What is Bid’ah (Religious Innovation)?

Praise be to Allah

Summary: Bid’ah refers to any practice or belief introduced into Islam that lacks a general or specific basis from the Quran and Sunnah.

Detailed Answer:

Every innovation is misguidance in Hellfire

Jabir ibn Abdullah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would praise Allah in his sermon, as He deserves to be praised, and then he would say, “Whomever Allah guides, no one can lead him astray. Whomever Allah sends astray, no one can guide him. The truest word is the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad. The evilest matters in religion are those that are newly invented, for every newly invented matter is an innovation, every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Hellfire.”

Source: Sunan al-Nasā’ī 1578

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani

عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ فِي خُطْبَتِهِ يَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ وَيُثْنِي عَلَيْهِ بِمَا هُوَ أَهْلُهُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْهُ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ إِنَّ أَصْدَقَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ وَأَحْسَنَ الْهَدْيِ هَدْيُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَشَرُّ الْأُمُورِ مُحْدَثَاتُهَا وَكُلُّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ وَكُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ وَكُلُّ ضَلَالَةٍ فِي النَّارِ

1578 سنن النسائي كتاب صلاة العيدين من يهده الله فلا مضل له ومن يضلله فلا هادي له

1353 المحدث الألباني خلاصة حكم المحدث صحيح في صحيح الجامع

Understanding Bid’ah in Islam

Bid’ah (Arabic: بدعة) in Islamic terminology refers to any innovation or addition to the religion that lacks basis in the Quran or Sunnah. The term derives from the Arabic root “bada’a,” meaning to create something without precedent. An example from the Quran highlighting this concept is:

• Surah Al-Baqarah (2:117): “The Originator of the heavens and the earth…” (البَدِيعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ).

In Shari’ah terminology, bid’ah means any new practice introduced into the religion of Allah that lacks a general or specific basis from Islamic texts.

Example of Bid’ah:

• Innovated forms of dhikr (remembrance of Allah), such as repetitively saying “Allah… Allah… Allah” or “Hu… Hu… Hu” (meaning “He… He… He”). These practices are not supported by specific or general evidence from the Quran or Sunnah and thus are considered bid’ah.

And Allah Knows Best