t e v e n th e

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w re tc h e d Je w s re c o g n is e d a n d e n v ie d it. th e C o m p a n io n s

d id n o t in n o v a te a n d d o a n y th in g s p e c ia l to c o m m e m o ra te

th is g re a t h o n o u r. D o in g so w o u ld h a v e m a d e th e m v io la te

th e v e ry ’ tr u th o f th is a a y a h a n d w o u ld h a v e b e e n a n a c t so

p e rv e rse a s to m a k e th e m d o s o m e th in g ta n ta m o u n t to

d e n y in g th e v e rs e a n d g iv e p re c e d e n c e to th e ir o w n d e s ire s ,

s o m e th in g w h ic h th e n o b le C o m p a n io n s w e re v e ry fa r fro m

e v e r d o in g a t a n y tim e u n lik e so m a n y o f u s to d a y .

Is la a m c o v e rs e v e ry a s p e c t o f life a n d th e D c c n h a s n o t le ft

u s in th e d a rk in a n y o f o u r a ffa irs . T h a t it a ls o te a c h e s u s

h o w to fu lfil e v e ry d e p a rtm e n t o f life is a c k n o w le d g e d bv

e v e ry M u s lim e x c e p t h e w h o is a b s o lu te ly u n e d u c a te d a n d

w is h e s to h a v e it h is o w n w ay . T h e p e rso n w h o d o c s n o t

w a n t to fo llo w h is v a in d e s ire s b u t se e k s to b e e n n o b le d by

th e S u n n a h w h ic h n u rtu re s a n d b rin g s o u t th e v e ry b e st o f

b e in g h u m a n d o e s n o t b u t c ra v e to p ra c tic e th e S u n n a h ,

a n d th is S u n n a h te a c h e s u s e v e n th e w a y to re lie v e

o u rs e lv e s fro m th e c a ll o f n a tu re , th e w a y to g o to s le e p a n d

a w a k e , th e w a y to b a th e a n d d re ss, th e w a y to p ro c re a te , in

fa c t e v e ry th in g , A lh a m d u lilla a h . E v e ry m a tte r h a s b e e n le ft

w ith c le a r in s tr u c tio n s a s to w h a t is p e r m itte d o r p ro h ib ite d

in th e m a n d a g a in , th e m a le v o le n t Je w s re c o g n is e d th is

to o , a n d ta u n te d th e b e lie v e rs w ith th e ir s n e e rin g

s ta te m e n ts a n d q u e s tio n s a b o u t w h a t th e y th o u g h t w e re

b e littlin g a s p e c ts o f th e D e e n o f Is la a m . A b d u r-R a h m a a n

ib n Z a y d re la te d th a t th e Je w s s a id to S a lm a a n a l-F a a rs c c :

" Y o u r P r o p h e t te a c h e s y o u e v e r y th in g , e v e n h o w to

r e lie v e y o u r s e lv e s ." S a lm a a n s a id : "C e r ta in ly ! H e fo r b a d e

u s fr o m fa c in g th e q ib la w h ils t d o in g s o ...” (S a h e e h -

n a rra te d b y M u s lim , A b o o D a a w o o d a n d a t-T irm id h e e )

4
N o w a d a y s, if su c h a n e n c o u n te r w e re to ta k e p la c e it is

d o u b tfu l if th e g e n e ra l M u s lim w o u ld re sp o n d w ith su c h

c le a r c u t c o n v ic tio n a n d p rid e , ra th e r o n e w o u ld fin d h e

w o u ld b e m o re lik e ly to s tru g g le fo r fin d in g a n a c c e p ta b le

a n sw e r to w h a t h e w o u ld th ic k w e re e m b a rra s s in g a s p e c ts

o f h is re lig io n th a t th is in fid e l 'c l e v e r l y ' s p o tte d a n d

m o c k e d a t, fu m b lin g fo r a p o lo g e tic s a n d th u s c o n firm in g

h im s e lf to b e e v e n a g re a te r fo o l th a n th e je e re r. It is th is

in fe rio rity c o m p le x w h ic h e ro d e s in to o u r d e fe n c e s a g a in s t

e v il b y n o t g iv in g th e S u n n a h its rig h tfu l p la c e a n d

c o n s e q u e n tly le a v in g th e h e a rt o p e n fo r a c c o m m o d a tio n o f

in n o v a tio n s a n d c o n s e q u e n tly s tra y in g fro m th e A lla a h

g iv e n w ay .

T h e re is n o th in g le ft fo r u s to d o e x c e p t fo llo w w h a t h a s

b e e n sh o w n to u s b y th e p ra c tic e s o f th e M e sse n g e r (tte )

a n d h is C o m p a n io n s . T h e M e s s e n g e r ( * ) h a s fu lfille d h is

m is s io n fa ith fu lly a n d to ld u s a ll w e n e e d to k n o w fo r

k e e p in g to th e S tra ig h t P a th le a d in g to P a ra d is e a n d

o b ta in in g th e p le a s u re o f A lla a h , a n d it is n o t p o s s ib le th a t

a M u s lim c a n th in k th a t h e c a n im p ro v e u p o n th e

k n o w le d g e th a t A lla a h g a v e M u h a m m a d ( * ) . A b d u lla h

ib n A m r re p o rte d th a t th e M e sse n g e r (£ c ) s a id : "It w a s th e

d u ty o f e v e r y P r o p h e t A lla a h s e n t to g u id e h is n a tio n to th e

b e st o f w h a t h e k n e w a n d to w a rn th e m o f th e e v ils o f w h a t

h e k n e w ." (S a h e c h - n a rra te d b y In ia a m M u s lim ) T h e

M e sse n g e r (* fe ) a ls o s a id : " / h a v e n o t le ft a n y th in g w h ic h

A lla a h o r d e r e d y o u e x c e p t th a t I h a v e o r d e r e d y o u w ith it,

n o r a n y th in g th a t A lla a h fo r b a d e y o u e x c e p t th a t l fo r b a d e

y o u fr o m it." (S a h c c h - n a rra te d b y a l-B a ih a q e e (7 :7 6 ))

5
T h u s th is a a y a h is p e rh a p s th e g re a te s t p ro o f a g a in s t th e

in n o v a to rs a n d it is im p e ra tiv e th a t a M u s lim u n d e rs ta n d s

th e fu ll im p o rt o f th e a b o v e a a y a h a n d c h a lle n g e s th e

in n o v a to rs a n d th o s e w h o fa ll in to it w ith th e

u n d e rs ta n d in g o f it. In d o in g so h e w ill d o b o th h im s e lf

a n d th e o th e rs a fa v o u r a n d h e lp in b u ild in g th e re a l im a a n

(fa ith ) b e c a u se re a l im a a n c a n n o t b e e s ta b lis h e d o n fa ls e

a n d e v il p r e m is e s a n d p ra c tic e s .

6
 O B E D IE N C E T O T H E R E V E A L E D W A Y

It is o b v io u s th a t th e g re a te r th e in fo rm a tio n c o n c e rn in g

th e rig h t c o n d u c t o f w o rs h ip p in g A lla a h th e m o re w e a re

lia b le to m a in ta in o u r p ra c tic e o f th e D e e n g iv e n to u s by

A lla a h . Im a a n a n d a c tio n g o h a n d in h a n d a n d su p p o rt

e a c h o th e r to b e c o m e s tro n g e r. H e n c e if w e a re to fo s te r

g re a te r im a a n w e h a v e to ta k e re c o u rse to d o in g o n ly w h a t

is la id d o w n in th e Q u r 'a a n a n d th e S u n n a h . T h is w ill

a lw a y s e n s u re fu lfilm e n t o f o u r p u rp o se o f b e in g c re a te d

a n d s to p u s fro m g e ttin g d e fle c te d fro m th e S tra ig h t P a th .

T h u s A lla a h s u b h a a n a h u w a t a ’a l a e n jo in s o n u s th e

o b e d ie n c e to H is M e s s e n g e r ( * t) a n d th a t w e a c c e p t a ll th a t

h e sh o w s u s o f e b a a d a h ( w 'o r s h i p ) a n d D e e n . A s A lla a h

t a ’a l a say s: " A n d ta k e w h a t th e M e s s e n g e r g iv e s y o u a n d

r e fr a in fr o m w h a t h e fo r b id s y o u ." (so o ra h a l-H a s h r 5 9 : 7 )

T h is a a y a h is a p ro o f o f th e o b lig a tio n to a c c e p t th e

a u th e n tic S u n n a h in a ll th e a ffa irs a n d th is fa c t is lu c id ly

a tte s te d to b y th e fo llo w in g n a rra tio n . M a ro c q s a id , "A

w o m a n c a m e to Ib n M a s 'o o d a n d s a id , 7 h a v e h e a r d th a t

y o u fo r b id ta tto o in g a n d th e u se o f fa ls e h a ir - is th a t

s o m e th in g y o u h a v e fo u n d in th e B o o k o f A lla a h t a 'a l a o r

fr o m th e M e s s e n g e r (& )? ' H e s a id , 'R a th e r it is s o m e th in g

w h ic h I h a v e fo u n d in th e B o o k o f A lla h a n d fr o m th e

M e s s e n g e r ( ’& ) . ' S h e s a id , 'B y A lla a h I h a v e r e a d th e

m u s h a ffr o m c o v e r to c o v e r a n d 1 h a v e n o t fo u n d in it w h a t

y o u s a y .' H e s a id , 'D id y o u n o t fin d in it, " A n d ta k e w h a t

th e M e s s e n g e r g iv e s y o u a n d r e fr a in fr o m w h a t h e fo r b id s

y o u ? " S h e s a id , 'Y e s '. H e s a id , 'C e r t a i n l y l h a v e h e a r d th e

M e s s e n g e r (ik ) fo r b id th e u se o f fa ls e h a ir , ta tto o in g a n d

p lu c k in g o u t fa c ia l h a ir .' S h e s a id , 'P e r h a p s it i s p r e s e n t in

so m e o f y o u r fa m ily ? ' H e s a id , 'T h e n e n te r a n d lo o k .' S o

7
sh e e n te r e d a n d lo o k e d - th e n le ft. S h e s a id , 7 d id n o t se e

a n y th in g ( o b je c tio n a b le ) .' S o h e s a id to h e r, 'H a v e y o u n o t

m e m o r is e d th e te s ta m e n t o f th e r ig h te o u s s e r v a n t "1 d o n o t

w is h to d o in o p p o s itio n to y o u c o n c e r n in g w h a t I fo r b id

y o u to d o ." ' " (re p o rte d b y Ib n A b i H a a tim a n d q u o te d by

Ib n K a th e e r in h is ta fs e e r) T h is tru e s to ry is n a rra te d in

B u k h a a rc c , M u s lim a n d in th e M u s n a d o f A h m a d to o .

In m a k in g it o b lig a to r y fo r u s to fo llo w th e M e sse n g e r (* fe )

H e h a s m a d e it fo rb id d e n fo r u s to in n o v a te in th e m a tte rs

o f th e D e c n . M u s lim s a re e x p e c te d to s triv e in a tta c h in g

o n e s e lf firm ly a s p o s s ib le to th e w a y o f th e M e sse n g e r (t& )

a n d th u s k e e p a w a y fro m th e w a y o f th o s e w h o a re

d e p riv e d o f g u id a n c e a n d e s ta b lis h th e ir o w n m o d e s o f

w o rs h ip . In b o th S a h e e h B u k h a a re e a n d S a h c c h M u s lim it

h a s c o m e to u s fro m A b u H u ra y ra h th a t th e M e s s e n g e r ($ 5 )

s a id , " W h e n I o r d e r y o u w ith s o m e th in g , th e n d o a s m u c h

o f it a s y o u c a n , a n d w h e n 1 fo r b id y o u fr o m s o m e th in g ,

th e n a v o id it. "

R a a fi ib n K h a d e e j re p o rte d th a t " T h e P r o p h e t o f A lla a h

( * ) c a m e to M a d e e n a h a n d fo u n d th e p e o p le fe r tilis in g th e

d a te -p a lm tr e e s . H e s a id : 'W h a t a r e y o u d o in g ? ’ T h e y s a id :

'W e a r e f e r t i l i s i n g th e tr e e s .' W h e r e u p o n h e s a id : 'M a y b e it

w o u ld b e b e tte r f o r y o u i f y o u w e re n o t to d o th a t.' S o th e y

a b a n d o n e d th e p r a c tic e a n d th e ir h a r v e s t d e c re a se d . T h e y

m a d e m e n tio n o f th a t to (th e P r o p h e t) w h e re u p o n h e s a id :

j a m a h u m a n b e in g , s o i f I c o m m a n d y o u a b o u t s o m e th in g

w h ic h p e r ta in s to y o u r D e e n , a c c e p t it a n d i f 1 c o m m a n d

y o u a b o u t s o m e th in g fr o m m y o w n r a a 'y (th e n b e a r in

m in d ) I a m a h u m a n b e in g .' " (S a h e e h - n a rra te d by

M u s lim )

8
T h e p o in t is M u s lim s h a v e d e c id e d w h o it is th e y a re g o in g

to a d m ire th e m o st a n d b e lie v e to b e th e b e st e x a m p le to

fo llo w . I f th e y a rc lo o k in g fo r so m e o n e w h o c a n b e th e b est

in w o rs h ip p in g A lla a h w ith th e g re a te s t a n d h ig h e s t

k n o w le d g e th e n c a n it b e a n y o n e o th e r th a n o u r v e ry

M e sse n g e r ( f t) h im s e lf? In re a lity ’ A lla a h H im s e lf te lls u s

th a t if w e n e e d to la k e so m e o n e a s a n e x a m p le to im ita te , a

p a ra g o n w h o se q u a litie s a n d b e h a v io u r is to b e d e s ire d a n d

a d h e re d to , th e n it i s M u h a m m a d ( f t) "Y o u h a v e in d e e d in

th e M e s s e n g e r o f A lla a h a b e a u tifu l p a tte r n fo r a n y o n e

w h o se h o p e is in A lla a h a n d th e L a s t D a y .” (so o ra h

A l-A h z a a b 3 3 : 2 1 ) W h o c a n b e a g re a te r fo o l a n d fu rth e r

a s tra y th a n o n e w h o fa ils to a c c e p t h e w h o m A lla a h

H im s e lf re c o m m e n d s to b e o b e y e d a n d c o p ie d ? A M u s lim

w h o h o p e s fo r su c c e ss in th e H e re a fte r c a n n o t g o aw a y

fro m th e m o re s a n d m e a n s o f th e M e sse n g e r ( f t) a n d a llo w

h im s e lf to p a rtic ip a te in in n o v a tio n s le t a lo n e co o k u p a

n o v e lty in w o rs h ip . B y p o s itiv e ly d ire c tin g u s to th e tru e

m o d e l to a s p ire a fte r, A lla a h t a 'a l a h e lp s u s a g a in s t

s u rre n d e rin g to th e d e c e p tio n s o f S h a ita a n b y e ffe c tiv e ly

s h u ttin g o ff th e d o o rs to in n o v a tio n s .

