The Light of Sunnah vs. The Darkness of Bid’ah, According to the Qur’an and Sunnah

87 Pages·1.682 MB·English

by  Shaykh Sa’eed ibn Ali ibn Wahf al-Qahtani

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The Light of Sunnah
vs.
The Darkness of Bid’ah,
according to the Qur`an and
Sunnah

[The Way of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him,
as opposed to innovation in religion]

By Dr. Sa’eed ibn Ali ibn Wahf al-Qahtani

ةنسلاو باتكلا ءوض يف ةـعدبلا تاـمـلظو ةـنسلا روــن
يناطحقلا فهو نب يلع نب ديعس :ىلاعت الله ىلإ ريقفلا فيلأت

Translation (with some adaptations),
Introduction and Notes by

Abu Salman Deya ud-Deen Eberle
يلربا نيدلا ءايض ناملـــس وبأ
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Contents
TRANSLATOR’S INTRODUCTION .......................................... 3
AUTHOR’S INTRODUCTION ................................................... 5
LIGHT OF SUNNAH ................................................................. 7
Meaning of Sunnah ..................................................................... 7
The names of Ahl-as-Sunnah and their characteristics ............... 9
The Sunnah is a complete and absolute blessing ...................... 13
The Status of the Sunnah .......................................................... 14
DARKNESS OF BIDAH .......................................................... 17
The meaning of Bid’ah ............................................................. 17
Conditions for deeds of worship to be accepted ....................... 20
Condemnation of Bid’ah in the Religion .................................. 21
Examples from the Sayings of the Followers of the Companions
(Taba’een) and those after them ............................................... 28
The causes of Bid’ah................................................................. 29
Kinds of Bid’ah ......................................................................... 39
Ruling about Bid’ah in Religion ............................................... 43
Various kinds of Bid’ah at the Graves ...................................... 46
Some modern forms of Bid’ah that are widespread ................. 48
The kinds of blessings that we are not allowed to seek ............ 66
Some Other Examples: ............................................................. 70
The Repentance of the Innovator .............................................. 71
The consequences of Bid’ah and its harms ............................... 73
BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................................... 82
GLOSSARY .................................................................. 82
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In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent in Mercy, the Most Merciful

TRANSLATOR’S INTRODUCTION

Strict adherence to the Way (Sunnah) of Allah’s Messenger, our Prophet
Muhammad, may the salutations, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
and its corollary of absolute avoidance of all forms of falsehood, superstitions,
fabrications and innovated ways in religion (Bid’ah), is one of the most
critical fundamentals of the religion of Islam. This is so readily apparent for
those whom Allah has chosen to guide that it appears self-evident along with
the definition of Islam as humble submission to Allah, a simple tautology. Yet
unfortunately many are ignorant of the basics of Islam and, therefore, they fall
prey to the propaganda of various sectarian transmitters and the corruptions
of previous religions. Some of the innovators may even have what they claim
are good intentions but this does not lessen the danger of the innovation and
the damage it causes through misguidance and corruption among the masses.
For instance, the Christians innovated for themselves celibacy and
asceticism. Despite their good intentions this unlegislated and unnatural state
has had innumerable consequences and ramifications among their followers
leading to much corruption that remain evident even until today, the age of
secularism among the majority of them. Allah the Exalted said:
َةْفرَ مهِمع َع َّتا نََيََِّا ِِمل مق فِ اَنلْعَجَوَ لَينِْْلِْْا مهاَن يْ َتآَوَ َيََرْمَ نِْبا ىسَ يعِِب اَن يْفَّ َقوَ اَنِلسمرمِب مْهِرِثََآَ ىَلعَ اَن يْفَّ َق َّثُم ﴿
﴾ اهَِتََاعَرِ قَّحَ اهَِْعَرَ امََة للََِّّا نِاَِضْ رِ َءاَغِتْبا لََِّّإ مْهِيَْلعَ اهَاَن عْ َتكَ امَ اهَِمعدََت ْبا َّيِناَعهْرَوَ َحْْرَوَ
“Then, following their footsteps, We sent Our messengers and followed
them with Jesus, the son of Mary, and We gave him the Gospel. And We
placed compassion and mercy in the hearts of those who followed him and
monasticism they innovated – We did not prescribe it for them except that
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they were seeking the pleasure of Allah. But they did not observe
it with due observance.” (57:27)
For education and information a book like the one before the reader is
an excellent primer to introduce the subject of Sunnah and Bid’ah, their
definitions, and some of the most important issues that a Muslim needs to
navigate in the perilous world of misinformation, trials and temptations. We
ask for the author and ourselves and for the readers, the guidance of Allah to
His bounty, mercy, forgiveness and salvation.
We have adapted some of the phrases to make the English version flow
better and have made a few stylistic and organizational changes. For this
reason we have qualified the translation with the words “with some
adaptations.” All the footnotes are of the author except those sections within
brackets and beginning with the capitals TN [Translator’s Note]. A glossary
has been provided for some of the terms and proper nouns used by the author.
My gratitude goes to the Al-Rabwa Office for Islamic Call and
Guidance, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, (website: www.islamhouse.com) for
assistance in the preparation of this booklet. My special gratitude goes to Um
Salman for continual encouragement and detailed scrutiny, criticism and
review of the work. May Allah give all of them the great reward for all their
good deeds and for engaging in the work that pleases their Lord, Most
Majestic, and promoting the revitalization of His divine religion Islam.
Any mistakes and lapses are my own for which I am solely responsible.
I would welcome any constructive criticism to correct shortcomings and
improve the work. The electronic version is free to download for personal
study but all printed and published versions have specific commercial rights
attached to them considering the investments involved. Infringing upon these
brotherly Muslim rights by copying, printing, publishing and distribution for
commercial reasons is forbidden and punishable. If one wishes to help in the
printing, publishing and distribution of the book for the pleasure of Allah,
seeking His reward, please contact the English Department of the Al-Rabwa
Office for Islamic Call and Guidance, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, (email:
[email protected] ) or contact me personally for specific authorized
permission, directions, comments and constructive criticism.

