The general rule in Islam is that whatever we should follow must have evidence backing it up either from the Quran or the AUTHENTIC Sunnah. We simply cannot go on and introduce anything into Islam for which theres no evidence either in the Quran or the authentic Sunnah. Allah (SWT) says in the Quran: “He who obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allaah . . .” [al-Nisaa’ 4:80] Allaah described obedience to the Prophet (peace be upon him) as being a part of obedience to Him. Then He made a connection between obedience to Him and obedience to the Prophet (peace be upon him): “O you who believe! Obey Allaah and obey the Messenger . . .” [al-Nisaa’ 4:59] We would like the ask the questioner that what do those verses mean? Do they not mean that a Muslim must only follow the Quran and the Sunnah? Or do they mean that follow the Quran, Sunnah and something for which there is no proof? Then how come a Muslim can follow something for which there can be found no proof at all? How can anyone follow anything in Islam without any proof? When something has not been narrated at all in the Quran or Sunnah, then how come can you follow it? Whats the evidence? Allaah warns us not to go against the Prophet (peace be upon him), and states that whoever disobeys him will be doomed to eternal Hell. Allah (SWT) says in the Quran: “. . . And let those who oppose the Messenger’s commandment beware, lest some fitnah (trial, affliction, etc.) befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them.” [al-Nur 24:63] The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to say, when beginning a khutbah (sermon): … The best of speech is the Book of Allaah and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad. The worst of things are those which are newly-invented, and every innovation is a going astray… (reported by Muslim, no. 867) What was the thing in the above Hadith which Prophet (Peace be upon him) referred to as worst of things? He said that every newly invented thing is the worst of things! And saying Jummah Mubarak to people is something which is newly invented. It was never known during the time of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). Had it been something good to wish Jummah Mubarak, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) would have had done it himself. The fact is that there is not even a single report narrated in the whole of the Sunnah which says that Prophet or his Sahabas every wishes each other Jummah Mubarak. Then how come can we do something which was not even done by the Prophet or the Sahabas himself? The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: Whoever innovates something in this matter of ours that is not a part of it will have it rejected. (Reported by al-Bukhaari, Fath al-Baari, no. 2697). How can anybody then say that bidah is acceptable and it is permitted to follow it? Jummah Mubarak is a newly invented matter, it is an Innovation (Bidah)! “”But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you [Muhammad] judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.” [al-Nisaa’ 4:65] The above verse makes it clear that in any case of dispute we have to make Muhammad (Peace be upon him) as our judge. Today, we can use his Hadiths (the sayings of Prophet Muhammad) to be our judge in such disputes. So, based on his Hadiths, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) declared every newly invented thing the worst of things. Based on his hadiths Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) declared that every newly invented thing will be rejected. Based on his Hadiths, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) declared that every innovation (Bidah, a newly invented thing) will lead one astray from the correct path of Islam will eventually lead one to the Hell-Fire. Every newly-invented thing is a bidah (innovation), every bidah is a going astray, and every going astray will be in the Fire. (Reported by al-Nisaai in al-Sunan, Salaat al-Eedayn, Baab kayfa al-Khutbah) Those are not our words, but those are the words of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) who every now and then condemned every innovation in strict words. We would ask the questioner and the reader that what could be more worse than going astray, being misguided and eventually getting ended up in the Hell Fire?
Posted on: Sat, 04 Oct 2014 09:25:29 +0000