Islam is a complete religion which the Noble Prophet ﷺ conveyed to the Ummah through the Qur’an al-Karīm and his pure Sunnah.
Now, there remains no room for any kind of addition to it.
However, in every era, according to the prevailing circumstances, explanations and interpretations of Qur’anic verses and the blessed Ahadith will continue. This responsibility will always be fulfilled by the reliable scholars of Islam.
But it is not permissible to introduce any new belief, practice, or form of worship into the religion, nor to create imbalance in Islam by regarding its essential commandments as trivial, or by declaring the less important matters to be fundamental.
Any belief, act of worship, or practice which has no foundation in the Qur’an al-Karīm or the Sunnah of the Noble Prophet ﷺ is called “Bid‘ah” (innovation).
Allah Ta‘ala says:
ٱلۡيَوۡمَ أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِينَكُمۡ وَأَتۡمَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ نِعۡمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلۡإِسۡلَٰمَ دِينٗا
(Al-Mā’idah: 3)
“Today I have perfected for you your religion, and completed My favor upon you, and chosen for you Islam as your religion.”
Definition of Bid‘ah
Linguistic meaning:
The word Bid‘ah in Arabic means to invent something new.
Technical meaning:
Every new belief, practice, or act of worship that is introduced into the religion, while it has no basis in the Qur’an al-Karīm or the blessed Ahadith, is called Bid‘ah.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«مَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِي أَمْرِنَا هَذَا مَا لَيْسَ مِنْهُ فَهُوَ رَدٌّ»
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
“Whoever introduces into our matter (religion) something which does not belong to it, it will be rejected.”
Types of Bid‘ah
The esteemed scholars have classified Bid‘ah into two types:
Bid‘ah I‘tiqādī (Innovations in Belief)
This refers to an innovation that is introduced into the creed (‘Aqīdah), for which there is no evidence in the Qur’an al-Karīm or in the Sunnah of the Noble Prophet ﷺ.
Allah Ta‘ala says regarding the divine commandments:
وَأَنَّ هَٰذَا صِرَٰطِي مُسْتَقِيمٗا فَٱتَّبِعُوهُۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ ٱلسُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمۡ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦۚ
(Al-An‘ām: 153)
“And verily, this is My straight path, so follow it. And do not follow other paths, for they will separate you from His path.”
Bid‘ah ‘Amalī (Innovations in Practices)
This means introducing additions into acts of worship and religious practices which are neither proven from the Noble Prophet ﷺ nor from the noble Companions (رضي الله عنهم).
Examples include inventing a permanent form of prayer or fasting, or performing prayer, dhikr, supplication, or any worship in a manner that is not established from the Prophet ﷺ or his Companions. Such practices are regarded as Bid‘ah ‘Amalī.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«سَتَرَوْنَ بَعْدِي أُمُورًا تُنْكِرُونَهَا»
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
“After me you will see things that you will disapprove of (as they are newly introduced).”
Imbalance in Priorities – Intellectual Bid‘ah
Islam is a balanced religion, founded on moderation, wisdom, and proper prioritization.
In Shari‘ah, every command has its own rank and significance. Therefore, to disregard the important and elevate the less important to priority is imbalance and a form of intellectual Bid‘ah.
For example:
If a person does not give importance to obligations (farā’id) and prohibitions (muharramāt), neglects duties in worship, rights, ethics, and dealings, violates the rights of people, and indulges in grave sins such as lying, deception, oppression, usurpation, betrayal, dishonesty, breach of trust, and backbiting—
yet at the same time tries to adopt the outward appearance and some superficial worship practices of the pious—
then such a person is ignoring the true priorities of religion and is deluded by self-deception.
The Principle of Prioritization in Religion
Balance is essential in religion.
In Islamic teachings, the farā’iḍ (obligatory duties), muḥarramāt (prohibitions), and ḥuqūq al-‘ibād (rights of people) hold fundamental importance.
A person who neglects the obligations and prohibitions while laying undue emphasis on non-essential matters, such as sunan (recommended acts) and mustaḥabbāt (optional practices), deviates from the true spirit of religion.
For example:
- Someone who performs the five daily prayers but ignores other obligatory responsibilities.
- Or a person who neglects the obligatory prayers throughout the year but makes great effort in offering Tarāwīḥ during Ramadan.
Such behavior contradicts the nature and spirit of Islam.
Allah Ta‘ala says:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ وَٱلْإِحْسَٰنِ وَإِيتَآءِ ذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ وَٱلْبَغْىِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
(Sūrah al-Naḥl: 90)
“Indeed, Allah commands justice, excellence, and giving to relatives, and He forbids immorality, wrongdoing, and oppression. He admonishes you so that you may take heed.”