In n o v a tin g is d e fin ite ly s in fu l a n d h e w h o d o u b ts it is

n o th in g b u t p ite o u s ly ig n o ra n t. A s w e s h a ll sec in th e

su m m a ry , th o s e w h o in d u lg e in it tre a d a v e ry d a n g e ro u s

p a th s in c e h e m o re o r le s s s h u ts h im s e lf a w a y fro m h a v in g

h is o th e r s in s fo rg iv e n . N o m a n o r g ro u p c a n d e se rv e so

m u c h fro m y o u th a t y o u c a n c h o o se to g o to H e ll fo r th e m

T h e re a rc m a n y th in g s in ls la a m w h ic h w e h a v e b e e n

fo rb id d e n to d o w h ic h if c o m m itte d c a n w ip e o u t m an y o r

a ll o f o u r g o o d d e e d s, a n d o n e o f th e m is d o in g a c ts in

d is o b e d ie n c e to A lla a h a n d H is M e s s e n g e r ( f t ) . W c liv e to

9
s to re u p a s m u c h g o o d n e ss o n o u r s id e a s w e c a n by H is

g ra c e , so th a t th e s c a le o f rig h te o u s n e s s w ill b e h eav y ' in

o u r fa v o u r o n th e D ay o f J u d g e m e n t. W h ic h in d iv id u a l in

th e s a n ity o f h is m in d w ill th ro w aw a y w h a t h e h a s b e e n

a c q u irin g b y d o in g su c h d e e d s a s c a n c e ls h is g o o d a c tio n s ?

D o es h e th in k h e h a s e n o u g h tim e le ft o n th is e a rth to

m a k e u p fo r h is lo s s e s ? A lla a h in fo rm s : " () y o u w h o

b e lie v e ! O b e y A lla a h a n d o b e y th e M e s s e n g e r a n d d o n o t

m a k e y o u r d e e d s b a a til (n u ll a n d v o id ) ." (so o ra h

M u h a m m a d 4 7 : .1 3 )

T h e C o m p a n io n s in th e b e g in n in g u n d e rs to o d th a t a fte r

s a y in g "L a a ila a h a illa lla a h " th e n so s in w o u ld b e o f h a rm

a n d lb n U m a r s a id : "W e th e C o m p a n io n s o f th e M e s s e n g e r

(? & ) u s e d to th in k th a t a ll g o o d d e e d s w ill b e a c c e p te d u n til

th is a a y a h w a s r e v e a le d , so w e s a id , 'W h a t is th a t w h ic h

n u llifie s th e d e e d s ? ' " (lb n K a th c c r) S o it is c l e a r t h a t i f w e

a re c o n fro n te d w ith p ra c tic e s to b e c a rrie d o u t in th e n a m e

o f g e ttin g re w a rd fro m A lla a h a s p a rt o f o u r w o rs h ip p in g

H im , th e n it is ra th e r im p o rta n t th a t w e d o n o t a c t u n til w e

h a v e v e rifie d th a t th e a c t is s a n c tio n e d b wv th e S u n n a h o r

c a n b e se e n to h a v e b e e n d o n e b y th e C o m p a n io n s u p o n

th e ir u n d e rs ta n d in g a s p e c ifie d te x t in th e Q u r 'a a n o r

H a d c c th . T im e is v e ry p re c io u s a n d e a c h o n e o f u s a re

re le n tle s s ly g o in g fo rw a rd to th e e n d o f o u r p e rio d o n th e

e a rth , th u s it m u st b e o u r c o n c e rn th a t o u r a c tio n s a re

g o in g to b e a c c e p te d b y A lla a h a n d n o t w a s te d , n o t to

sp e a k o f a c tu a lly d e s tro y in g th e g o o d d e e d s! Im a a m S u fy a n

a th -T h a u rc c s a id , "N o w o r d is a c c e p te d w ith o u t a c tio n a n d

n o w o rd a n d a c tio n a re c o r r e c t w ith o u t in te n tio n , a n d n o

w o rd , a c tio n a n d in te n tio n a re c o r r e c t u n le s s th e y in

a c c o rd a n c e w ith th e S u n n a h ." S o w h a t d o y o u n o w th in k o f

10
th e s e in n o v a to rs a n d th o s e w h o fo llo w th e m ? A y y o o b

a s -S a k h tiy a a n c c u se d to sa y , " N o in n o v a to r w o rk s h a rd e r

(in w o r s h ip e tc .) e x c e p t th a t h e in c r e a s e s in d is ta n c e a w a y

fr o m A lla a h ."

In n o v a tio n s b y d e fin itio n d o n o t h a v e a n y lin k w ith e ith e r

th e M e s s e n g e r (* fe ) o r h is tim e , a n d c le a rly b e c k o n s to

m is g u id a n c e a n d th e F ire . T h is w a s th e u n d e rs ta n d in g o f

th e illu s trio u s s c h o la rs o f th e p a s t, fro e x a m p le w e h a v e

Im a a m Z u h re e a p p ro v in g o f th e a ttitu d e o f Im a a m M a a lik

a n d s a y in g , " C lin g in g to th e S u n n a h is to h e s a v e d a s

M a a lik s a id , 'L i k e th e A r k o f N o a h ', h e w h o e m b a r k e d w a s

s a v e d a n d h e w h o d id n o t w a s d e s tr o y e d ." T h e o n ly

g u a ra n te e d w a y to re m a in g u id e d is to u n c o m p ro m is in g ly

s tic k to th e Q u r 'a a n a n d th e S u n n a h , e v e n th o u g h th e

m a jo rity m a y b e a v e rse to it. T h e M e sse n g e r (» fc ) s a id : 7

a m le a v in g y o u tw o th in g s a n d y o u w ill n e v e r g o a s tr a y a s

lo n g a s y o u h o ld fa s t to th e m . T h e B o o k o f A lla a h a n d m y

S u n n a h ." (S a h c c h - n a rra te d b y a l-H a a k im a n d a ls o by

M a a lik in m u rsa l fo rm )

11
 A L L IN N O V A T IO N S IN T H E D E E N S T R IC T L Y

F O R B ID D E N

T h e fo rb id d a n c e o f in n o v a tio n s c a n c le a rly b e fo u n d in th e

fo llo w in g a a y a h w h e re A lla a h h a s o rd e re d th e M u s lim s to

fo llo w a n d a c c e p t a s D e e n o n ly th a t w h ic h h a s b e e n

re v e a le d to th e P ro p h e t (* f) in th e Q u r 'a a n a n d th e S u n n a h

a n d w h e re a ll fo rm s o f w o rs h ip n e e d e d a n d a p p ro v e d o f

h a v e b e e n s a n c tio n e d , a n d a n y o th e r p ro c e d u re o r n o rm

h a s b e e n Follow that which has been revealed

o u tla w e d . "

to you from your Lord and do not follow as awliyaa other

than Him” ( s o o r a h A l - A ' r a a f 7 : 3 ) T h i s a a y a h i s
c a te g o ric a l in fo rb id d in g ta k in g in to c o n s id e ra tio n a n y o n e

w h o o rig in a te s n e w m a tte rs in th e fie ld o f w o rs h ip p in g

A lla a h b e c a u se th e rig h t a n d th e p riv ile g e to in fo rm h o w to

w o rs h ip A lla a h b e lo n g s to n o o n e b u t H im s e lf. S o m e o n e

w h o c o m e s a lo n g a n d in s titu te s a n e w m a tte r in th e D e e n

a ssu m e s fo r h im s e lf th e p re ro g a tiv e th a t b e lo n g s s o le ly to

A lla a h a n d c la im s b y h is b e h a v io u r a s if A lla a h in c lu d e s

th a t a c t in H is re v e la tio n . T h e in n o v a to rs th u s a ttrib u te lie s

to A lla a h a n d in s te a d o f fa c ilita tin g th e D e e n fo r th e

p e o p le , o n th e c o n tra ry ' tu r n th e m a w a y fro m A lla a h !

A a ’i s h a re p o rte d th a t th eWhoever M e s s e n g e r (« t) s a id : "

introduces Into this affair o f ours something that we have

not commanded it Is to be rejected.” ( S a h e e h - n a r r a t e d b y
a l-B u h k a a re e a n d M u s lim ) R e je c te d by' w h o m , o n e m ay

a sk . Q u ite o b v io u s ly , re je c te d b y A lla a h . H is M e sse n g e r

(4 1 ) a n d th e M u s lim w h e n h e b e c o m e s a w a re th a t it c a n n o t

b e b a c k e d u p b y th e Q u r 'a a n o r th e S u n n a h . It is v e ry

s tra n g e a n d th e p ric e w e a re p a y in g fo r it is v e ry h ig h in

te rm s o f c o n fu s io n , c o n te n tio n a n d o b s c u rin g o f th e c le a r

12
w ay . th a t o n e b e c o m e s k n o w le d g e a b le o f th e c o rre c t

p ra c tic e b u t s till in s is t o n c a rry in g o n in th e u n ju s tifie d

w ay - s to p a n d a s k th e m , s in c e w h e n d id th e y th in k th e y

c o u ld p la y p re te n d e r-p ro p h e ts fo r th e p e o p le ? T h e

in n o v a to rs n o t o n ly s q u a n d e r a w a y th e ir o w n tim e a n d

re so u rc e s in th e ir fo tile s in fu l in n o v a tio n s b u t d ra g o th e rs

in to d o in g th e sa m e a n d ric h ly d e se rv e o u r c e n su re a n d

c o n te m p t, If w e h a d fa ith in th e A lm ig h ty a n d tru s te d w h a t

w e h a v e b e e n a sk e d to d o . w e c o u ld h a v e n e v e r to le ra te d

th e p re se n c e o f in n o v a tio n s in th e s o c ie ty , T h e r e is n o w ay

th a t a n in n o v a tio n w ill s u d d e n ly b e c o m e s a n c tifie d a n d

a d m is s ib le to A lla a h , T h e "Whoever
M e s s e n g e r ( * ) s a id ;

does an action that we have not commanded, it will he

rejected" ( S a h c e h * n a r r a t e d b y I m a a m M u s l i m ) I n t a a m
N a w a w e e . a s m e n tio n e d b y a s h -S h a u k a a n e e in

N a y l-u l-A w ta a r. e x h o rts th a t th is H a d e e th b e m e s m e ris e d

a n d u se d in c o u n te ra c tin g th e e v ils (m u n k a ra t) a n d m a k in g

th e m b a a tii (o b s o le te ),

J a a b ir re p o rte d th a t th e "To proceed

M e s s e n g e r ( i t ) s a id ;

with: The best Hadeeth (speech) is the Book of Allaah and

the best guidance and example is that of Muhammad. And
the worst o f all things are the newly invented things, for
every Innovation is error and misguidance," ( S a h c e h -
n a r r a t e d b y M u s l i m ) , a n d i n a n o t h e r n a r r a t i o n , , , "every

newly invented matter Is bid'ah and every bid'ah is

dalaalah (going astray) and every dalaalah is in the Fire,"
(S a h c e h - n a rra te d b y a t-T irm id h e e ) S o th e p ro o f is rig h t

th e re u n d e r o u r v e ry n o se s th a t th e re is n o su c h th in g a s a

g o o d b i d 'a h . th e p o p u la rly k n o w n b i d 'a h H a sa n a h , B i d 'a h

in its e lf is a n e rro r w h ic h le a d s to th e F ire a n d is d e fin e d

by th e M e s s e n g e r ( i t ) to b e th e w o rst th in g th a t o n e c a n

13
d o , h o w c a n th a t b e g o o d in a n y fo rm o r p la c e ? U n le s s

th e s e v ile in n o v a to rs w a n t to se d u c e th e p e o p le by m a k in g

th e rid ic u lo u s d is tin c tio n b e tw e e n a g o o d w a y a n d a b a d

w a y o f e n te rin g H e ll, a s if th e re w e re a n y su c h m a tte r a s a

g o o d e r r o r in th e p ra c tic e o f th e D e e n in re a lity .