Abu Salman Deya ud-Deen Eberle

[email protected]
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AUTHOR’S INTRODUCTION

The praise is for Allah, we praise Him and seek aid and forgiveness from
Him and seek refuge in Him from the evil of ourselves and the wicked
consequences of our actions. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide;
and whoever is misguided, none can guide thereafter. I bear witness that there
is no god except Allah (nothing has the right to be worshipped except Him)
who is alone without partners. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave
and Messenger.
This is a summarized booklet about the light of the Sunnah and the
darkness of the Bid’ah, wherein I have clarified the meaning of Sunnah, the
names and titles of Ahl-as-Sunnah, that the Sunnah is altogether absolutely
blessed, the standing of the Sunnah, the status of the people of Sunnah and
their outward signs and traits, the meaning and standing of Bid’ah, the status
of the people of Bid’ah, the conditions for the acceptance of worship, reproach
of Bid’ah in religion, the reasons for its occurrence, kinds of Bid’ah at the
gravesites and other places, common modern types of Bid’ah, effects of
Bid’ah and its harmful consequences.
There is no doubt, whatsoever, that the Sunnah gives life and light by
which there is happiness and guidance for the slave of Allah. By the Sunnah
people progress, even if they are sluggish in performing good deeds. As Allah
said:
﴾ دَُِّسَْتوَ ٌهِ جموم ضُّ َي عْ َت مَِْ ََ﴿
“On the Day some faces will become white and some faces will become
black…” (3:106) Ibn Abbas, may Allah be please with them, said about this
verse of Allah:
قرفتلاو ةعدبلا لهأ هوجو دوستو ،فلاتئلااو ةنسلا لهأ هوجو ضيبت
“The faces of Ahl-as-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah (the People of the [Prophet’s]
Way and the Unified Group) are made white (brightened) but the faces of the
people of Bid’ah (innovation) and dissention are made black (darkened).” 1
The person of the Sunnah is enlivened and enlighted by his obedience to the
commands of Allah and by his following the way of the Prophet, peace and
blessings be upon him, internally and externally. But the person of Bid’ah
(innovation) is dead and dark in his heart such that the darkness envelops his
whole self. So they live in the darkness. Thus if Allah wishes true happiness
for a person, He guides him out of these layers of darkness to the light of the
Sunnah. 2