Outward Piety, Inner Betrayal
Some people adopt an outward appearance of religiosity and a pious demeanor to present themselves as righteous, yet they commit treachery, dishonesty, oppression, and violate the rights of others without hesitation.
This behavior is extremely dangerous for them.
Allah Ta‘ala says:
فَلَا تُزَكُّوا أَنفُسَكُمْ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اتَّقَى
(Al-Najm: 32)
“So do not claim purity for yourselves; He knows best who is truly God-fearing.”
The Noble Prophet ﷺ has also issued a severe warning regarding such people.
The Real Bankrupt
It is narrated from Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«أَتَدْرُونَ مَا الْمُفْلِسُ؟
قَالُوا: الْمُفْلِسُ فِينَا مَنْ لَا دِرْهَمَ لَهُ وَلَا مَتَاعَ.
فَقَالَ: إِنَّ الْمُفْلِسَ مِنْ أُمَّتِي يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِصَلَاةٍ وَصِيَامٍ وَزَكَاةٍ، وَيَأْتِي قَدْ شَتَمَ هَذَا، وَقَذَفَ هَذَا، وَأَكَلَ مَالَ هَذَا، وَسَفَكَ دَمَ هَذَا، وَضَرَبَ هَذَا، فَيُعْطَى هَذَا مِنْ حَسَنَاتِهِ، وَهَذَا مِنْ حَسَنَاتِهِ، فَإِنْ فَنِيَتْ حَسَنَاتُهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُقْضَى مَا عَلَيْهِ، أُخِذَ مِنْ خَطَايَاهُمْ، فَطُرِحَتْ عَلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ طُرِحَ فِي النَّارِ.»
(Sahih Muslim)
“Do you know who the bankrupt is?”
The Companions replied: “Among us, the bankrupt is the one who has no dirham and no possessions.”
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The bankrupt of my Ummah is the one who will come on the Day of Judgment with prayers, fasting, and zakāh, but he will also have abused someone, slandered someone, unlawfully consumed the wealth of someone, shed the blood of someone, and beaten someone. Thus, his good deeds will be given to those (he wronged), and if his good deeds are exhausted before justice is fulfilled, their sins will be cast upon him, and then he will be thrown into the Fire.”
It is clear that a person who engages in acts of worship but commits treachery and violations in matters of ḥuqūq al-‘ibād (the rights of people) will suffer severe loss on the Day of Judgment.
Imbalance in Islamic Priorities – An Intellectual Bid‘ah
Excessiveness (ifrāṭ) and negligence (tafrīṭ)—that is, extremism and imbalance—have always been condemned in religion.
If a person ignores obligations (farā’iḍ) while giving undue importance to recommended acts (mustaḥabbāt), or overlooks major sins while overemphasizing minor sins and disliked acts, then he has fallen into an unbalanced and distorted approach to Islamic teachings.
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
«إِيَّاكُمْ وَالغُلُوَّ فِي الدِّينِ، فَإِنَّمَا هَلَكَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ بِالغُلُوِّ فِي الدِّينِ.»
(Sunan al-Nasā’ī)
“Beware of exaggeration in religion, for those before you were destroyed only because of exaggeration in religion.”
Thus, adopting imbalanced priorities in religion is a destructive path.
- In Islam, farā’iḍ (obligations) hold the foremost status.
- Nawāfil (supererogatory) and mustaḥabbāt (recommended acts) are meant to complete the obligations, not to replace them.
- Violating the rights of people, committing oppression, treachery, and dishonesty are among the gravest sins.
The one who is guilty of such crimes cannot escape Allah’s accountability merely through outward acts of worship.
Whoever disregards the principle of priorities in religion and seeks to portray himself as pious merely through some external practices is, in reality, a victim of misguidance and intellectual Bid‘ah.
True religiosity lies in adhering to the guidance of the Qur’an and Sunnah in faith, acts of worship, dealings, social conduct, and moral character.
Harms of Bid‘ah
- Bid‘ah distorts the original form of religion and obscures its true teachings.
- Another major harm of Bid‘ah is that when it spreads, the Sunnah becomes hidden.
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ
«لَا يَزَالُ النَّاسُ يَبْتَدِعُونَ بِدَعًا حَتَّىٰ تَكُونَ الْبِدْعَةُ سُنَّةً»
(Sunan al-Dārimī)
“People will continue to invent innovations until an innovation will be considered a Sunnah.”
Bid‘ah is the Path to Hellfire
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«كُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ، وَكُلُّ ضَلَالَةٍ فِي النَّارِ»
(Sahih Muslim)
“Every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance leads to the Fire.”
A person of Bid‘ah practices his innovation while considering it part of religion. Because of this, he does not realize his mistake, nor does he repent from it.
