**SCHOLARLY DEFINATIONS OF BID'AH IN ISLAMIC LAW **

 

 

 

UNDERSTANDING (BIDAH) INNOVATION 

 

 

 

 

**Answer: Fatwa Authority**

 

To understand the meaning and correct concept of *bid'ah* (innovation in religion), it is necessary to first examine its linguistic and legal definitions.

 

 

**Linguistic Meaning of Bid'ah**

 

 

In Arabic, *bid'ah* refers to something newly introduced that did not previously exist.

Ibn Sikkit said: *"Bid'ah is anything newly introduced."* It is often used in a negative sense.

 

Abu Adnan said: *"A *mubtadi'* (innovator) is one who introduces something resembling an existing matter but did not originate it."*

 

The term can also mean "first of its kind" or "unprecedented." The verb *abda'a* (to innovate) means to invent something without prior example. Allah says:

 

**"And monasticism, which they invented—We did not prescribe it for them."** (Quran 57:27)

 

(*Lisan al-Arab*, 8/6, root: *b-d-‘*)

 

 

 

 **Scholarly Definitions of Bid'ah in Islamic Law**

 

 

Scholars have two approaches to defining *bid'ah* in Islamic jurisprudence:

 

 

 

**First Approach: Imam Al-Izz ibn Abd al-Salam’s Classification**

 

 

He considered anything not practiced during the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) time as *Bid'ah* and divided it into five legal categories:

 

 

1. **Obligatory Bid'ah** – Such as studying Arabic grammar to understand the Quran and Sunnah.

 

2. **Prohibited Bid'ah** – Like the doctrines of Qadariyyah (deniers of predestination) and Khawarij (extremists).

 

3. **Recommended Bid'ah** – Such as building schools and bridges.

 

4. **Disliked Bid'ah** – Like excessive decoration of mosques.

 

5. **Permissible Bid'ah** – Such as shaking hands after prayer.

 

(*Qawa'id al-Ahkam*, 2/204)

 

 

 

Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani supported this view, stating:

 

 

*"Everything that did not exist in his (the Prophet’s) time is called *Bid'ah*, but some are good, and others are not."* (*Fath al-Bari*, 2/394)

 

 

 

 **Second Approach: Bid'ah as Only Negative Innovation**

 

 

Most scholars, including Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali, restrict *Bid'ah* in Islamic law to blameworthy innovations without any basis in Sharia. He said:

*"Bid'ah refers to what is newly introduced without any evidence in Sharia.

As for what has a basis in Shariah, it is not a *bid'ah* in religious terms, even if linguistically it is called so."*

 

(*Jami' al-Ulum wa al-Hikam*, 2/781)

 

 

 

 **Reconciliation Between the Two Approaches**

 

 

Both approaches agree that blameworthy *bid'ah* (which incurs sin) is what contradicts established Islamic principles. This is the meaning of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) saying:

 

*"Every *bid'ah* is misguidance."* (Muslim)

 

 

However, not all new matters are condemned.

 

Imam Al-Shafi’i said:

 

*"Innovations are of two types:

 

 

1. What contradicts the Quran, Sunnah, or consensus—this is misguidance.

 

2. What introduces good without opposing any Islamic principle—this is praiseworthy."*

 

(*Hilyat al-Awliya*, 9/113)

 

Imam Al-Ghazali said:

 

*"Not every innovation is forbidden. Only those that oppose established Sunnah are condemned."*

 

(*Ihya Ulum al-Din*, 2/248)

 

 

 

 **Examples of Different Types of Bid'ah**

 

 

- **Obligatory**: Studying Arabic grammar to understand religious texts.

 

- **Prohibited**: Heretical beliefs like those of the Qadariyyah.

 

- **Recommended**: Building schools and hospitals.

 

- **Disliked**: Extravagant mosque decorations.

 

- **Permissible**: Usage of the microphone for prayer.

 

 

 

**Evidence for Permissible Innovations**

 

 

1. **Umar’s Praise for Tarawih in Congregation**

When Umar (RA) saw people praying individually in Ramadan, he gathered them under one Imam and said:

 

*"What an excellent *bid'ah* this is!"* (Bukhari)

 

 

2. **Ibn Umar’s Statement on Dhuha Prayer**

When asked about people praying Dhuha in congregation, he said:

 

*"This is a *bid'ah*,"* yet it was not condemned. (Bukhari, Muslim)

 

 

 **Conclusion**

 

There are two scholarly approaches:

 

 

1. **General Approach (Ibn Rajab)**: Only innovations contradicting Sharia are called *bid'ah* (in a negative sense).

 

2. **Detailed Approach (Al-Izz ibn Abd al-Salam)**: Innovations are classified into five legal rulings.

 

 

**The common ground** is that not all new matters are forbidden. Instead, they are judged based on Sharia principles. Claiming all innovations are prohibited simply because they are called *bid'ah* is incorrect, as it contradicts scholarly consensus and the dynamic nature of Islamic jurisprudence.

 

 

**True blameworthy *bid'ah*** is what opposes the Quran and Sunnah — and this is what Islam warns against.