The Opposite of Sunnah

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There emerges a vivid imagery of the Day of Judgment.

There will be individuals whose faces radiate with luminous light, while others will bear faces shrouded in darkness.

This stark distinction symbolizes the fate of those who have adhered to the Sunnah, basking in its light, versus those who have diverged by introducing innovations into the essence of Islam, thus distancing themselves from its purity.

Bid’ah is often met with skepticism, and many condemn all forms of innovation as incompatibility with the principles of Islam.

But this happens when people possess a limited understanding of faith and immediately deem acts of worshipping as innovations merely because they don’t align with their beliefs.

Bid’ah can be categorized into two:

1. Bid’ah Hasanah—innovations not contradicting the Quran and Sunnah

2. Bid’ah Sayyiah, those which do indeed conflict with these foundational sources.

One such instance of Bid’ah Hasana is Umar’s (RA) decision to unify all praying groups under a singular Imam during Taraweeh. This was a novel undertaking, yet it is a celebrated initiative and not frowned upon as a detrimental innovation.

It’s an example that anything that deviates from traditional practice needs to be evaluated in its essence rather than being hastily disregarded as Bid’ah.

On the other hand, Bid’ah Sayyiah is considered to be the opposite of Sunnah.

Bid’ah Sayyiah might involve altering religious practices based on cultural rather than Islamic principles.

In this modern age, we often find apparent innovations intruding upon our methods of practicing faith.

For instance, reliance on a wristwatch to determine prayer time might seem like an innovation to many.

However, adopting practicality in adhering to our faith isn’t principally wrong.

It is when these alterations interfere with the essence of our religious practices that it becomes concerning.

In the search for this comprehension, do not lose sight of the primary purpose of our faith - to bring us closer to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala.

How can we protect ourselves from Bid’ah?

1. Learn about the one you want to follow. Learn about the Prophetﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ said, “ The one who follows me will be with me in Paradise”.

2. Love the Prophet ﷺ. Once you learn, you will easily fall in love with the beloved of Allah. It’s an intrinsic nature.

3. Surround yourself with people who have the zeal to learn and who love the Sunnah.

During this journey of learning and understanding, remember that the ultimate aim is to strengthen our servitude to Allah and express gratitude to Him for every bit of knowledge He bestows upon us.

We hope this understanding will inspire mindfulness in our religious practices and ward off unnecessary disputes arising from misinformation or misunderstandings on Bid’ah.

May Allah forgive us for what we do not know and guide our intentions.

PS: To learn more, please refer to the video by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf in the inspiration section.