Maalik said, “A person who introduces a religious innovation in Islam and thinks that it is good, is as if he is claiming that Muhammad betrayed his message. This is because Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {This day I have perfected for you your religion.}[Quran 5:3] Therefore, any act that was not originally part of the religion will not be as such today.” 

Imaam Ash-Shaafi‘i said, “Approving [of an innovated act] is like legislating [an innovated act].” 

‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, was reported to have said, “Every religious innovation is misguidance even if people see it as good.” 

Ibn Mas‘ood, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “Follow the way of the Prophet, , and do not innovate, for what is revealed is enough for you. Always adhere to the old practices.”  

Therefore, it is upon the person who introduces any new matter in the creed or acts of worship to provide the text and the evidence for doing so, because doing such an act must be supported by evidence from the Sunnah. Similarly, we have to follow the Sunnah in not performing certain acts that are not part of the Sunnah even though they are called for and were not hindered by any circumstances at the time of prophethood. Examples of acts that were not included in the Sunnah are: the Athaan before the Salah of both Eeds; reciting the Quran for the dead; and reciting the Quran loudly before Salaat-ul ‘Asr and before the Friday  congregational Salahs. It is from the Sunnah to not do these acts. It was the knowledge and insight of our righteous predecessors that prevented them from doing these acts.  

Al-Hasan said, “People in the past were doomed when they followed different paths and swerved from the right path. They left the reported traditions and spoke of the religion according to their own views. Hence, they went astray and led others astray.” He also said, “By Allah, the only One worthy of worship, the Sunnah is between the two extremes. Thus, be patient with it, may Allah have mercy upon you. The followers of the Sunnah were thefewest in the past and they are the fewest among the remaining people. They did not indulge themselves like some others did, and they were not innovators in religion like some others were. They remained patient while adhering to the Sunnah until they met their Lord, so be on the same course – Allah willing.” He also said, “Allah does not accept the fasting, Salah, Hajj or ‘Umrah from the innovator in religion until he gives up his innovation.” He added, “The more acts of worship the innovator in religion performs, the farther he goes from Allah The Almighty.” He also said, “Do not sit with an innovator in religion, for he will cause disease in your heart.”

Hassaan ibn ‘Attiyyah said, “No people introduce an innovation in their religion but Allah The Almighty makes them stop doing one of the acts of the Sunnah, and does not let them do it until the Day of Resurrection.”  

The teachings of the Sunnah are enough for people. Instead of innovating in religion, let anyone who wants people to do good direct himself to the guidance of the Prophet, , learn the teachings of the Sharee‘ah and its rituals, and revive the acts of Sunnah that have been forgotten. There is no contradiction between growing beards or shortening clothes and boarding planes. Similarly, wearing the Islamic dress for women does not contradict development of this worldly life. We are in dire need of creating a civilization based on the methodology of the Prophet, . We need to achieve development, and this should be accompanied by adherence to the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah and avoiding innovation in religion.  

It is worth mentioning that Satan is pleased with innovation in religion more than he is pleased with sins. It is a calamity for a person to be an innovator in religion, because his acts of worship are not accepted by Allah The Almighty. Whoever supports an innovator is helping to destroy Islam, and whoever marries his daughter off to him is violating the rights of kinship.  A person does not draw nearer to Allah The Almighty except through conformity to the teachings of His Prophet, .

Anyone who wishes to be close to Allah The Almighty via a course other than imitating the Prophet, , will go astray while thinking that he is guided. Moreover, all the ways to Allah The Almighty are blocked except the way of Muhammad, . Therefore, follow his guidance, no matter how few its followers may be. Avoid the ways of misguidance and do not be allured by the great number of those who are doomed.

Innovation in Religion - I