1 Mentioned by Ibn Qayyim in Ijtima al-Juyoosh al-Islami 2/39 [TN And by many
others in the exegesis of the Qur`an like Ibn Jauzi, al-Baghawi, al-Qurtubi, ibn
Katheer and others].
2 See Ibn Qayyim in Ijtima al-Juyyoosh al-Islami 2/38-41.
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As evident from the Table of Contents, I have divided this
booklet into two sections and under each section there are various topics.
I ask Allah the Almighty and Majestic to bless this work and make it
solely for His Magnificent Face; and make it beneficial for me in my life and
after my death; and make it beneficial for all those who come upon it. Indeed
He is the Best One who is supplicated and hoped for and He is sufficient for
us. He is the Best of Trustees. There is no power or strength except by Allah
the Exalted and Great. And may the peace and blessings be upon His Slave
and Messenger, the best and the chosen one of His creation, our Prophet
Muhammad, and on his family and companions and those who follow them
in goodness until the Day of Resurrection.

Dr. Sa’eed ibn Ali ibn Wahf al-Qahtani
Wednesday 17/10/1419
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LIGHT OF SUNNAH
Meaning of Sunnah
The Sunnah has its people (Ahl) who have creed and faith (Aqeedah)
and unity upon the truth (Jamaa’ah), thus it is appropriate here to define these
three words of the saying “Aqeedah Ahl-as-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah. 3
1. Aqeedah in the Arabic language and Islamic terminology
This word is taken from Aqd, which is a bond and knot tied with strength.
From this is the meaning of ruling with finalization and completeness, being
combined with tightness, tying a knot with firmness, binding a contractual
agreement and, of course, Aqd is opposite to untying. In the Islamic
terminology Aqeedah means firmly determined faith and decisive ruling that
has no doubt about it. It is what a person believes, holds dearly and firmly in
his heart and takes as his ideology and religion. The Aqeedah may be correct,
like the Aqeedah of the Ahl-as-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah, or incorrect, like the
Aqeedah of the deviant misguided sects.
2. Meaning of Ahl-as-Sunnah
The word Sunnah means ways, manners and behavior, whether good or
bad, attractive or ugly. The meaning of the Sunnah to the scholars of Islamic
Aqeedah is the guidance that the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him,
and his companions were upon in their knowledge, belief, sayings and actions.
This is the Sunnah that is obligatory to follow and to which one must adhere
strictly. The people of the Sunnah are praiseworthy and those that act contrary
are blameworthy. Upon this meaning it is said that a person is of the people
(Ahl) of Sunnah, meaning the good, straight and praiseworthy way.4
Al-Hafizth ibn Rajab said: “The Sunnah is the pathway that is followed
and this includes what the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, and his
rightly guided successors (Caliphs) were upon in their beliefs, actions and
sayings, and this is the complete Sunnah.”5 Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taimiyyah
said, may Allah have mercy upon him: “The Sunnah is that which has a clear
legal proof established for its legality as obedience to Allah and His
Messenger, whether it was an action of the Messenger of Allah himself, peace
and blessings be upon him, or it was done during his time and he
acknowledged it, or even if he himself did not do it during his time nor it was
done because there was no necessity at that time to do this action or there was
a factor which inhibited its performance.”6 Upon this the Sunnah is “following
the way, actions and sayings of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him,

3 [TN The author will mention the meaning of “ Sunnah” below and for more on
various usages see the introduction.]
4 See Nasr al-Aql, Mabaahith fi Aqeedat Ahl-as-Sunnah, p.13.
5 Jame’ al-Uloom wal-Hikam 1/120.
6 Majmu al-Fataawa 21/317.
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internally and externally, and following the way of the foremost
companions from the Muhajireen and Ansar (Emigrants and Helpers).”7
3. Meaning of Jamaa’ah
In the Arabic language the root word is Jama’ whose meanings revolve
around collection, combination, unity, assembly, gathering and congregation,
which is opposite to separation and division. Ibn Faris, may the mercy of
Allah be upon him, said: Jeem, Meem and Ain is the root that indicates joining
together and it is said, I gathered these things Jam’an. [Mu’jam Maqayis al-
Lughah, in the letter Jeem]. In the Islamic terminology the Jamaa’ah are the
predecessors of this community and nations of believers, of the companions
(Sahaabah), the followers (Taba’een) and those that followed them in
goodness until the Day of Resurrection, who unite on the clear truth of the
Qur`an and the Sunnah.”8
Ibn Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
كدحو تنك نإو قحلا قفاو ام ةعامجلا
“The Jamaa’ah is what conforms to the truth even if you are alone.”
Nu’aim ibn Hammad said: “This means that if the Jamaa’ah has become
corrupted then you must adhere to what the Jamaa’ah was upon before it
became corrupted, for by this you are the Jamaa’ah.”9