T h e C o m p a n io n s a n d th e g re a t s c h o la rs o f th e p a st fro m

a m o n g o u r p io u s p re d e c e s s o rs n e v e r c o m e n e a r to

in n o v a tio n w ith k n o w le d g e a n d h a v e u n e q u iv o c a lly

a d v is e d a g a in s t ta k in g th is d e s tru c tiv e lo a th s o m e ro u te .

H u d h a y fa h ib n a l-Y a m a a n s a id : " E v e r y a c t o f w o r s h ip th a t

th e C o m p a n io n s o f M e s s e n g e r (& ) d id n o t d o , d o n o t d o

th e m ." (S a h e e h - n a rra te d b y A b o o D a a w o o d ) Ib n M a s 'o o d

s a id : " M a k e 'ittih a a (im ita te a n d fo llo w ) a n d d o n o t d o

h id 'a h f o r w h a t y o u h a v e b e e n c o m m a n d e d is e n o u g h fo r

y o u ." (S a h e e h - n a rra te d b y a d -D a a rim e e ) T h is w a s th e

a ttitu d e o f th e C o m p a n io n s b u t n o w ' lo o k a t th e M u s lim s o f

to d a y . N a tu ra lly w e h a v e le s s k n o w le d g e th a n th e firs t

g e n e ra tio n s a n d n o n e o f u s c a n e v e r c o m p e te w ith a n y o n e

o f th e m in p ie ty a n d d e v o tio n a l w o rk s . In th is s itu a tio n is it

n o t re a s o n a b le to sa y th a t if th e y c h o se to b e so c a re fu l in

s tic k in g to w h a t th e y h a d b e e n ta u g h t b y th e M e sse n g e r

(* fe ) w e s h o u ld b e e v e n m o re so ? A fte r a ll, if w ith th e ir

k n o w le d g e th e y d id n o t fe e l s e c u re in in n o v a tin g , b y v irtu e

o f w h a t s p e c ia l k n o w le d g e d o th e M u s lim s o f to d a y so

fre e ly p a n d e r to n o v e ltie s in th e D e e n ? If th e fa ith o f th e

e a rly g e n e ra tio n c o u ld n o t p e rm it in n o v a tio n s i s n ’t t h a t th e

so rt o f fa ith w e n e e d to c u ltiv a te ? B u t th e re w ill a l w a vr s be

th e fe w w h o w o u ld th in k th e y a re w is e r th a n th e

C o m p a n io n s a n d th e y a re th e m e a n e st o f th e d re g s o f

m a n k in d .

1 4
Ib iv a l-J a v v z c c q u o te s in h is b o o k T a lb c c s Ib le e s th e Im a a m

a l - A w z a a 'e e w h o s a id . "P a tie n tly r e s tr ic t y o u r s e l f to th e

S u n n a h a n d d o n o t g o b e y o n d th e p o s itio n s h e ld b y th e

S a h a a h a h (th e C o m p a n io n s ); h o ld th e ir p o s itio n a n d a v o id

w h a t th e y a v o id e d . T a k e th e p a th o f th e S a la f u s -S a a lih e e n

(th e C o m p a n io n s a n d th e p io u s p r e d e c e s s o r s in th e w a y o f

th e C o m p a n io n s ), f o r v e r ily w h a t w a s s u ffic ie n t fo r th e m is

s u ffic ie n t fo r y o u ." L et n o o n e s te p in to th e sh o e s o f

M u h a m m a d (* & ) a s it w e re a n d c h a n g e th e D e e n th a t w a s

e s ta b lis h e d th ro u g h h im b y A lla a h . T h e in n o v a to rs

d is m a n tle th e D e e n p ie c e b y p ie c e u n til th e h e a rts a n d

m in d s o f th e p e o p le a re le ft c o rru p te d a n d p o llu te d so th e y

a re n o lo n g e r a b le to re c o g n is e th e T ru th a p a rt fro m

fa ls e h o o d . T h e y a rc lik e a c a n c e r w h ic h s lo w ly e a ts u p th e

b o d y fro m w ith in .

W e k n o w th is fro m th e s ta te m e n t o f th e fa m o u s t a a b i 'e e

(su c c e sso r) H a ssa n Ib n A tiy y a h w h o s a id th a t "N o p e o p le

in tr o d u c e d a n in n o v a tio n in to th e ir r e lig io n e x c e p t th a t a n

e q u iv a le n t S u n n a h is ta k e n a w a y fr o m th e m ." (re p o rte d by

a d -D a a rim e e w ith S a h e e h is n a a d ) th e in n o v a to rs a n d th o s e

w h o e n c o u ra g e th e m b y p a rtic ip a tin g in th e ir fo u l d e e d s

a rc g u ilty o f a tte m p tin g to a n n ih ila te th e D e e n b e c a u se

th e y a rc th e d e m o lis h e rs o f th e re lig io n . T h e y a re th e

d c m o lis h e rs b e c a u se th e y se e k to p e rv e rt th e D e e n by

m a k in g it a w a y o f m is g u id a n c e . Ib n U m a r s a id , "E v e r y

in n o v a tio n is m is g u id a n c e e v e n i f th e p e o p le r e g a r d it to

b e s o m e th in g g o o d ." (re p o rte d b y a d -D a a rim c c w ith

S a h e e h is n a a d ) Y o u h a v e to b e s ic k to sa y Is la a m is

s e lf-d e s tru c tiv e , ra th e r Is la a m d o e s n o t p e rm it a n y th in g

w h ic h is n o t c o n d u c iv e to it. H o w c a n w e re sp e c t th e s e

p e o p le w h o s te e p th e m s e lv e s in in n o v a to ry p ra c tic e s in th e

15
n a m e o f Is la a m a n d lo u d ly p ro fe ss to b e th e

s ta n d a rd -b e a re rs o f th e F a ith ? W o u ld y o u se e k to d e s tro y

Is la a m w ith y o u r o w n t o n p e s a n d h a n d s if y o u w e re a

M u s lim a n d fe a re d A lla a h a n d th e D a y o f J u d g e m e n t?

W o u ld y o u n o t fig h t a g a in s t th o s e w h o se e k to d is to rt th e

c le a r e v id e n c e a n d h a m p e r th e p ra c tic e s o f M u h a m m a d

( * ) a n d th e v irtu o u s C o m p a n io n s ? A ll in n o v a tio n s n o

m a tte r w h a t te c h n ic a l te rm s a re a p p lie d to th e m a rc

fo rb id d e n In Is la a m a n d m u st b e u p ro o te d In sh a h A lla a h .

Im a a m M a a llk"Whatever was not Deen at the time of

s a id :

the Prophet (M) cannot be considered to be a part of the

Deen today." A l l t h a t h a s p r e c e d e d i n t h i s s e c t i o n t o t a l l y
re fo te s th e id e a o f b i d 'a h H a s a n a h a n d m a y th e M u s lim s

n o t seek e x c u se s o n b e h a lf o f S h a ita a n in fa v o u r o f s h irk

(a s s o c ia tin g a n y th in g w ith A lla a h ). a m e e n .

16
 S E V E R E W A R N IN G A G A IN S T IN N O V A T IO N

T h e re m a y b e k n o w le d g e p re s e n t w ith th e p e o p le a n d th e y

m a y b e v e ry in te llig e n t to o , y e t it is n o t d iffic u lt to fin d

e v e n a m o n g su c h p e rs o n s th e te n d e n c y s o m e tim e s to m a k e

little o f th e c o m m a n d s a n d p ro h ib itio n s o f A lla a h a n d H is

M e sse n g e r ( * ) . n o t to sp e a k o f th o s e o f u s w h o a re

ig n o ra n t a n d h a v e le a rn t v e ry little to c o n tro l th e ir o w n

d e s ire s . T h e p ro b le m is a c tu a lly to d o w ith th e la c k o f

p ro p e r u n d e rs ta n d in g , w h e re fa ith h a s n o t y e t e n te re d th e

h e a rt a n d ta k e n d e e p ro o t. T h e s e p e o p le a re s till try in g to

a sse rt th e ir o w n in d iv id u a lity o v e r a n d a b o v e th e d ic ta te s

in th e re v e la tio n s in c e th e y m a k e to o m u c h o f th e m s e lv e s

a n d a re p u fT e d u p w ith fa ls e h o p e s ris in g fro m a c ro o k e d

a p p re c ia tio n o f A l l a a h 's D e e n . It b e c o m e s so e a sy fo r th e m

to n e g le c t th e S u n n a h a n d a c c o m m o d a te in v e n te d w ay s

th a t in s te a d o f try in g to g u id e th e s tra y in g in d iv id u a ls b a c k

to th e c le a r u n c o m p ro m is in g w a y th e y w o u ld ra th e r

a c c o m m o d a te th e w re tc h e d in v e n tio n s a n d s h e lte r th e

in n o v a to rs in th e n a m e o f p e a c e , w is d o m a n d h a rm o n y !

T h e y h a v e fa ile d th e ir o w n in te llig e n c e a n d k n o w le d g e a n d

ric h ly d e se rv e a ll c e n s u re a n d p u n is h m e n t fro m A lla a h .

T h u s A lla a h Let those beware

s u b h a a n a h u w a t a 'a l a say s: "

who withstand the Rasool's orders, unless some fitnah

befalls them or a grievous penalty be injlicted on them. "
(so o ra h A n -N o o r 2 4 : 6 3 )

T h e fitn a h (tria l) m e n tio n e d in th e a b o v e a a y a h is

e x p la in e d to b e k u fr (d is b e lie f), n ifa q (h y p o c ris y ) o r b i d 'a h

in th e ir h e a rts , w h ile th e g rie v o u s p e n a lty is u n d e rs to o d to

m e a n a ll fo rm s o f s u ffe rin g in th is w o rld . (Ib n K a th e e r)

C e rta in ly w h e n w e a re s te e p e d in in n o v a tio n s w e c a n n o t

17
cx p cc( th e b le s s in g s o f A lla a h in o u r a c tio n s m u c h le s s

P a ra d is e in e x c h a n g e a s w e s h a ll s h o rtly se e , b e c a u se

c e rta in ly w h e n e v e r w e in n o v a te w e se e k to a lte r th e

p e rs p ic a c io u s c o u rse o f a c tio n o f th e M e sse n g e r (« s). It is

a s if b y in n o v a tin g w e a re try in g to h id e o r o b sc u re th e o n e

a n d o n ly p a th le a d in g to P a ra d is e fo r th e o th e rs w h ic h a s

c a n b e a p p re c ia te d is a m o n s tro u s th in g to d o . It is d o in g

th e jo b o f S h a ita a n in th e g u is e o f p ie ty , a m o st e ffe c tiv e

te c h n iq u e to c h e a t th e se n s e s o f th e w e ll-m e a n in g ig n o ra n t

p e o p le o f th e fra u d in v o lv e d .

Is it p e rh a p s th e y h a v e so m e s p e c ia l d is p e n s a tio n fro m

A lla a h w h e re b y th e y a re a b s o lv e d fro m lis te n in g to c e rta in

o f H is c o m m a n d s ? O th e rw is e h o w d o th e ir h e a rts p e rm it

th e m to re m a in c a lm o v e r m a tte rs u n d e n ia b ly c o o k e d -u p

a n d in c o rp o ra te d in to th e D c c n a s s u b s titu te s fo r th e

e s ta b lis h e d w ay o f th e S u n n a h ? E ith e r a s a M u s lim o n e

s h o u ld b e p le a s e d to k n o w a n d fo llo w th e w a y o f th e

M e sse n g e r (* s) o r o n e s h o u ld a p p o rtio n to h im s e lf th e

u n w a rra n te d p riv ile g e to in v e n t h is o w n m e th o d s a n d

m a n n e rs o f w o rs h ip p in g A lla a h . E v id e n tly th e la tte r w a y is

th a t o f th e p a g a n s, y e t su c h a m u ltitu d e c o n tin u e s to re s is t

g iv in g u p o ld o r n e w u n ju s tifie d h a b its , u n ju s tifie d th a t is

fro m th e Q u r 'a a n a n d th e S u n n a h , th a t o n e c a n n o t h e lp b u t

q u e s tio n th e s a n ity o r s ta b ility o f th e ir m in d s . W h a t

m a n n e r o f M u s lim s a re th e s e w h o a fte r k n o w in g th e tru th

w o u ld s till p re fe r th e ir o w n w a y s? A lla a h say s: " I f a n y o n e

c o n te n d s w ith th e R a s o o l e v e n a fte r g u id a n c e h a s b e e n

p la in ly c o n v e y e d to h im a n d fo llo w s a p a th o th e r th a n th a t

o f th e b e lie v e r s , W e s h a ll le a \> e h im in th e p a th h e h a s

c h o se n a n d la n d h im in H e ll, w h a t a n e v il r e fu g e !" (S o o ra h

A n -N is a 4 : 1 1 5 )

18
T h u s m a in ta in in g o w n p re fe re n c e s a n d c h o ic e s in th e fa c e

o f g u id a n c e in th e Q u r 'a a n a n d th e S u n n a h b y a d h e rin g to

in n o v a tio n s c e rta in ly in v ite s th e w ra th o f A lla a h w h e re b y

H e m a k e s th e ir d e e d s se e m g o o d to th e m in th e ir h e a rts

a n d a llu rin g to th e m in th e ir m in d s th u s b rin g in g th e m

c lo s e r to d e s tru c tio n b y d e g re e s u n til th e y h a v e H e ll a s

th e ir fin a l a b o d e . T h is is th e u n d e rs ta n d in g w e g e t w h e n

w e re a d th e ta fs e e r o f Ib n K a th c e r p e rta in in g to th is a a y a h .

