The Consequences of Bid’ah

Dangers of Bid’ah Examples of Bid’ah

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Muslims must follow the teachings in the Qur’aan and the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ according to the understanding and teachings of the Companions. Islam is in no need for additions, subtractions or changes. The laws of Allah ﷻ are complete.
Allah ﷻ warned the people against following bid’ah. In an aayah of the Qur’aan Allah decribes those who follow Bid’ah as such people who are not following the path of Allah ﷻ .
The aayah also mentions that these people will be punished. Allah says:

وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِۦ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِۦ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا ( سورة النساء :١١٥)

And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers – We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination. (Soorat an-Nisaa: 115)

There are also many ahaadeeth that describe the dangers and consequences of following bid’ah. One such hadeeth is narrated by ‘Aaishah . She said:

عن أم المؤمنين عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو رد (البخاري)

Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours (Islam) that is not from it, shall have it rejected.” (al-Bukhaan)

This hadeeth shows that any act of worship that is not according to the Sunnah will not be rewarded by Allah. In fact according to the aayah above, the person doing the bid’ah will be punished by Allah.
In another hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ explained the severity of the wrong of following bid’ah. He said:

قال صلى الله عليه وسلم: من أحدث حدثا أو آوى محدثا، فعليه لعنة الله ولعنة اللاعنين والملائكة والناس أجمعين لا يقبل الله منه صرفا ولا عدلا (مسلم)

“…Anyone who makes an innovation or gives protection an innovator, the curse of Allah, the angels, and all persons will fall upon him, and Allah will not accept any obligatory or supererogatory act as recompense from them…” (Muslim)

The above hadeeth points out the serious consequences for the one who indulges in bid’ah and also the one who accommodates such a person, i.e. Allah’s Curse will be upon such people. It also means that a person following a bid’ah will find it hard to obey the Sharee’ah because they are acting contrary to it.
Bid’ah is often followed on the basis of a person’s desires and whims, while she/he claims. to be following the Sharee’ah. For this reason, it is very difficult for this person to leave the bid’ah and return back to the pure teachings of Islam. If a person does not consider the act as a Bid’ah, then he will not feel the need to leave the bid’ah and repent for what he/she did.
Any act of worship that is not according to the Sharee’ah will be rejected by Allah and the person doing it will be punished. Furthermore, people who follow bid’ah cannot be considered to be on the Straight Path. ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood said:

عن عبد الله بن مسعود – رضي الله عنه – قال: «خط لنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم خطا، ثم قال: هذا سبيل الله ثم خط خطوطا عن يمينه وعن شماله، ثم قال: هذه سبل قال يزيد متفرقة على كل سبيل منها شيطان يدعو إليه، ثم قرأ وأن هذا صراطي مستقيما فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَنْ سَبِيله (أحمد)

The Prophet ﷺ drew a line for us and then said, ‘This is the path of Allah.’ Then he drew some lines on the right and left of the first one and said, ‘These are other paths and at each one, there is a shaytaan calling to it.’ Then he recited the aayah, ‘This is my straight path, so follow it. And follow no other paths as they will lead you astray from His path.’ (Ahmad)

There is only one correct way in Islam. This is following the Qur’aan and the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ through the understanding and teachings of the Companions. This path is the Straight Path which leads to an everlasting life in Paradise.

Learning from the lesson