“Bid’ah hasanah” (good innovation) using the hadith where a Sahabi said “Rabbana lakal hamd hamdan katheeran tayyiban mubaarakan fih” during rukoo’?

Praise be to Allah

Summary : Saying “al-hamdu Lillaah” (praise be to Allah) when coming out of rukoo’ is a well-known phrase of dhikr proven in sound hadiths.

Detaled Answer

Firstly, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “Every bid’ah is a going astray and every going astray is in Hellfire” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 867). This general statement indicates that all innovations in religious matters are deviations.

Secondly, saying “al-hamdu Lillaah” (praise be to Allah) when coming out of rukoo’ is a well-known phrase of dhikr proven in sound hadiths. The Sahabi merely expressed praise in a new phrase, which was then approved by the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), thus becoming part of Sunnah. This approval is documented in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 799.

Thirdly, actions approved by the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) become part of Shari’ah and can be considered Sunnah Hasanah. However, with the death of the Prophet and the end of Revelation, we cannot know if new acts of worship or dhikr are correct or would be approved. Hence, we should adhere strictly to the forms of worship narrated in sound reports.

Fourthly, the approval of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) in isolated incidents does not generalize the permissibility of innovations. Clear statements like “every bid’ah is a going astray” take precedence over such incidents.

Lastly, scholars like Ibn Hajr and Ibn Taymiyyah debated such issues aiming to reach the truth. Misquoting scholars to justify innovations misrepresents their scholarly intent and understanding. Ibn Hajr’s detailed commentary on this can be found in his work “Fath al-Bari.”

Conclusion

Bid’ah refers to any innovation in religious practices that lack support from the Quran and Sunnah. It is crucial to adhere to authentic teachings and avoid introducing new practices that can lead to deviation from the true path of Islam. By following the Quran and Sunnah, Muslims can preserve the purity of their faith and avoid the pitfalls of bid’ah.

And Allah Knows Best