It is e x a c tly a s th e M e s s e n g e r (* fe ) e x p l a i n e d , " M y lik e n e s s

a m o n g st y o u is th a t o f a m a n w h o lit a fir e a n d w h e n it

lig h ts u p w h a t is a r o u n d it, m o th s a n d th e s e c r e a tu r e s

w h ic h f a l l in to th e f i r e b e g in to f a l l in to it, a n d h e tr ie s to

p r e v e n t th e m b u t th e y g e t th e b e tte r o f h im a n d p lu n g e in to

th e fir e : so th a t is m y lik e n e s s a m o n g s t y o u . I a m ta k in g

h o ld o f y o u b y y o u r w a is ts to (p u ll y o u a w a y fr o m ) th e F ir e

(s a y in g ) 'C o m e a w a y fr o m th e F ir e ', b u t y o u a re

o v e r c o m in g m e a n d fa llin g in to it.! " (S a h e e h - n a rra te d by

Im a a m B u k h a a re e a n d Im a a m M u s lim fro m A b d u r

R a /.z a a k )

It is n o g o o d g iv in g c o n fu s io n a s a n e x c u se b e c a u se o f th e

g re a t d iffe re n c e s th a t a re to b e fo u n d in th e U m m a h . T h e

tru th is o n e a n d th e tru th c o m e s fro m th e g u id a n c e o f

A lla a h w h ic h in th is c a se is r e v e la tio n . T h e M e s s e n g e r (« s)

s a id , "A l l a a h w ill o n ly u n ite m y U m m a h o n g u id a n c e ."

(S a h e e h - n a rra te d b y a t-T irm id h e e ) S o if th e re is d is u n ity

o n a n a ffa ir th e n o n e s h o u ld se e k th e tm th fro m th e

e v id e n c e . T h e M e s s e n g e r ( * ) h a s a ls o s a id , " M y U m m a h

w ill n e v e r a g r e e u p o n d a la a la h ( e r r o r ) ." (S a h e e h -

n a rra te d b y a t-T irm id h e c a n d a l-H a a k im ) M a y b e th e tru th

is o n ly w ith a s in g le p e rs o n ? W h o h a s th e e v id e n c e ? If

e v id e n c e d o e s n o t m a tte r th e n h o w d o y o u d e c id e w h o se

19
o p in io n to a c c e p t? Is Is la a m b u ilt o n o p in io n s ? S h o u ld y o u

a c c e p t o p in io n s w ith o u t a n y te x t fo r it in th e Q u r 'a a n a n d

th e S u n n a h ?

E ith e r th e a c t o f w o rs h ip is s a n c tio n e d b y A lla a h o r it is

n o t. I f it is to b e a c c e p ta b le to A lla a h it w ill b e fo u n d e ith e r

in th e Q u r 'a a n o r th e S u n n a h , o th e rw is e it is e r r o n e o u s a n d

n o th in g w ill m a k e it rig h t, e v e r. T h a t d iffe re n c e w ill a ris e

w a s fo re to ld b y o u r M e s s e n g e r ( * ) a n d th e s e n s ib le p e rso n

in th a t s itu a tio n w ill se e k to d o n o th in g b u t fo llo w th e

e x a m p le o f th o s e w o rth y to b e fo llo w e d . W h o e ls e c a n th e y

b e o th e r th a n th e M e s s e n g e r ( * ) h im s e lf a n d w h o m h e

h im s e lf e x h o rte d exhort you to fear

fo r u s? H e (< * ) s a id : 7

Allaah and to hear and obey even If (the one In command)

Is an Abyssinian slave, and he amongst you that would
survive after me would see great differences. So hold fast
to my Sunnah and to the sunnah of the Khulafaa'l
Raashldeen al-Mahdiyeen (the four rightly guided
caliphs), adhere to It and cling to It tightly and beware of
Innovationsfor every Innovation Is bid'ah and every bld'ah
Is dalaalah." ( S a h e e h • n a r r a t e d b y A b o o D a w o o d .
u t-T irm id h c c a n d Ib n M a a ja h )

lb n M a s 'o o d The Messenger of Allaah (*) drew

n a rra te d : "

a line for us and then said: This Is AIlaah's Straight Path.'

Then he drew lines to Its right and left, then he said:
'These are (other) paths, upon every one of them there Is a
devil calling towards It.' Then he recited (from soorah
An'aam aayah IS3)." ( S a h e e h • n a r r a t e d b y A h m a d ,
a n - N a s a a 'c e , a l - H a a k i m a n d a d - D a a r i m e e ) "Verily this Is

My Straight Path, so follow It andfollow not (other) paths,

they will separate you awayfrom Ills Path. This He has
20
ordained for you that you may become pious. " (so o ra h

a l - A n 'a a m 6 : 1 5 3 ) It is th u s m a n ife s t th a t a ll p a th s d o n o t

le a d to A lla a h o r P a ra d is e , a m u c h a d o re d b u t w o e ftilly

m is ta k e n n o tio n , a n d th e w a y to su c c e ss in b o th th e w o rld s

is o n ly o n e , C h o o s in g a n y o th e r w a y is to b e d e c e iv e d by

th e d e v il a n d w e s h o u ld c o u n te r th e h a rd e n e d in n o v a to rs a s

n o th in g b u t a g e n ts o f th e S h a ita a n . A s h -S h a n tib c c w h ile

c o m m e n tin g "The Straight Path Is the

o n th is a a y a h say s:

Path of Allaah which He called to and It Is the Sunnah,

and the paths (the other paths) are the ways of those In
disagreement who hinder from Allaah's way - and they are
people of Innovation. What Is not meant are the ways of
sin, since sins are never taken by anyone as a way to
follow always In opposition to the Sharee'ah, rather this
description Is particularly to the newly Invented
Innovations. "

O n ly o n e g ro u p fro m a m o n g th e s e v e n ty o d d g ro u p s w ill

g o to P a ra d is e a n d th e o th e rs w ill n o t d o so p re c is e ly

b e c a u se th e y c h o se to in n o v a te n e w w a y s fo r th e m s e lv e s .

T h e y c a st a s id e th e S u n n a h a n d c o n s id e re d it b e tte r to

fo rm u la te a n d o rig in a te n o v e l w a y s o f w o rs h ip p in g A lla a h ,

as if th e y k n o w b e tte r th a n th e v e ry p e o p le w h o su rro u n d e d

th e M e s s e n g e r (). "The
A b d u lla h ib n A m r re p o rte d th a t,

Messenger (M) said: 'Those evils which befell the Banee

Israa'eel shall befall my Ummah, so much so that If there
was one amongst them that openly committed fornication
with his mother there would be one among my Ummah who
would do that too. And the Banee Israa'eel split Into
seventy-two sects and my Ummah shall split Into
seventy-three sects. All of them will be In the Fire, except
one group.1They (the Sahaahah) said: 'Which one Is that
2 1
O M e s s e n g e r ? ' W h e re u p o n h e s a id : 'I t i s t h e o n e to w h ic h I

a n d m y C o m p a n io n s b e lo n g .' " (S a h c c h - n a rra te d b y

a t-T irm id h c c ) In a n o th e r n a rra tio n M. . . s e v e n ty -tw o w ill

b e in th e F ir e a n d o n e in P a r a d is e , a n d th a t is th e

J a m a 'a h ." (S a h e e h - n a rra te d b y A b o o D a a w o o d a n d

o th e rs )

T h is is th e se v e re w a rn in g a g a in s t in n o v a tio n . It is n o th in g

o th e r th a n b u rn in g a n d b o ilin g in H e ll, so w h o a m o n g u s

w h o is ta k in g th e a d v ic e to sa v e o n e s e lf fro m th e F ire

" e v e n it b e w ith h a lf a p ie c e o f d a te " w ill b e in d u lg e n t in

in n o v a tio n s ? In n o v a tio n w h e n v ie w e d fro m th e c o n te x t o f

th e Q u r 'a a n a n d th e S u n n a h fin d n o sc o p e to b e

a c c o m m o d a te d in th e le a s t e x c e p t a m o n g th e c ra s s fo o ls .

2 2
 C U R B IN G T H E T E N D E N C IE S F O R IN N O V A T IN G

P e rh a p s th e m a in re a s o n w h y in n o v a tio n s o c c u r, k e e p in g

to o n e s id e th e in n o v a tio n s th a t ta k e p la c e d u e to th e

m a lic io u s n a tu re o f so m e o f th e p e rp e tra to rs fro m a m o n g

th e e n e m ie s o f A lla a h a n d H is M e s s e n g e r ( * ) , is th e d e s ir e

to p le a s e A lla a h a n d g a in re w a rd s fro m H im , a p p lie d

ig n o ra n tly a n d e rro n e o u s ly . S u c h p e o p le d o n o t e v e n a im at

in s u ltin g th e M e s s e n g e r () o r to p u t d o w n th e S h a r c e 'a h .

ra th e r th e y w is h to m a k e u p fo r th e ir d e fic ie n c ie s in th e ir

w o rs h ip b y su c h a c ts a n d se e th e m a s c o n v e n ie n t w a y s to

a c q u ire g o o d n e ss. H o w e v e r, su c h p e o p le so o n te n d to fa ll

in to th e d is g u s tin g b e h a v io u r w h e re th e y w o u ld p re fe ra b ly

c a rry o n in th e n e g a tiv e a c ts o f in n o v a tio n a n d k e e p o n

n e g le c tin g w h a t is e s s e n tia l fo r th e m to d o in th e D c c n a s a

re s u lt o f n o t b a s in g th e ir fa ith a n d p ra c tic e o n th e c le a r

k n o w le d g e o f th e Q u r 'a a n a n d th e S u n n a h . In n o v a tio n s

b e c o m e th e e sc a p e h a tc h fo r th e m to rid th e m s e lv e s o f th e ir

g u ilty c o n s c ie n c e . T h u s y o u w ill fin d so m a n y s o -c a lle d

M u s lim s w h o a rc so c a re fre e re g a rd in g th e ir fiv e d a ily

p ra y e rs b u t v e ry p a rtic u la r a b o u t g o in g to th e g ra v e s o f

k n o w n h o ly p e o p le to se e k th e ir b le s s in g s ! Y o u m ay h a v e a

m a n w h o p ra y s fiv e tim e s a ll rig h t b u t k e e p s o n m is s in g

J u m u ’a h w e e k a fte r w e e k a n d v e ry s tric t a b o u t m a in ta in in g

in n o v a to ry re lig io u s g a th e rin g s w h ic h th e y c a ll m e e la a d .

A c tu a lly a lo t o f th is is d u e to th e c o rm p t a n d m is g u id e d

p e o p le to w h o m th e o th e rs tu rn to fo r k n o w le d g e in th e

m a tte rs o f th e D e e n , p e o p le w h o se c in Is la a m a w a y to

g a in fa m e a n d in flu e n c e a n d p o w e r, p e o p le w h o see Is la a m

a s a b u s in e s s i.e .. p e o p le w h o se p u rp o se is to m a k e m o n ey

o u t o f p e rfo rm in g a c ts o f w o rs h ip , p e o p le w h o th riv e o n

2 3
s e c ta ria n is m a n d s h irk , a n d th e re a re so m a n y o f th e m !

S m a ll w o n d e r in n o v a tio n s fin d a n e a sy tim e in th e s o c ie ty

a n d th e g e n e ra l m a ss fin d it so d iffic u lt to c o m e o u t o f

th e m ,

T h e M e ss e n g e r ( * ) s a id to th re e m e n w h o a fte r in q u irin g

in to th e w o rs h ip o f th e "Where do we stand
P ro p h e t s a id :

In comparison to the Nabee (Prophet) (H) for Allaah has

forgiven his past and present sins." O n e s a i d : "I will
observe prayer all night every night." T h e o t h e r s a i d : 7
will observe fast every day." T h e t h i r d s a i d : 7 will keep
away from women and never marry." H o w e v e r . A l l a a h ' s
M e s s e n g e r ( U s ) s a i d t o t h e m , "Is It you who said such and

such a thing? By Allaah/ I fear Allaah the most from

amongst you, but I fast and / eat, 1 pray and I sleep and 1
also marry. Whoever turns away from my Sunnah Is not of
me." ( S a h c c h - n a r r a t e d b y a l - B u k h a a r e c a n d M u s l i m ) ,

T h is H a d e e th c le a rly s h o w s th a t th e th re e p e o p le c o n c e rn e d

d id n o t w is h to d o a n y th in g b a d b u t ra th e r w a n te d to b e

c lo s e r to A lla a h a n d h a v e th e ir s in s fo rg iv e n , b u t th e

fa ta lity o f th e ir d e c is io n s la y in th e fa c t th a t th e y w a n te d to

d o th a t w h ic h is n o t s h o w n b y th e S u n n a h , T h ey ' w e re

m o tiv a te d b y th e b e s t o f in te n tio n s y e t th e ir a c tio n s w e re to

b e so d e p lo ra b le th a t th e M e s s e n g e r ( * ) h a d to e x p la in to

th e m th a t if w h a t th e y w a n te d to d o w e re p ro m p te d b y th e ir

fe a r o f A lla a h th e n th e y s h o u ld k n o w ' th a t h e ( t t ) fe a re d

A lla a h th e m o st a n d th e y s lio u ld d o n o th in g e ls e b u t fo llo w

th e S u n n a h w h ic h is th e o n ly w a y a n d th e b e st w a y to

w o rs h ip A lla a h w h o m w e fe a r, A se v e re w a rn in g w a s th e n

g iv e n s h o w in g th a t w h e n w e k e e p a lo o f fro m th e S u n n a h

2 4
a n d a d o p t o u r o w n m e th o d s w e in e ffe c t d e ta c h o u rs e lv e s

fro m b e in g p a rt o f h is U m m a h .

