Bida'ah Hasanah - Good Bida'ah?!?

What is a "Bida'ah"?

Bid'ah is an innovation in religion. To make something a part of religion which earlier was not originally a part of religion whether it is a bid'ah in Aqeedah (belief) or 'Ibaadah (acts of worship). This can be done by "adding" something to the religion or deleting something from the religion.

Whenever a Bida'ah is born, a Sunnah dies!

Example: The Sunnah of the Prophet (saws) to straighten the rows of the Musalleen in the Masjid. This Sunnah has been abandon in many if not all the Masaajid. People have instead chosen to draw lines on the floor or tie ropes or put a carpet with lines on them. Was the Prophet (saws) unable to do that in his time? Could he not just draw a line with a chalk or with a stick on the sand? But he (saws) chose not to. So, we shouldn't do it either. Now this is different than putting an amplifier for the adhaan. How is it different? Because Prophet (saws) tried doing it during his time to the best of his capability. He (saws) chose Bilal (ra) for calling the adhaan because his voice was the strongest. Moreover, he (saws) made him climb up at the top so that his voice could reach far and wide. If we have technology today that is in line with the "intention' of the Prophet (saws), then we must make most of it and this is not bid'ah. However, in the case of drawing lines...What we are missing here is the intimacy between the Imaam and the followers. There is no more Imaam coming back to check on people and instructing them to stand closely thereby missing out on the opportunity of creating a bond with his followers. Moreover, with Imaam checking on people, people learn leadership qualities such as obeying the instructions of Imaam, understanding and co-operation and being united as a team.

Causes of Bida'ah...

1. Statement in the religion without knowledge.

2. Ignorance of the Arabic knowledge.

3. Ignorance of the Sunnah.

a) Inability to differentiate between authentic and unauthentic narrations.

b) Ignorance of the importance of Sunnah in Islamic Law.

4. Following the obscure (that which is unclear instead of following what is clear).

5. Following the desires even when Sunnah is known. For eg: Shaving the beard to look young or be in "style".

6. Submitting to other than the Prophet (saws). For eg: Blind following of madhabs or following one's culture or customs.

Dangers of Bida'ah!!!

The Prophet (saws) said: “Every bid’ah is a going astray and every going astray is in Hell-fire”. 

[Abu Dawood and tirmidhi]

Is there a "Good Bida'ah"?

How can there be any such thing as bid’ah hasanah (“good innovation”) when the Prophet (saws) said: “Every bid’ah is a going astray and every going astray is in Hell-fire”.  So, if anyone says that there is such a thing as bid’ah hasanah, he can only be insisting on going against the Messenger of Allaah (saws).

Did the Sahabah do Bida'ah?

For eg., Bilal's (ra) two rak'ah of prayer. after every wudoo can be looked on as a bid'ah by some people who then try to justify their own innovations based on that. However, we must understand that the practice of Bilal (ra) and other sahaba (eg., adding "hamdan katheeran tayyiban mubarakan feeh" after rukoo') were sanctioned by the Prophet (saws). When the Prophet (saws) approved of an act of worship or a dhikr (remembrance of Allah) on the part of one of his Sahaabah, it would thus become a part of sharee’ah and hence be regarded as a sunnah hasanah.

But with the death of the Prophet (saws) and the ceasing of Revelation, how can we know whether innovated acts of worship or dhikr are correct or would be approved? We have no way of knowing, so we should limit ourselves only to the forms of worship that have been narrated in sound reports.