7 Majmu al-Fataawa 3/157.
8 See Ibn Abil Izz, Sharh al-Aqeedat-at-Tahaawiyyah, p. 68; and Ibn Taymiyyah,
Sharh al-Aqeedat-al-Waasitiyyah, authored by al-Allaamah Muhammad Khaleel
Hiraas, p. 61.
9 Mentioned by Ibn al-Qayyim in Ighaathat-al-Lahfan 1/70 and reported by al-
Baihaqi. [TN Significantly the report by al-Baihaqi in his book al-Madkhal on
Amr ibn Maimun al-Auadi reads as follows:
تبحص مث ماشلاب بارتلاب هتيراو ىتح هتقراف امف نميلاب اذاعم تبحص يدولأا نوميم نب رمع لاق
هتعمس مث ةعامجلا ىلع الله دي نإف ةعامجلاب مكيلع لوقي هتعمسف دوعسم نب الله دبع سانلا هقفأ هدعب
يهف اهتاقيمل ةلاصلا اولصف اهتيقاوم نع ةلاصلا نورخؤي ةلاو مكيلع ىليس لوقي وهو مايلأا نم اموي
تلق كاذ امو لاق نوثدحت ام ىردأ ام دمحم باحصأ اي تلق لاق ةلفان كل اهنإف مهعم لصو ةضيرفلا
ةعامجلا عم لصو ةضيرفلا يهو كدحو ةلاصلا لص يل لوقت مث اهيلع ينضحتو ةعامجلاب ينرمأت
لاق لا تلق ةعامجلا ام يردت ةيرقلا هذه لهأ هقفأ نم كنظأ تنك دق نوميم نب ورمع اي لاق ةلفان يهو
نبا لاقف ةياور يفو كدحو تنك نأو قحلا قفاو ام ةعامجلا نأو ةعامجلا اوقراف سانلا روهمج نا
الله ةعاط قفاو ام ةعامجلا نأو ةعامجلا اوقراف سانلا روهمج نأ كحيو يذخف ىلع برضو دوعسم
تنك نأو دسفت نأ لبق ةعامجلا هيلع تناك امب كيلعف ةعامجلا تدسف اذإ ينعي دامح نبا ميعن لاق ىلاعت
ذئنيح ةعامجلا تنأ كنإف كدحو
“I was the companion of Mu’adth in Yemen and I did not leave him until he
died and we buried him in Sham (greater Syria) and then I was the companion of
the most knowledgeable in jurisprudence after him, Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, and I
heard him say, ‘Adhere to the congregation (or United Group) for verily Allah’s
hand protects the congregation,’ and then I heard him say one day, ‘There will
come a time when the leaders will delay the prayers from their proper times, so
pray in the proper times and this is the obligatory prayer and then pray with them
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The names of Ahl-as-Sunnah and their characteristics
1. Ahl-as-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah (The People of the Way and Unified
Group)
They are the people who are upon that which the Prophet, peace and
blessings be upon him, and his companions were upon, adhering closely to
the Sunnah and the way of the companions, followers and the leader of
jurisprudence who followed them. They are the people who remain steadfast
upon the straightforward way of these predecessors and avoid innovation in
religion, no matter in what era or land. A group of them will remain victorious
until the Day of Resurrection. They are called Ahl-as-Sunnah because they
identify with the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and
are unanimous about taking from the Sunnah, in both external and internal
affairs and in sayings, deeds and beliefs. 10
Auf ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet,
peace and blessings be upon him, said:
ىراصنلا تقرتفاو ،رانلا يف نوعبسو ةنجلا يف ةدحاوف ةقرف نيعبسو ىدحإ ىلع د وهيلا تقرتفا”
هديب د محم س فن يذلاو ،ةنجلا يف ةدحاوو رانلا يف ةقرف نيعبسو ىدحإف ةقرف نيعبسو نيتنث ىلع
“رانلا يف نوعبسو ناتنثاو ةنجلا يف ةدحاو ،ةقرف نيعبسو ث لاث ىلع يتمأ نَّ قرِ تفْ ت ل
“ةعامجلا” :لاق ؟مه نم ،الله لوسر اي :ليق
The Jews split into seventy-one sects, one will enter Paradise and
seventy will enter Hellfire. The Christians split into seventy-two sects,
seventy-one will enter Hellfire and one will enter Paradise. By Him in Whose