N o w lo o k a t h o w w e h a v e b e c o m e so d e p ra v e d ! W e see so

m a n y e x a m p le s q u o te d re g a rd in g o u r p io u s w o rs h ip p e rs ,

s to rie s u n d o u b te d ly c o n c o c te d o r e x a g g e ra te d b e c a u se o u r

k n o w le d g e a b le p io u s w o rs h ip p e rs c o u ld n o t h a v e flo u te d

th e S u n n a h o n p u rp o se , a n d so m a n y o f o u r b ro th e rs a n d

s is te rs b e c o m e fu ll o f a d m ira tio n fo r th e fe a ts m e n tio n e d in

th o s e s to rie s , th a t it is o f v e ty little s u rp ris e th a t th e v a lu e s

o f p e o p le a t la rg e b e c o m e c o lo u re d b y th e m a n d d is to rte d ,

w ith th e re s u lt th a t th e S u n n a h lo s e s its a p p e a l a g a in s t

th e s e fa r-fe tc h e d fa b ric a tio n s . F o r e x a m p le w e h a v e so m e

p e o p le tr y in g to in c u lc a te fa ith in th e re lig io n ta lk in g a b o u t

su c h a n d su c h a d e v o te d s e rv a n t o f A lla a h p e rh a p s p ra y in g

tw o th o u s a n d ra k a a h e v e ry n ig h t a n d th e n g a rn is h it w ith

o th e r ta s k s o f a rd o u r lik e d o in g so w ith a s in g le w u d h o o

(a b lu tio n ) fro m Ish a till F a jr a n d n e v e r s le e p in g a w in k at

n ig h t w h ile p e rfo rm in g s u c h e x p lo its fo r fo rty y e a rs! T h e

lis te n e rs g a s p w ith so u n d s o f a m a z e m e n t a n d e s te e m w h ile

th e sp e a k e r th e n m a k e s th e m o st o f it by' e x p re s s in g h is

d e lig h t a n d v e n e ra tio n fo r su c h a c c o m p lis h m e n ts a n d th e n

m a k in g e v e ry o n e fe e l g u ilty fo r n o t e v e n try in g to b e lik e

su c h 'h e r o e s '! D o c s a n y o n e s to p to a sk if su c h w a s th e

p ra c tic e o f th e M e s s e n g e r ( * ) , if h e (4 k ) e v e r ta u g h t u s to

a p p re c ia te Is la a m a n d its p e o p le in su c h a w a y , w h e th e r th e

C o m p a n io n s w e re o f s u c h p e rfo rm in g m e rits ? A ll th is

n o n se n se w o rk s p re c is e ly b e c a u se w e re m a in ig n o ra n t o f

a n d u n m o v e d b y th e te a c h in g s o f th e re v e la tio n b y th e

M e s s e n g e r (iff) a n d h is n o b le C o m p a n io n s .

2 5
A a 'i s h a re p o rte d th a t th e M e s s e n g e r (tfc ) p e r f o r m e d a n a c t

a n d g a v e p e rm is s io n fo r it to b e d o n e , b u t so m e p e o p le k e p t

th e m s e lv e s a lo o f fro m it. T h i s n e w s re a c h e d th e M e sse n g e r

( * ) a n d h e d e liv e re d a k h u tb a h (se rm o n ) p ra is in g A lla a h

a n d th e n s a id : " W h a t is th e m a tte r w ith th e p e o p le th a t

th e y a v o id d o in g a th in g w h ic h I d o . B y A lla a h I h a \> e th e

b e s t k n o w le d g e o f A lla a h a m o n g s t th e m a n d I fe a r H im th e

m o s t." (S a h c e h - n a rra te d b y a l-B u k h a a re e a n d M u s lim )

T h u s to lim it th e sp re a d o f in n o v a tio n s a n d c o n ta in th e m

fro m b e c o m in g to o p ro fo u n d ly e m b e d d e d in th e h e a rts a n d

m in d s , a n d in e v ita b ly re m o v e th e m , it is im p e ra tiv e th a t

o n e tu rn s fo r g u id a n c e o n ly to th e tw o p u re so u rc e s o f th e

Q u r 'a a n a n d th e a u th e n tic H a d e e th o f th e M e sse n g e r (& ).

T h e p e rso n s h o u ld a lw a y s e s ta b lis h a s fa r a s h e is c a p a b le

w h e th e r a n y a c t o f d e v o tio n o r p ra y e r is e v id e n c e d in th e

B o o k a n d th e S u n n a h o r n o t, w h e th e r it is th e v e ry ac t

its e lf o r th e m a n n e r in w h ic h it is d o n e , a n d la k e e v e ry

d e ta il o f it in to a c c o u n t. H e n e e d s to u n d e rs ta n d th a t th e

M e s s e n g e r ’s ( * f e ) w a y is th e b e s t w a y a n d h a v e u n s h a k e a b le

c o n fid e n c e in th e p ra c tic e s o f th e C o m p a n io n s fro m th e

S u n n a h . T h e re fo re o n e h a s to a c q u ire k n o w le d g e o f th e

D een a n d k n o w th a t A lla a h h a s in d e e d s a id so o r th e

M e sse n g e r (* fe ) h a s in d e e d s a id so o r d o n e so in an y a ffa ir

o f w o rs h ip .

O n e n e e d s to u n d e rs ta n d th a t th e C o m p a n io n s o f th e

M e sse n g e r (* ;) w e re th e b e st o f th e g e n e ra tio n s a n d w e

c a n n o t h a v e a b e tte r u n d e rs ta n d in g o f th e F a ith o r its

p ra c tic e ! Im a a m M a a lik s a id . " H e w h o in n o v a te s a n

in n o v a tio n in Is la a m r e g a r d in g it a s s o m e th in g g o o d h a s

c la im e d th a t M u h a m m a d (tte ) h a s b e t r a v e d h i s tr u s t to

26
d e liv e r th e M e s s a g e a s A lla a h sa y s: 'T o d a y h a v e I

c o m p le te d y o u r D e e n .’ A n d w h a te v e r w a s n o t p a r t o f th e

B e e n th e n , is n o t p a r t o f th e D e e n to d a y ." ( A l - I 't i s a a m o f

A s h -S h a a tib c c ) T h is w a s th e firm s ta n c e o f o n e o f th e

g re a te s t o f th e s c h o la rs a n d w e w o u ld d o w e ll to le a rn fro m

su c h p e o p le .

Is la a m c a m e a n d re m o v e d a ll tra c e s o f J a a h iliy y a h

(ig n o ra n c e ) b o th fro m th e m a n n e rs o f w o rs h ip a n d fro m

o u r m in d s , i.e ., in o u r o u tlo o k a n d th o u g h ts ,

a lh a m d u lilla a h . If w e a rc to fo llo w o u r o w n c o n c e p t o f

w h a t is a c c e p ta b le a n d w h a t is n o t p e rta in in g to h o w to

w o rs h ip A lla a h , th e n w e a re n o b e tte r th a n th e p a g a n s w h o

c h o se to g lo rify a n d b e se e c h H im a c c o rd in g to th e ir w h im s .

Is la a m re p u ls e d J a a h iliy y a h so c o m p le te ly fro m th e D e e n

th a t e v e n th e a sp e c t o f fo o d a n d d re s s w e re n o le ft

u n to u c h e d .

A lla a h s u b h a a n a h u w a t a 'a l a say s: "W h o h a s fo r b id d e n th e

b e a u tifu l ( g ifts ) o f A lla a h w h ic h lie h a s p r o d u c e d fo r H is

S e r x ’a n l s , a n d th e th in g s th a t a re ta y y ib a a t fo r

s u s te n a n c e ? " (s o o ra h A l - A 'r a a f 7 : 3 2 )

It is re la te d in th e ta fs e c r o f Ib n K a th e e r fro m A b u l Q a a s im

a t-T a b ra a n c c w h o u ltim a te ly ta k e s it fro m Ib n A b b a a s th a t

th e Q u ra is h u se d to m a k e ta w a a f (c irc u m b u la tio n ) o f th e

K a 'b a h n a k e d , w h is tlin g a n d c la p p in g , so A lla a h re v e a le d

th e a b o v e a a y a h a n d o rd e re d th e m to w e a r c lo th e s . Ib n

K a th e e r a ls o e x p la in s th a t th is a a y a h is a ls o a re p ly to

th o s e w h o fo rb id a n y th in g re g a rd in g fo o d , d rin k o r

c lo th in g o n th e ir o w n in itia tiv e w ith o u t a n y p re s c rip tio n

fro m A lla a h . A s c a n b e se e n in so m a n y o f th e in n o v a tio n s

2 7
fo u n d a m o n g th e p e o p le to d a y , o n e is n o t a llo w e d to c a t o r

c o n v e rs e ly re c o m m e n d e d to e a t a c e rta in ty p e o f s w e e t d is h

o n c e rta in d a y s o r n ig h ts fo r g e ttin g s p e c ia l b le s s in g s e tc .

c o n n e c te d to ritu a ls w h ic h a re c o n d u c te d in th e n a m e o f

Is la a m fo r th e p u rp o se o f c o m m e m o ra tin g th is o r th a t

e v e n t o r to h o n o u r su c h a n d su c h a h o ly m a n w h o p a sse d

a w a y lo n g a g o . T h is is a s a re s u lt o f n o t fu lly a p p re c ia tin g

th e c o m p le te n e s s o f th e D e c n a n d it b e in g th e o n ly

p e rm itte d w a y to se e k re w a rd s fro m H im in w o rs h ip .

Ib n A b b a a s s a id : " W e w o u ld c o m e w ith h im (A b d u lla h ib n

A fa s 'o o d ) to th e m a s jid . O n e d a y A b o o M o o s a a l-A s h a r e a

c a m e , lo o k in g w o r r ie d a n d a s k e d w h e th e r A b o o

A b d u r-R a h m a a n (ib n M a s 'o o d ) h a d c o m e o u t. W e s a id :

'N o ' S o h e a ls o s a t w a itin g . W h e n Ib n M a s 'o o d c a m e o u t h e

(A b o o M o o sa ) s a id : 'J u s t n o w I sa w a n in n o v a tio n b u t it

lo o k s g o o d in s e e in g . ’ Ib n M a s 'o o d s a id : 'W h a t d id y o u

s e e ? ’ A b o o M o o s a s a id : 7 sa w a g r o u p s ittin g in a c ir c le

w a itin g fo r us. T h e y h a d p e b b le s in th e ir h a n d s. In e v e r y

c ir c le th e r e w a s a m a n w h o s a id , 's a v ta k b e e r o n e -h u n d r e d

tim e s ’ so th e y s a id ta k b e e r (A lla a h u -a k b a r ) o n e -h u n d r e d

tim e s . T h en h e s a id , 's a y ta h le e l o n e -h u n d r e d tim e s ' so

th e y s a id ta h le e l (a lh a m d u lilla a h ) o n e -h u n d r e d tim e s , a n d

lik e w is e th e y s a id ta s b e e h (s u b h a n A lla a h ) o n e -h u n d r e d

tim e s . Ib n M a s 'o o d s a id : ''T h e n w h a t d id y o u s a y ? 'A b o o

M o o sa s a id : 7 d id n o t s a y a n y th in g a n d I w a ite d f o r y o u . '

W h ils t ta lk in g b o th r e a c h e d th e m a s jid a n d o b s e n e d th e

r e c ita tio n in th e m a n n e r d e s c r ib e d b y A b o o M o o sa .