Ways to Protect Oneself from Bid‘ah
1. Holding firmly to the Qur’an and Sunnah
Allah Ta‘ala says:
وَمَا آتَىٰكُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَىٰكُمۡ عَنۡهُ فَٱنتَهُوا۟ۚ
(Al-Ḥashr: 7)
“Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatever he forbids you from, abstain from it.”
2. Following the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِسُنَّتِي وَسُنَّةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ الْمَهْدِيِّينَ، تَمَسَّكُوا بِهَا، وَعَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ»
“You must hold firmly to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided Caliphs. Adhere to it firmly and bite onto it with your molar teeth.”
3. Following the way of the Companions رضي الله عنهم
Allah Ta‘ala says:
فَإِنْ آمَنُوا بِمِثْلِ مَا آمَنتُمْ بِهِ فَقَدِ اهْتَدَوْا
(Al-Baqarah: 137)
“So if they believe as you have believed, then they are rightly guided.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«أصحابي كالنجوم بأيهم اقتديتم اهتديتم»
(Mushkil al-Āthār by al-Ṭaḥāwī)
“My Companions are like stars; whichever of them you follow, you will be rightly guided.”
Caution Against Introducing New Matters into Religion
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«إِنَّ أَصْدَقَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ، وَخَيْرَ الْهُدَى هُدَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَشَرَّ الْأُمُورِ مُحْدَثَاتُهَا»
(Sahih Muslim)
“Indeed, the truest word is the Book of Allah, the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad ﷺ, and the worst of matters are those newly introduced into the religion.”
Every Bid‘ah is Misguidance
Jābir ibn ‘Abdillah رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would say in his sermons:
«أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ، وَخَيْرَ الْهُدَىٰ هُدَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَشَرَّ الْأُمُورِ مُحْدَثَاتُهَا، وَكُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ»
“The best speech is the Book of Allah, the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad ﷺ, and the worst of affairs are newly invented matters, and every innovation is misguidance.”
The End of Bid‘ah is Hellfire
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
«كُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ، وَكُلُّ ضَلَالَةٍ فِي النَّارِ»
“Every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Fire.”
The Practice of the Rightly Guided Caliphs is Also Sunnah
Al-‘Irbād ibn Sāriyah رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ delivered a profound sermon and said:
«فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِسُنَّتِي، وَسُنَّةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ الْمَهْدِيِّينَ، تَمَسَّكُوا بِهَا وَعَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ، وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَمُحْدَثَاتِ الْأُمُورِ، فَإِنَّ كُلَّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ، وَكُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ»
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Sunan al-Tirmidhī)
“It is incumbent upon you to follow my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided Caliphs after me. Hold fast to it and cling to it with your molar teeth. Beware of newly introduced matters, for every newly introduced matter is a Bid‘ah, and every Bid‘ah is misguidance.”
Every Addition in Religion is Bid‘ah
Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamān رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«لَا تَحْدُثُوا فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ مَا لَيْسَ فِيهِ، فَإِنَّ كُلَّ إِحْدَاثٍ بِدْعَةٌ»
(Musnad Aḥmad)
“Do not introduce into the religion of Allah that which is not part of it, for every newly introduced matter is a Bid‘ah.”
The Deeds of the Innovator are Rejected
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ»
(Sahih Muslim)
“Whoever performs an act that is not in accordance with our way, it will be rejected (not accepted).”
On the Day of Judgment, the People of Bid‘ah will be Kept Away from the Ḥawḍ al-Kawthar
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«إِنِّي فَرَطُكُمْ عَلَى ٱلْحَوْضِ، فَلَا يُؤْتَيَنَّ أَحَدٌ بِكُمْ فَيُذَبُّ عَنِّي، فَيَقُولُ: يَا رَبِّ إِنَّهُ مِنِّي، فَيُقَالُ: إِنَّكَ لَا تَدْرِي مَا أَحْدَثَ بَعْدَكَ»
(Sahih al-Bukhārī, Sahih Muslim)
“I will precede you to the Ḥawḍ (the Fountain of Kawthar). Then some people will be brought to me, but they will be prevented from reaching me. I will say: ‘O my Lord! They are from my Ummah!’ But it will be said: ‘You do not know what they innovated after you.’”
Summary
Bid‘ah is any newly introduced matter added to the religion without evidence, which causes the Sunnah to disappear and distorts the purity of Islam.
It is our duty to adhere firmly to the Qur’an and the blessed Ahadith and to safeguard ourselves from innovations.
May Allah Ta‘ala protect us from Bid‘ah and grant us the ability to practice Islam in its pure form, following the authentic Sunnah.
Ameen