1.2.2
BID'AT AMALI (INNOVATION IN ACTION)
Is that action which came into practice after the blessed period
of Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) be it secular or
religious, in the eye of the Sahaaba-Kiraam or after it. Mirqat
Babul-I'tisaam says, "In the Shari'at, Bid'at is that innovation
which was not there in the blessed age of Rasulullah (sallal
laahu alaihi wasallam)." The book, Ashi'atul Lam'at
under the same chapter says, "Bid'at is that which came into
being after the blessed period of Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi
wasallam)."
So
from the above definitions of Bid'at we see that a Bid'at Amali
(innovated action) can be religious or secular but it has to
be after the blessed period of the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu
alaihi wasallam) and i.e. even that action which was introduced
into Islam in the age of the respected Sahaba will be considered
a Bid'at.
NOTE:
If the innovation was brought into practice in the age of the
Sahaba then we should not call it Bid'at but Sunnat of the Sahaba
as it is respectful to call it so, though it is Bid'at-e-Hasana.
Because the word Bid'at is mostly understood to mean Bid'at-e-Sai'yya
(vile innovation).
Hazrat
Umar (radi Allahu anhu) in the time of his Caliphate, called
the people to perform Tarawih prayers in congregation (Jamaat),
whereas it used to be prayed individually in the time of the
Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and commented on
seeing the Jamaat, "This is a very nice Bid'at."
Bid'at
Amali (innovated action) is classified in two:-
A.
BID'AT-E-HASANA
Is
that action which does not contradict with the Holy Quran and
the Sunnah and was brought into practice after the time of the
Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) for example, to
construct religious institutions, to print the Holy Quran in
the press, to hold gatherings of Maulid, to eat nice food and
to put on attractive clothes, etc. Bid'at-e-Hasana is not only
permissable (Ja'iz) but at times it can be appreciable (Mustahab)
and even essential (Wajib) as you will see later on.
B.
BID'AT-E-SAI'YYA
Is
that action which was not in practice in the blessed age of
the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and which contradicts
with the Holy Quran and the Sunnah, for example, to say the
Khutba of Eid or Jum'a in a language other that Arabic, etc.
Bid'at-e-Sai'yya can be Makruh Tanzhi or Makruh Tahrimi or even
Haraam.
The
first volume of Ashi'atul Lam'aat (Babul I'tisaam) says
about Bid'at Hasana and Sai'yya under the Hadith: "Every
Bid'at is a delusion (misleading)," that any Bid'at which
is in accordance with the principles, the canons of Islamic
Law and the Sunnah and has been deduced analogically from the
Quran or Sunnah (through Qiyas) is Bid'at-e-Hasana and that
which is in contrasts to the above definition is Bid'at-e-Sai'yya.
A
Hadith in Miskhat under Babul-I'lm says: "He who sets
a good precedent in Islam, there is reward for him for this
(act of goodness) and a reward for him also who acts according
to it subsequently, without any deduction from their rewards
and he who sets in Islam an evil precedent there is upon him
the burden of that, and the burden of him also who acts upon
it subsequently, without any deduction from their burdens."
From this Hadith we see that to introduce a nice way in Islam
which is in accordance with the Holy Quran and Sunnah will induce
rewards and to do vice versa will provoke punishment.
In the preface of the book, Shami, under Faza'il Imam
Abu Hanifa (radi Allahu anhu), it says: The scholars say these
Ahadith are the canons of Islam and that is whoever introduces
a bad way in Islam, he will get the burden of the sins of all
those who act upon it and whoever introduces a nice way he will
get reward of all those who act upon it till the Day of Judgement.
An
offensive Bid'at is that which contradicts with the Sunnah.
Mishkat Babul I'tisaam says: "Whoever introduces something
in our religions which is not of it (i.e. not in accordance
with it) is rejected." The book Ashi'atul Lam'aat
under the commentary of the same Hadith says, "It means that
thing which is not in accordance with Islam or which will alternate
the religion." A Hadith in Miskhat Babul I'tisaam
in the third chapter says, "No people introduce a Bid'at
but a Sunnat of its kind is erased from them, so to hold on
to Sunnat is better that introducing a Bid'at." Under the
commentary of this Hadith, the book Ashi'atul Lam'aat
says, "So if by introducing a Bid'at a Sunnat is removed
from among the people, then surely holding fast to the Sunnat
will lead to the annihilation of every Bid'aat."
NOTE:
By this Hadith and its commentary we come to know that an offensive
Bid'at is that which will annihilate a Sunnat. For example,
it is Sunnat to say the Friday or Eid Khutba in Arabic, but
if someone says that it in some other language then it is Bid'at-e-Sai'yya
because he has obliterated the Sunnat of saying it in Arabic.
So to hold gatherings of Maulid Shareef wherein the Holy Prophet
(sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) is praised is not Bid'at because
no Sunnat has been erased because of it. Likewise you may compare
other things like Fatiha, Khatam Shareef, Isaal-e-Thawab, etc,
with this principle and see for yourself if they are Bid'ats
or not. The difference between an offensive Bid'at and appreciable
Bid'at should be well understood because this is where many
get confused.