A d d r e s s in g th e p e o p le o f o n e c ir c le Ib n M a s 'o o d a sk e d :

'W h a t is g o in g o n ? ' T h e y s a id : 'T h e s e a re p e b b le s a n d o n

th e m w e a re r e c itin g ta k b e e r , ta h le e l a n d ta s b e e h o f

A lla a h .' Ib n M a s 'o o d s a id : 'I n s t e a d o f th is y o u b e tte r c o u n t

2 8
y o u r s in s . I s ta n d in s u r e ty th a t A lla a h w ill n o t a llo w y o u r

v ir tu e s to g o to w a s te . A la s O U m m a h o f M u h a m m a d (& ),

h o w so o n y o u a re s p o ile d . W h a t a n u m b e r o f S a h a a b a h a re

s till a m o n g s t y o u . T h e c lo th e s o f th e P r o p h e t Q a re s till n o t

w o rn o u t. 'T h e u te n s ils h e u s e d a re s till in ta c t. A n d so y o u

th in k th a t y o u a re fo llo w in g a w a y w h ic h is b e tte r th a n th e

P r o p h e t's a n d g iv e s b e tte r g u id a n c e ? A r e y o u n o t o p e n in g

a d o o r o f d e v ia tio n th r o u g h th is b i d 'a h ? ’ T h e p e o p le

r e p lie d a p o lo g e tic a lly : 'B y A lla a h o u r n e e y a h (in te n tio n )

w a s g o o d .' Ib n M a s 'o o d s a id : 'W h a t a n u m b e r o f m e n th e r e

a re th a t in te n d g o o d b u t n e v e r r e a c h th a t g o o d .' "

(n a rra te d b y a d -D a a rim c e in a s -S u n a n )

T h e a b o v e a a th a a r is v e ry c le a r in p ro v in g th e p o in t th a t

w h e n a c e rta in p e rm itte d w a y o f g lo rify in g A lla a h e ith e r

th ro u g h w o rd s o r a c tio n is p e rfo rm e d b y u tilis in g a n ew

s ty le o r in th e s e ttin g o f a n e w m e th o d o r in th e sc h e m e o f

a n e w w a y o f g e ttin g re w a rd s fro m A lla a h . th e n th a t

p ra c tic e is a n in n o v a tio n w h ic h c a n o n ly b rin g e v il le t

a lo n e g o o d . T h is is re a d ily a p p a re n t fro m th e s ta te m e n t o f

Ib n A b b a a s w h e n h e s a id , " In s te a d o f th is y o u b e tte r c o u n t

y o u r s in s ." C o n tra s t th e a ttitu d e o f Ib n A b b a a s w ith th o s e

w ith th o s e o f to d a y w h e re h e sa y s, " A n d s o y o u th in k th a t

y o u a re fo llo w in g a w a y w h ic h is b e tte r th a n th e P r o p h e t's

a n d g iv e s b e tte r g u id a n c e ? " A ls o n o te h o w Ib n A b b a a s d id

n o t a c c e p t th e ir h a v in g g o o d in te n tio n s a s ju s tific a tio n fo r

t h e b i d 'a h .

T h is is th e c o re o f th e m a tte r w h ic h w e n e e d to g ra sp a n d

th e e sse n c e o f c o rre c t th in k in g w h ic h w e n e e d to d e v e lo p ,

th a t a n in n o v a tio n is d o n e o n ly a t th e e x p e n se o f th e

S u n n a h a rro g a tin g it to a b e tte r w a y th a n th e

2 9
M e s s e n g e r 's (* & ) a n d th a t n o th in g e v e r fro m a n y o n e n o

m a tte r h o w le a rn e d o r p io u s h e m a y b e c a n b e b e tte r in a n y

w ay fro m th a t o f th e M e s s e n g e r 's (* fe ) w a y . T h is so rt o f

c o m p re h e n s io n a n d o u tlo o k is w h a t is g o in g to b u ild u p a

s o c ie ty w h e re its p e o p le lik e th e C o m p a n io n s a n d th o s e

w h o fo llo w e d th e m in th e ir w a y w ill n o t to le ra te th e

s lig h te s t a d d itio n o r a lte ra tio n to w h a t h a s c o m e fro m

A lla a h a n d H is M e s s e n g e r (ifc ) a n d th e c h e c k a g a in s t e v il

a n d fa ls e h o o d is e n s u re d to b e d y n a m ic a n d im m e d ia te .

N o w w e c a n se c w h y th e w a y s o f th e S a la f w e re n e ith e r

s tric t n o r h a rs h b u t o f w is d o m w h ic h re fle c te d th e g e n u in e

c o n c e rn fo r th e w e ll-b e in g o f th e D e e n in th e liv e s o f th e

p e o p le . T h u s w h e n o n c e a m a n sn e e z e d in th e p re se n c e o f

Ib n U m a r a n d s a id " P r a is e h e to A lla a h a n d p e a c e b e u p o n

th e K a s o o l," Ib n U m a r c h a s tis e d th e m a n a n d s a id : "T h e

P ro p h e t h a s o n ly ta u g h t u s to s a y A lh u tn d u liU a a h ."

(n a rra te d b y a t-T irm id h e e )

In n o v a tio n s a re th e w a y th ro u g h w h ic h th e s h a y a te c n fro m

a m o n g th e jin n a n d th e m e n c a u se th e w o rs h ip p e r to s tra y

fro m th e rig h t p a th a n d b e c o m e c lo s e r to e v il a n d m o re

s u s c e p tib le to it. It is s h irk in th a t o n e ta k e s so m e o th e rs to

b e a ls o d e ify in g fo r h im s o m e th in g in th e D e e n . Ib n

K a th c c r e x p la in s th e fo llo w in g a a y a h to m e a n , " T h a t is :

th e y d o n o t fo llo w th e s tr a ig h t r e lig io n w h ic h A lla a h h a s

p r e s c r ib e d fo r y o u , r a th e r th e y fo llo w th a t w h ic h th e ir

d e v ils fr o m th e jin n s a n d h u m a n s s tip u la te fo r th e m ."

" W h a t! H a \> e th e y p a r tn e r s (w ith A lla a h ) w h o h a v e

e s ta b lis h e d fo r th e m s o m e th in g in th e D e e n fo r w h ic h

A lla a h h a s g iv e n n o p e r m is s io n fo r ? " (so o ra h A sh -S h o o ra h

4 2 :2 1 )

3 0
A M u s lim m u st d e c id e a n d d o so firm ly a n d c le a rly

w h e th e r h e w a n ts to w o rs h ip A lla a h b y s u b m ittin g to H is

W ill b y u n c o m p ro m is in g ly s tic k in g to th e re v e la tio n o r by

b e c o m in g p a g a n is tic a n d d e v ia te d w h e re b y h e p re fe rs

o p in io n s a n d m a x im s o f th o s e a ro u n d h im w ith re g a rd s to

h is D c c n . T h e in s tru c tio n o f th e M e sse n g e r (* ;) is c ry s ta l

c le a r re g a rd in g th e in n o v a to rs . Ib n M a s ’o o d re p o rte d th a t

th e M e sse n g e r (a * c ) s a id : " T h e re w a s n e v e r a n a b e e th a t

A lla a h r a is e d a m o n g s t h is U m m a h b e fo r e m e e x c e p t th a t

h e h a d in h is U m m a h s o m e h a w a a r y y o o n (H e lp e r s ) a n d

S a h a a b a h (C o m p a n io n s ) w h o h e ld fa s t to h is su n n a h a n d

fo llo w e d h is c o m m a n d s. T h e y w e re th e n s u c c e e d e d b y a

p e o p le w h o p r o fe s s e d w h a t th e y d id n o t a c t u p o n a n d d id

th a t w h ic h th e y w e re n o c o m m a n d e d to d o . S o h e w h o

m a k e s jih a a d (s tr iv in g in th e w a y o f A lla a h ) a g a in s t th e m

w ith h is h a n d is a b e lie v e r a n d th e o n e w h o m a k e s jih a a d

a g a in s t th e m w ith h is to n g u e is a b e lie v e r a n d o n e w h o

m a k e s jih a a d a g a in s t th e m w ith h is h e a r t is a b e lie v e r , b u y

b e y o n d th a t th e r e is n o t e v e n a m u s ta r d s e e d o f im a a n ."

(S a h e e h - n a rra te d b y M u s lim )

S h a ik h -u l-Is la a m Ib n T a im iy y a h sa y s in

A s - S i y a a s a t - u s h - S h a r 'e e y a h , " A n d s o m e o f th e c o m p a n io n s

o f a s h - S h a a f i 'e e a n d A h m a d a n d o th e r s h a v e d e c la r e d it to

h e p e r m is s ib le to k ill th e o n e w h o c a lls to in n o v a tio n s

w h ic h g o a g a in s t th e B o o k a n d th e S u n n a h - a n d lik e w is e

m a n y o f th e c o m p a n io n s o f M a a lik . A n d th e y sa y : 'V e r ily

M a a lik a n d o th e r s a llo w e d th e k illin g o f th e O a d ir iy y a h

b e c a u se o f th e c o r r u p tio n th e y s p r e a d in th e la n d n o t

b e c a u se o f th e ir tu r n in g b a c k fr o m th e r e lig io n .' "

31
 IN N O V A T IO N S A R E T H E W A Y O F T H E

A C C U R S E D J E W

A N D T H E S T R A Y IN G C H R IS T IA N S

B o th th e Q u r 'a a n a n d th e A h a d c e th m a k e it a b u n d a n tly

p la in th a t in n o v a tin g in th e m a tte rs o f th e D e e n is th e w a y

o f th e P e o p le o f th e B o o k w h o s p lit in to so m a n y s e c ts a n d

s u b s e c ts a s a re s u lt o f s e lfis h c o n tu m a c y a n d m u tu a l riv a lry

e v e n th o u g h th e y h a d th e c le a r tru th . T h e y c o n tin u a lly

b a c k s lid e d a n d h a rb o u re d d is s a tis fa c tio n w ith w h a t A lla a h

re v e a le d fo r th e m a n d in v e n te d n e w w a y s to w o rs h ip H im

a s w e ll a s in c o rp o ra te d p a g a n tra d itio n s a n d c u s to m s in to

th e ir re s p e c tiv e c re e d a n d p ra c tic e s . A ll th is c a n b e re a d ily

g le a n e d fro m th e m y ria d s o f h is to ry a n d th e o lo g ic a l b o o k s

fo u n d o n th e d e v e lo p m e n t a n d p h ilo s o p h y o f J u d a is m a n d

C h ris tia n ity . R e g re tta b ly th e s itu a tio n w ith th e M u s lim s is

a lm o s t n o b e tte r th a n th a t o f th e P e o p le o f th e B o o k .

U n fo rtu n a te ly so m u c h fro m J a a h iliy y a h a n d p o ly th e is tic

c u ltu re s h a v e se e p e d in to th e p o p u la r a p p lic a tio n a n d

b e lie fs o f Is la a m th a t o n e w o u ld in d e e d b e v e ry h a rd

p re sse d to fin d a c o m m u n ity w h e re th e S u n n a h sh o rn o f a ll

in n o v a tio n s is a d h e re d to a s a c u s to m . N o t o n ly d o c s

A lla a h o b lig a te th e M u s lim s to d iffe r fro m th e u n b e lie v e rs ,

b u t a t th e sa m e tim e H e h a s m e rc ifu lly sh o w e d u s w h a t is

w ro n g w ith th e P e o p le o f th e B o o k a n d th e p a g a n s so w e

m a y a v o id b e in g lik e th e m a n d e sc a p e th e p itfa lls th e y fe ll

in to , b u t w h a t c a n w e sa y o f th e M u s lim s w h o w o u ld ra th e r

th e y fe ll in th o s e tra p s a n d b e c a m e c lo s e to th e re je c te rs o f

A lla a h a n d Is la a m ? A lla a h a z z a w a ja l a d m o n is h e s th e je w s

o n a c c o u n t o f n o t b e in g s a tis fie d w ith th a t w h ic h w a s

re v e a le d to th e m , b u t ra th e r th e y w is h e d to s u b s titu te th e ir

ow n fo rm s o f w o rs h ip a n d p ie ty . A n d th e c a s e is s im ila r fo r

3 2
th e C h ris tia n s : " A sk th e C h ild r e n o f I s r a a 'e e l h o w m a n y

c le a r s ig n s W e h a v e s e n t th e m . B u t i f a n y o n e , a fte r

A l l a a h 's F a v o u r h a s c o m e to h im , s u b s titu te s (s o m e th in g

e ls e ) th e n A lla a h is s tr ic t in p u n is h m e n t." (so o ra h

A l-B a q a ra h 2 :2 1 1 )

A lla a h a ls o sa y s: " S a y : O P e o p le o f th e B o o k e x c e e d n o t

th e b o u n d s in y o u r r e lig io n , tr e s p a s s in g b e y o n d th e T r u th .

N o r fo llo w th e v a in d e s ir e s o f p e o p le w h o w e n t a s tr a y in

tim e s g o n e b v, w h o m is le a d m a n y a n d s tr a y e d fr o m th e

e v e n w a y. C u r s e s w e re p r o n o u n c e d o n th o s e a m o n g th e

C h ild r e n o f I s r a a 'e e l w h o w e re k a a fir s , b y th e to n g u e o f

D a v id a n d o f J e s u s so n o f M a ry : b e c a u s e th e y d is o b e y e d

a n d p e r s is te d in e x c e s s e s ." (so o ra h - A l - M a a 'i d a h 5:

7 7 -7 8 )

T h a t in n o v a tio n s a rc e x c e sse s in th e re lig io n g o e s w ith o u t

s a y in g . T h e y c o m e fro m th e v a in d e s ire s o f th e p e o p le to

d o m o re o r b e tte r th a n th e M e sse n g e r (£ s) a n d h is

C o m p a n io n s a n d s in c e th e y a re n o t fro m th e k n o w le d g e o r

p re s c rip tio n o f th e Q u r 'a a n a n d th e S u n n a h in n o v a tio n s a rc

ju s tifie d o n ly b y tre s p a s s in g b e y o n d th e tru th . A s th e ab o v e

a a y a h e s ta b lis h e s , d is o b e d ie n c e to th e re v e la tio n a n d

p e rs is tin g in e x c e sse s is a n a c c u rse d th in g to d o a n d a

M u s lim w o u ld d o w e ll to re fle c t o n th e a b o v e a a y a h b e fo re

b e c o m in g d e fe n s iv e a b o u t a n y in n o v a tio n n o m a tte r how

s m a ll.

