104. To Avoid Bidat in islam (Innovation)
Bidat in Islam
The religion of Islam was perfected and completed by Allah through Prophet Mohammad (saws) around fourteen hundered years ago. The message of Islam as a complete religion is there in the holy Quran and all the decrees of Allah were practiced by Prophet Mohammad (saws).
Allah Says in the Quran: Surah No.5 -Al Maeda, Part of Ayat No.3
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا
Translation :
“Today I Have completed for you your religion and perfected my favor upon you and have chosen Islam as your Religion”(Quran: 5:3)
Comments
If anyone adds anything new to religion considering it to be a GOOD DEED and thinking that it will be a source of reward from Allah then that good deed is bidat – Innovation. In other words, the religious scholars define innovation as “Worshipping Allah in a way which Allah has neither prescribed nor practised by the Prophet (saws).”
The innovation can be simplified with one example. For instance, if you are offered a crystal clear water in a glass, by which you would like to satisfy your thirst. If someone adds a colour to it with the intention that the water will become more attractive, then another person adds some sugar to it to make the water tasty. Would you consider that the same water in the glass remains the pure ? NO, I would say that you have an adulterated version of earlier water. You can therefore consider Islam as a crystal clear pure water in which there is no chance of adding any other thing.
Please keep it in mind that Innovation in Islam is strictly forbidden and severely punishable. Some of the practices religiously done are mentioned below :
Celebration of Prophet’s Birthday, Shabe Meraj, Shabe Barat, Visiting graveyards in the night of 15th Shaban, Quran Khwani at death, Reciting Kalima on beads at death, Suwwam (3rd day after death), Chaliswa after death, Death anniversary ( Barsi), Taking bride under the Quran, (There may be many more).
Please give a serious thought in doing above practices and decide whether are these Innovations Or Not ?
Surah No.108- Al Kauthar (Kausar, Ayats No. 1 & 2
o إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ
o فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ
Translation :
We have granted you Kausar (Signifies Abundance). Therefore pray to Allah and make sacrifice.
Comments :
When this surah was revealed, Prophet Mohammad (saws) was facing big challenges and lots of difficulties in Mecca. Many people in Mecca had negative attitude and they were not only taking serious objections but also torturing and troubling those who have accepted Islam. It was a very tough time for the Prophet and at times he used to become sad. When the surah Al kausar was revealed Allah has informed the Prophet that he should not be disheartened as We have provided you Kausar (a canal, specially in the Heaven of the Prophet, which will be fetching water to the main Pond).
In the life Hereafter, when men would be thirsty, the Prophet Mohammad (saws) will be providing water from the pond of Kausar to his followers. There is a belief that any believer gets this water to drink his thirst would go away for ever. During Hashr some of his followers who were waiting for their turn for getting water, would be pushed out by angels from the Pond. The Prophet (saws) will ask, why they are being pushed out? he would be replied, they are the people who have introduced changes in his preachings and added their own. The Prophet (saws) will also ask those followers to go away from him”
(Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmad, Abu Daud, and Ibne Maaja)