and that will be a supererogatory prayer for you.’ I said, ‘O you companion of
Muhammad (the Prophet) I don’t understand what you are talking about?’ He
said, ‘And what’s that?’ I said, ‘You commanded me to adhere to the congregation
(and United Group) and encouraged me in this and then you say pray alone and
that is the obligatory prayer and then pray in congregation and that will be a
supererogatory prayer, He said, ‘O Amr ibn Maimoon, I thought you understood
more than anyone else in this town. Do you know what is the congregation?’ I
said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘The majority of the people have left the (proper)
congregation (or United Group) since it is what corresponds to the truth even if
you are alone.’” And in another version of the narration, “Ibn Mas’ud struck my
thigh and said, ‘Woe to you, the majority have left the congregation and it is what
corresponds to obedience of Allah the Exalted.” The sub-narrator Nu’aim said,
‘This means that when the congregation has become corrupted then go to what
the congregation was doing before it became corrupted even if you are all alone
since you are the congregation then.’”]
10 See Nasr al-Aql, Mubaahith fil Aqeedah, p. 13-14; Muhammad al-Uthaimeen,
Fath Rabb al-Bariyah bi Takhlees al-Hamawiyyah, p. 10; Salih al-Fouzan, Sharh
al-Aqeedah al-Waasitiyyah, p. 10.
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hand my soul is, my community (Ummah) will split into seventy-
three sects, one will enter Paradise and seventy-two will enter Hellfire.
Someone asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah who are they?’ He replied, ‘Al-
Jamaa’ah (Unified Group).’11 And in another version narrated by Abdullah
ibn ‘Amr, may Allah be pleased with him, the wording ends as follows:
يباحصأو هيلع انأ ام” :لاق ؟الله لوسر اي يه نمو :اولاق
“Someone asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah who are they?’ He replied:
‘What I and my companions are upon.’”12
2. Al-Firqat-an-Naajiyah (The Saved Sect). This is taken from the text
of the narration which says:
ةدحاو لاإ رانلا يف اهلك
“All of them are in the Hellfire except for one.” 13
3. At-Taa`ifat-al-Mansurah (Victorious Group) Mu’awiyah, may Allah
be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him,
said:
مهفلاخ وأ مهلذخ نم مه ر ضي لا الله رمأب ةمئاق يتمأ نم ةفئاط لازت لا
سانلا ىلع نورهاظ مهو الله رمأ يتأي ىتح
“There will remain a group of my nation that will be steadfast upon the
command of Allah and those that abandon them or oppose them will not harm
them until the command of Allah comes and they will be prevailing upon the

11 Reported by Ibn Majah 2/13, no. 3992 and this is his wording, and Abu Da`ud
4/194, no. 4596. Al-Albani verified it as authentic in Sahih ibn Majah 2/364
12 At-Tirmidthi 5/26, no. 2641 [TN The wording is significant since the Prophet,
peace and blessings be upon him, said:
ةينلاع همأ ىتأ نم مهنم ناك نإ ىتح لعنلاب لعنلا وذح ليئارسإ ينب ىلع ىتأ ام يتمأ ىلع نيتأيل
ثلاث ىلع يتمأ قرتفتو ةلم نيعبسو نيتنث ىلع تقرفت ليئارسإ ينب نإو كلذ عنصي نم يتمأ يف ناكل
يباحصأو هيلع انأ ام لاق الله لوسر اي يه نمو اولاق ةدحاو ةلم لاإ رانلا يف مهلك ةلم نيعبسو
“There will come on my nation exactly as what came upon the sons of Israel, just
as one shoe copies the other, even to the extent that if there were one who pounced
upon his mother openly (in adultery) from among them, there would be someone
in my nation who will do likewise. The sons of Israel divided into seventy-two
sects and my nation will divide into seventy-three sects, all of which are in the
Hellfire except one. They asked, ‘Which one is it, O Messenger of Allah?’ He
said: ‘The one that is on what I and my companions are upon’.” This has been
declared good by al-Albani for its pathways and supporting evidence]
13 See Salih al-Fauzan, Usool Ahl-as-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah, p. 11.