3 3
 T H E P E R S IS T E N C E O F IN N O V A T IO N S

O n e o f th e m a jo r re a so n s fo r th e u n s h a k e a b lc c o n tin u a n c e

o f b i d 'a h is th e s tro n g in c lin a tio n o f th e p e o p le to b lin d ly

fo llo w in g th e w a y s o f th e fo re fa th e rs , w h ic h A lla a h h a s

c le a rly in d ic a te d in th e Q u r 'a a n : " W h e n it is s a id to th e m ,

'F o l l o w w h a t A lla a h h a s r e v e a le d ', th e y sa y , 'N o ! W e s h a ll

fo llo w th e w a y o f o u r fa th e r s .' W h a t! E v e n th o u g h th e ir

fa th e r s w e re v o id o f w is d o m a n d g u id a n c e ? " (so o ra h

A l-B a q a ra h 2: 1 7 0 ) S o lo n g a s th e te n d e n c y re m a in s

a m o n g th e M u s lim s in ta k in g p rid e in o n e 's a n c e s try o r

trib a l h e rita g e , p rid e in o n e 's c u ltu re a n d n a tio n a lis m , th e

fig h t a g a in s t in n o v a tio n s a n d ig n o ra n t w a y s is g o in g to b e

a lo n g -d ra w n c o n flic t. T h e c a ll to A lla a h a n d to H is

M e s s e n g e r (* fe ) w i l l g o p re tty m u c h u n h e e d e d in p re fe re n c e

to s tic k in g to w h a t h a s b e e n in h e rite d fro m tra d itio n a n d

c u s to m in th e fa m ily e tc ., n o m a tte r w h a t h a s b e e n

a c q u ire d is b a se d o n k n o w le d g e th a t it is c o rre c t o r n o t.

"W h e n it is s a id to th e m , ’C o m e to w h a t A lla a h h a s

r e v e a le d , c o m e to th e M e s s e n g e r ', th e y sa y , 'E n o u g h f o r u s

a re th e w a y s w e fo u n d o u r f a t h e r s f o l l o w i n g .' W h a t! E v e n

th o u g h th e ir fa th e r s w e re v o id o f k n o w le d g e a n d

g u id a n c e ? " (s o o ra h A l - M a a 'i d a h 5: 1 0 7 )

W e h a v e to ta c k le th is u n w a rra n te d d is p o s itio n o f th e

p e o p le to w a rd s m a in ta in in g rite s a n d s tru c tu re s in th e

p o p u la r Is la a m o f th e p e o p le if w e a re g o in g to b e d e a lin g

w ith th e p ro b le m s o f in n o v a tio n s in th e U m m a h . A t th e

sa m e tim e w e h a v e to u n d e rs ta n d th a t in n o v a tio n s a re

g o in g to b e a llo w e d to c o n tin u e b e c a u se th e y h a v e a lo t to

lo s e b y th e p e o p le tu rn in g a w a y fro m m is g u id a n c e . T h e

e n d re s u lt fo r h im w h o tu rn s a w a y fro m g u id a n c e a n d

3 4
a d h e re s to w h a t h a s b e e n a d o p te d th ro u g h h is to ry is

n o th in g o th e r th a n th e re je c tio n o f Is la a m its e lf. B o th o f

th e s e tw o fa c ts h a v e b e e n a llu d e d to in th e Q u r 'a a n . "J u s t

in th e s a m e w a v , w h e n e v e r W e s e n t a w a r n e r b e fo r e y o u to

a n y p e o p le , th e w e a lth y o n e s a m o n g th e m s a id , 'W e f o u n d

o u r fa th e r s fo llo w in g a c e r ta in r e lig io n a n d w e w ill

c e r ta in ly fo llo w in th e ir fo o ts te p s .' H e s a id , 'W h a t! E v e n i f

I b ro u g h t y o u b e tte r g u id a n c e th a n th a t w h ic h y o u fo u n d

y o u r fa th e r s fo llo w in g ? ' T h e y s a id , 'F o r us, w e d e n y th a t

y o u (P r o p h e ts ) a re s e n t (o n a m is s io n a t a ll) .' " (so o ra h

A l-Z u k h ro o f 4 3 : 2 3 ) a n d o th e r a a y a t in th e Q u r 'a a n o f

s im ila r m e a n in g s .

In n o v a tio n s a re n o t fro m th e Q u r 'a a n o r th e S u n n a h a n d it

w ill b e a c a u se o f g re a t re g re t o n th e D a y o f J u d g e m e n t.

A lla a h sa y s: " T h e D a y th a t th e ir fa c e s w ill b e tu r n e d

u p s id e d o w n b y th e F ir e , th e y w ill s a y , 'W o e to u s! W o u ld

th a t w e h a d o b e y e d A lla a h a n d o b e y e d H is M e s s e n g e r .' "

(so o ra h A l-A h z a a b 3 3 : 3 6 )

3 5
 A D V IC E A N D C O N C L U S IO N S

In n o v a tio n s a re a c h a lle n g e to th e D e e n a s g iv e n b y A lla a h

to H is M e s s e n g e r (« fe ) i n th e Q u r ’a a n a n d th e S u n n a h . It is

a m o st s u b tle w a y to c o rru p t th e re lig io n fro m w ith in

w h e re b y th e p e rp e tra to rs a re m a d e to fe e l ju s tif ie d in th e ir

in n o v a to ry a c tio n s . It is th e p e rfe c t to o l o f th e S h a ita a n

w h ic h c a ts in to th e v e ry e sse n c e o f ittia a n (fa ith ).

A s h -S h a a tib e c h a s d e fin e d b i d 'a h a s "a n e w ly in v e n te d w a y

in th e r e lig io n in im ita tio n o f/c o r r e s p o n d in g to th e

S h a r e e 'a h , b y w h ic h n e a r n e s s to A lla a h is s o u g h t, n o t

b e in g s u p p o r te d b y a n y a u th e n tic p r o o f n e ith e r th e a c tio n

its e lf n o r th e w a y it is p e r f o r m e d ." H e n c e th e m o re

in n o v a tio n s a re fo u n d a m o n g th e a d h e re n ts o f Is la a m , th e

m o re th e y b e c o m e p e o p le o f a D e e n o th e r th a n th a t o f

M u h a m m a d (* b ).

A lth o u g h in n o v a tio n s a rc ra m p a n t a n d th e v a st m a jo rity o f

th e s o -c a lle d re lig io u s e x p e rts a n d th e ’m a u l a n a s ’ a n d

'm a u l a v i s ' a c c o m m o d a te th e m e ith e r fo r th e sa k e o f

k e e p in g th e p e o p le h a p p y o r b e c a u se th e y th e m s e lv e s a re

a c tiv e s u p p o rte rs o f th e m , b e in g m is g u id e d a n d ig n o ra n t,

th e M u s lim w h o se h e a rt th ro b s w ith th e fa ith in A lla a h a n d

fe a rs H is p u n is h m e n t, b rin g s a le v e l o f c o n v ic tio n in th e

a d e q u a c y o f th e F a ith a s c o n ta in e d in th e tw o b le s s e d

so u rc e s w h ic h d o e s n o t a llo w h im to se e k a n y m e a n s o th e r

th a n w h a t h a s b e e n sh o w n b y H is M e sse n g e r (& ;). S u c h a

M u s lim h a s fu ll s a tis fa c tio n in th e S u n n a h b e c a u se th a t is

w h a t b rin g s a m a n o u t o f th e d e p th s o f d a rk n e s s in to

e n lig h te n m e n t a n d su c h a m a n h a s fu ll c o n fid e n c e in th e

c o rre c tn e s s a n d d e s ira b ility o f th e S u n n a h a s o p p o se d to

th e e v il in n o v a tio n s . A lla a h sa y s a b o u t m o st o f th e p e o p le

3 6
o n e a rth : " I fy o u w e re to fo llo w m o s t o f th e m o n th e e a r th

th e y w ill le a d y o u a w a y fr o m th e w a y o f A lla a h . T h e y

fo llo w n o th in g b u t c o n je c tu r e , th e y d o n o th in g b u t lie !"

(so o ra h A l - A n 'a a m 6 : 1 1 6 ) T h u s o n e m u st n o t a llo w

o n e s e lf to b e sw a y e d b y th e s h e e r m a g n itu d e o f th e n u m b e r

o f p e o p le w h o m a k e little o f in n o v a tio n s a n d w h o d a b b le in

th e m th in k in g th e y a re d o in g a g re a t jo b in Is la a m .

A M u s lim m u st re c o g n is e th e g re a t fa v o u r th a t A lla a h h a s

d o n e to h u m a n ity b y s e n d in g u s th e b e st o f m a n k in d

M u h a m m a d (# 5 ) a s H is la s t m e sse n g e r, a n d n o t se e k a n y

c ro o k e d n e ss in re v e la tio n . In n o v a tio n s a rc a w ay o f

s h o w in g d is p le a s u re a n d d is c o n te n tm e n t a t w h a t h a s b e e n

b e s to w e d u p o n m a n k in d in th e Q u r 'a a n a n d th e w ay o f th e

M e sse n g e r (* fe ) a n d o n e m u st u n d e rs ta n d th a t a ll

in n o v a tio n s in th e D c c n . n o m a tte r h o w th e y a rc ju s tifie d

a n d h o w th e y a rc im p le m e n te d a rc e v il. T h is w e h a v e se e n

b e fo re in th e A h a d c c th re p o rte d in th e S a h e c h o f M u s lim

a n d b y a t-T irm id h e e q u o te d in th e c h a p te r " A ll In n o v a tio n

in th e D c e n S tric tly F o rb id d e n " . A lla a h say s: "B u t fe w o f

m y S e r v a n ts a re th a n k fu l." (so o ra h A s-S a b a a 3 4 : 13) T h u s

o n e m u st re m e m b e r th a t to sh o w tru e g ra titu d e a n d

th a n k fu ln e s s to A lla a h o n e m u st d o so in th e w a y o f th e

M e sse n g e r (a te ) o n ly a n d n o t b e c o m e in flu e n c e d by th e

m a jo rity s in c e th e y a re u n g ra te fu l a n d th e p r o o f o f th a t is

in th e ir d is b e lie f, d is o b e d ie n c e a n d in n o v a tio n s . Im a a rn

M a a lik s a id : " N o th in g w ill b e n e fit th e U m m a h to c o m e

e x c e p t th a t w h ic h b e n e fite d th e e a r ly U m m a h ." (Ib n

T a y m iy y a h in Q a a 'i d a h J a lc c la h w a T a w w a su l

w a l-W a s c e la h )

3 7
T h e p ro b le m is n o t th a t p e o p le a t la rg e d o n o t b e lie v e in

th e e x is te n c e o f A lla a h o r th a t H e is th e su p re m e d e ity , b lit

in th a t th e p e o p le d o n o t w o rs h ip A lla a h e x c e p t by

a s s o c ia tin g p a rtn e rs w ith H in t T h is is c le a r fro m m a n y

a a y a t in th e Q u r ’a a n a n d a M u s lim w o u ld d o w e ll to

re m e m b e r w h a t A lla a h sa y s o f th e m a jo rity w h o d o b e lie v e

in H im : " A n d m o s t o f th e m d o n o t b e lie v e in A lla a h e x c e p t

th a t th e y a re m u s h r ik s ." (so o ra h A l-Y o o s u f 1 2 :1 0 6 ) T h u s

s h irk is fo u n d a m o n g th e M u s lim s a n d o n e is o n v e ry

q u e s tio n a b le g ro u n d s w h e n h e le a v e s th e sa fe a n d

p re s c rib e d w a y o f th e S u n n a h a n d d e lv e in to in n o v a tin g

a n d in n o v a tio n s .

W h e n k n o w le d g e is th e p riv ile g e o f th e fe w ' a n d ig n o ra n c e

is w id e s p re a d a n d te m p ta tio n s a b o u n d a m id s t a c ru e l

c o m p e tin g w o rld , in n o v a tio n s fin d fe rtile g ro u n d to

flo u ris h , b o th a s a so u rc e o f w o rld ly b e n e fit fo r th e e v il

in itia to rs a n d a c c o n u n o d a to rs b u t a ls o fo r th e

w e ll-m e a n in g u n k n o w in g d e v o te e w h o se e k s to b e b le s s e d

b y A lla a h a n d h o n o u r I s l a a m 's g re a t s e rv a n ts , b u t w h o a re

u se d b y th e firs t se t o f p e o p le to ro b th e m o f th e ir tim e a n d

w e a lth . T h e Is la a m p o rtra y e d b y th e M e sse n g e r (* & ) a n d

h is s in c e re p io u s fo llo w e rs th e C o m p a n io n s , b e c o m e s a

s tra n g e w a y . a n d th e o n e w h o c a lls to th e S u n n a h is

c a s tig a te d a n d fro w n e d u p o n a s a t b e st a tro u b le m a k e r a n d

a t w o rst o u ts id e th e fo ld o f Is la a m a lto g e th e r. S u c h is th e

to p s y -tu rv y s ta te o f a ffa irs n o w -a -d a y s. b u t w e ta k e c o m fo rt

fro m th e w o rd s o f o u r b e lo v e d M e sse n g e r (* & ) w h o s a id :

" Is la a m b e g a n a s a s tr a n g e r a n d s h a ll r e tu r n a s a

s tr a n g e r . S o g iv e g la d tid in g s to th e s tr a n g e r s ." (S a h e e h -

n a rra te d b y M u s lim ) a n d in a n o th e r n a rra tio n : "S o g iv e

3 8
g la d tid in g s to th e s tr a n g e r s , th o s e w h o p u t r ig h t w h a t th e

p e o p le h a v e c o r r u p te d o f m y S u n n a h .” (S a h c c h - n a rra te d

bv a t-T irm id h e e )

In a w o rld o f d e s ire s a n d p a s s io n s w h e re th e c le a r tru th

b e c o m e s c lo u d e d b y th e w h im s a n d fa n c ie s o f m e n . o n e

n e e d s to d e v e lo p a n d m a in ta in fa ith in th e re v e a le d w ay so

th a t o n e c a n n o t b e d e c e iv e d in to b e lie v in g th a t e v e ry o n e

a n d e v e ry th in g is O K . s im p ly b e c a u se th e y a ll p a ra d e in

fro n t o f o u r e y e s ra is in g 'I s l a m i c ' s l o g a n s a n d h o ld a lo ft th e

b a n n e r o f th e c a ll to U n ity . A b d u lla a h Ib n M a s 'o o d s a id :

"T h e J a m a a 'a h is w h a t is th e T r u th . E v e n i f it is o n ly o n e

p e r s o n ." O n e m u st k n o w w h a t is th e w a y o f th e fin a l

M e sse n g e r (* fe ) a n d se e k u n ity , b ro th e rh o o d , a n d p e a c e o n

th a t b a s is a n d n e v e r g iv e in to th e p o p u la r d e m a n d s o f

n a rro w -m in d e d n e s s w h o s e fo c u s o f a tte n tio n h a rd ly e v e r

w a v e rs b e y o n d th is life . I f it e v e r h a p p e n s th a t th e re is o n ly

o n e m a n in th e w h o le o f th e U m m a h w h o is o n th e p a th o f

th e M e s s e n g e r (* te ) a n d h is C o m p a n io n s , th e n h e is th e o n e

w ith w h o m u n ity is to b e so u g h t a n d h e is th e J a m a a 'a h .

T h e m a n w ith th e tru th m u st n o t fe a r th e s tra y in g ig n o ra n t

s e lf-s e e k e rs , r a th e r h e o u g h t to re v iv e th e S u n n a h w h e re v e r

a n d w h e n e v e r h e c a n . A l-F u d a y l ib n A y y a a d s a id : " h o llo w

th e w a y s o f g u id a n c e a n d y o u w ill n o t b e h a r m e d b y th e

s m a ll a m o u n t o f p e o p le o n th a t w a y (s a a lik e e n ). A n d

b e w a re o f th e w a y s o f m is g u id a n c e (d a la a la h ) a n d d o n o t

b e d e c e iv e d b y th e la r g e n u m b e r o f th o s e w h o g o to

d e s tr u c tio n . "

T h e S a la f o f th e p a st w o u ld n o t e v e n w a n t to h e a r th e ta lk

o f th e in n o v a to rs le t a lo n e s it w ith th e m to le a rn a n y th in g

o f th e D c c n fro m th e m . T h e y to o k g re a t c a u tio n n o t to b e

39
a ffe c te d b y th e ir d is c o u rs e a n d to o k p a in s n o t to a llo w th e ir

h e a rts to b e im p re s s e d b y a n y th in g c o m in g fro m a g ra ftin g

o n to th e D e c n . A l-H a s a n a n d Ib n S c c re e n s a id , "D o n o t s it

w ith th e p e o p le o f in n o v a tio n , d o n o t d e b a te w ith th e m a n d

d o n o t lis te n to th e m ." (S u n a n -u d -D a a rim e e : 1 /1 1 0 ) T h e

S a la f u se d to c o n s id e r th e w o rd s o f th e Je w s a n d C h ris tia n s

sa fe r th a n th e w o rd s o f th e in n o v a to rs , b e c a u se in th e

fo rm e r c a se th e ir fa ls e h o o d is e v id e n t a n d le s s lik e ly to

c a u se u s to s tra y , b u t in th e la tte r c a s e it is m o re d if f ic u lt to

s ift th e tru th fro m fa ls e h o o d a n d m o re p ro n e to a ttr a c t u s to

v a n ity a n d th a t w h ic h p e rn ic io u s . Ib n a l-M u b a a ra k s a id ,

" In d e e d w e r e la te th e w o r d s o f th e J e w s a n d th e C h r is tia n s

b u t w e a re n o t a b le to r e la te th e w o r d s o f th e J a h m iy a a h ."

(S iy a r A 'l a a m a n -N u b a la a o f a d h -D h a h a b c c 8 : 3 5 5 ) T h e

J a h m iy a a h w e re a g ro u p o f p e o p le w h o d e n ie d th e

a ttrib u te s o f A lla a h u s in g lo g ic a n d a rg u m e n ta tio n b e c a u se

th e y th o u g h t th a t w o u ld m a k e A lla a h s im ila r to m a n !

A sm a a ib n U b a id s a id , " 'T w o m e n o f th e p e o p le o f v a in

d e s ir e s (in n o v a to r s ) e n te r e d u p o n Ib n S e e r e e n a n d s a id , '

O A b o o B a k r, m a y w e s p e a k to y o u ? ' H e s a id , 'N o ! ' T h e y

s a id , 'M a y w e r e c ite to y o u a n a a y a h fr o m th e B o o k o f

A lla a h ? ' H e s a id , " N o ! In d e e d y o u w ill e ith e r g e t u p a n d

le a v e m e o r I w ill g e t u p a n d le a v e .' S o th e y w e n t o u t a n d

so m e o f th e p e o p le s a id , '( ) A b o o B a k r ! W h a t h a rm w o u ld

it h a v e d o n e fo r y o u fo r th e m to r e a d a n a a y a h fr o m th e

B o o k o f A lla a h ? ' H e s a id , 7 fe a r e d th a t th e y w o u ld r e a d a n

a a y a h to m e a n d c h a n g e it a n d th a t w o u ld r e m a in in m y

h e a r t.' " (S u n a n -u d -D a a rim e e : 1 /1 0 9 ) T h e a d v ic e is a s

A l-H a s a n s a id , " D o n o t s it a lo n g w ith a n in n o v a to r s o th a t

h e th r o w s in to y o u r h e a r t s o m e th in g th a t y o u m ig h t g o

a lo n g w ith a n d th u s b e d e s tr o y e d , o r y o u d is a g r e e w ith h im

a n d y o u r h e a r t b e c o m e s i ll" In d e e d it is to o u r o w n

4C L
a d v a n ta g e th a t w c tre a d th e p a th o f th e S a la f w h ic h is th e

p a th th a t le a d s to P a ra d is e .

In fa c t n o t o n ly is it o u r c o n c e rn th a t w c d o n o t a llo w th e

in n o v a to r o r th e ir in n o v a tio n s h a v e a n y h o ld in s o c ie ty b u t

a s th e S a la f u se d to sa y , it is fo r th e M u s lim s to e x p o se

th e m a n d u p ro o t th e ir ro o ts fro m th e s o c ie ty so th a t th e ir

ro ttin g to u c h m a y n o t re a c h th e h e a rts o f th e p e o p le . Ib n

u s -S a la h s a id , " It is p e r m is s ib le to ta lk a b o u t th e in n o v a to r

b e h in d h is b a c k - r a th e r to m e n tio n h is c o n d itio n a t a n y

tim e , w h e th e r h e is a b s e n t o r p r e s e n t so lo n g a s th e

in te n tio n is to w a rn th e p e o p le o f h is c o n d itio n . T h e p io u s

fo r e fa th e r s (S a la f-u s -S a a lih e e n ) w e re u p o n th is - o r th o s e

o f th e m w h o d id th a t. It is p e r m is s ib le to s p e a k o f th a t e v e n

i f n o t a s k e d a q u e s tio n o r fo r a n o th e r c a se , a n d th e c a se is

th e sa m e fo r th e r e p o r te r o f H a d e e th s a n d th e w r ite r - th a t

w h ic h w o u ld m a k e h im u n r e lia b le - s u c h a s ly in g e tc . ( is to

b e m a d e k n o w n ), s in c e s o m e o f th e s c h o la r s u s e d to m a k e

T a w a a f a r o u n d th e K a 'b a h w h ile s a y in g , 'S o a n d so is

u n r e l i a b l e ', 's o a n d so is a l ia r ', a n d th e y u s e d to r e g a r d

th a t a s a m e a n s o f n e a r n e s s to A lla a h , a n d lik e w is e

s p e a k in g o f th e F a a s iq (s in n e r ) is p e r m is s ib le in o r d e r to

w a rn th o s e w h o a re ig n o r a n t o f h is c o n d itio n w h e th e r h e is

o n e o p e n ly o r s e c r e tly . " (F a ta a w a Ib n u s -S a la h 2 /4 9 7 )

4 1
 S U M M A R Y

(a ) T h e A h l u l - B i d 'a h h a v e b e e n w a rn e d b y F ire : " E v e ry

b id 'a h is d a la a la h a n d e v e r y d a la a la h is in th e F ir e ."

(S a h e e h - n a rra te d b y a l-T irrn id h e e )

(b ) T h e ir a c tio n s w ill b e re je c te d b y A lla a h a n d H is

M e s s e n g e r (* fe ): " W h o e v e r d o e s a n a c tio n th a t w e h a v e n o t

c o m m a n d e d th e n th a t a c tio n s h a ll b e r e je c te d ." (S a h e e h -

n a rra te d b y M u s lim )

(c ) T a w b a h (re p e n ta n c e ) s h a ll n o t b e a c c e p te d fro m th e m :

" V e r ily A lla a h d o e s n o t a c c e p t th e ta w b a h o f th e S a a h ib

u l- B id 'a h (o n e w h o c o m m its in n o v a tio n s ), u n til h e s to p s th e

b i d ’a h . " (S a h e e h - n a rra te d b y a t-T a b a ra a n e e a n d

a l-M a q d c s c c in a l-M u k h ta a ra h )

(d ) S h ifa a (in te rc e s s io n b y th e M e sse n g e r (* s) o n th e D a y

o f J u d g e m e n t) w ill n o t a c c e p te d o f th e o n e w h o c o m m its

b i d 'a h : " V e r ily 1 s h a ll p r o c e e d y o u to th e F o u n ta in ( o f

A l-K a w th a r ). W h o so w ill p a s s b y m e s h a ll d r in k a n d w h o so

w ill d r in k w ill n e v e r g e t th ir s ty . P e o p le w h o m 1 w ill k n o w

a n d w h o w ill k n o w m e w ill c e r ta in ly com e, to m e fo r d r in k

h u t th e r e w ill b e a b a r r ie r b e tw e e n th e m a n d m e. T h e n 1

s h a ll sa y : 'V e r ily th e y a re o f m e .' I t w ill b e s a id : 'Y o u

c e r ta in ly d o n o t k n o w w h a t b id 'a h th e y m a d e a fte r y o u .'

T h en I s h a ll sa y : 'B e o f f th o s e w h o m a d e b id 'a h a fte r m e .'"

(sa h e e h - n a rra te d b y a l-B u k h a a rc c a n d M u s lim )

(e ) T h e y w ill n o t b e c o n s id e re d a p a rt o f th e U n u n a a h :

" W h o so e v e r tu r n s a w a y fr o m m y S u n n a h is n o t o f m e ."

(sa h e e h - n a rra te d b y a l-B u k h a a re e a n d M u s lim )

4 2
A I-H a sa n a l-B a s ri s a id . "T h e p e o p le c la im e d (h a t ih e v

lo v e d A lla a h th e G lo r io u s a n d E x a lte d , s o th e v te s te d th e m

w ith th is a a ya h , "Say: I f y o u d o lo v e A lla a h , fo llo w m e:

A lla a h w ill lo v e y o u a n d fo r g i v e y o u y o u r s in s : f o r A lla a h

is O ft-F o r g iv in g , M o s t M e r c ifu l." (S o o ra h A a l-i-Im ra a n 3:

3 1 ) T h e tru th o f o n e 's c l a i m to Is la a m lie s in th e a d h e r e n c e

to th e S u n n a h a n d its o p p o s ite is p ro v e d by th e p ra c tic e o f

in n o v a tio n s .

4 3
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W o r t ^ j A t J - o o w o

n m A A ^ ^ u .n w ir. h «» a u w-Wa

r _am oat > / t . nAvrvoT u * / \ . I v r * r t v :o t ^ J i

IN T E R N A T I O N A L I S L A M I C P U B L I S H I N G H O U S E

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