Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

dear brother Burhan

assalamo alaikum

1. my friend quoted this hadith, how authentic it is

""muslim shareef ki hadeeth mei hai , hazarat muhammad SAW ne farmaya ke jis shasq ne islam mei naik tareeqe nikala, us ko tareeqa nikal ne ka bhi sawab milegha aur us par amal karne walon ko bhi sawab , begair us ke amal karne walon ke sawab mei kuch kami ki jaaye aur jis ne islam mei bura tareeqe nikala tou us par woh tareewqa nikalne ka bhi gunah aur is tareeqe par amal karne walon ke bhi gunah begair is ke in amal karne walon ke gunahon mei kuch kami ki jaaye.""

(Exact translation) ‘The hadith is recorded in Muslim: Prophet Mohamed (saws) said that whoever introduces a pious ‘tareeqa’ (practice, method, etc.) in Islam, he will be rewarded for his introduction, and also those who practice it without any diminish in their reward; and whoever introduces an evil ‘tareeqa’ in Islam, he will bear the sin of his introduction, and also those who practice it without any diminish in their sin.’

so brother she says quran khani. shabe berat etc can be done even our prophet didnot celebrated as it is the naik tareeqa. but she refused to accept so brother kindly explain in detail , what does the above hadith meant.

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Answer:

Start new innovation bida

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 19 (part):

85      Whoever recommends and helps a good cause becomes a partner therein: and whoever recommends and helps an evil cause shares in the burden (of the sin): and Allah hath power over all things.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 6470     Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘He who called (people) to righteousness, there would be reward (assured) for him like the rewards of those who adhered to it, without their rewards being diminished in any respect. And he who called (people) to error, he shall have to carry (the burden) of its sin, like those who committed it, without their sins being diminished in any respect.’

Your Question: ….so brother she says quran khani. shabe berat etc can be done even our prophet didnot celebrated as it is the naik tareeqa. but she refused to accept so brother kindly explain in detail , what does the above hadith meant.

The above quoted guidance of the Glorious Quran and the Sunnah is definitely not a ‘free’ license to start or invent any new rites or rituals of worship in the deen….for that then would be a manifestation of the abomination of ‘bida’ or innovation!

A bida or innovation is something which is invented, innovated, and added to the deen of Islam after the deen was completed on Prophet Mohamed (saws). It especially concerns the rites and rituals of worship,  or any deed which was not performed or endorsed by the Messenger of Allah (saws),  but was added as a part of the deen after his (saws’s) death.  

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzab verse 21:

There is indeed the best example for you to follow in the Messenger of Allah, for every such person looks forward to Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much.

It is the solemn belief of every true believer who sincerely fears Allah and the Last Day, that there was, is, or never will be anyone in the annuls of creation who worshipped Allah Subhanah more or better than the Noble Last and Final Messenger of Allah, Mohamed ar-Rasool Allah (saws)!  

Thus if anyone dares to comes up with any act of worship like celebration, commemoration, or prescribes importance to any prayer, or fast, or night or day, or invents, innovates, or adds anything in the deen of Islam which is not endorsed by the Noble Prophet (saws), then it implies one of three things:

1. that the person who claims that worship is due on this specific night in this specific way loves and worships Allah more than the Noble Prophet (saws)!!!
2. or, that the person knows more than the Noble Prophet (saws)!!!
3. or, that the person has received revelations from Allah Subhanah after the death of the Prophet Mohamed (saws)!!!

Allah is our witness sister, if anyone in the annuls of creation ever claims to have any of the above three qualities is nothing more than a confirmed and manifest liar!; for Allah is our witness, no man in the annuls of creation loved or worshipped their Lord more than Prophet Mohamed (saws), no man in the annuls of creation had more knowledge of the Truth than the Noble Prophet Mohamed (saws), and Allah is our witness, the Last and Final Revelations of The Lord Most Majestic were revealed on Prophet Mohamed (saws), and there is none who will or can receive revelations after him (saws)!

If one brings, invents, adds or innovates any act or deed of worship in religion which has not been specifically endorsed by Allah and His Messenger (saws), then it has to be a ‘bida’, and Allah is our witness, every innovation in the deen of Islam is an error in the Sight of Allah Subhanah! 

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1885     Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said in a sermon:  “The best speech is that which is embodied in the Book of Allah, the Al Quran;  and the best guidance is the guidance given by me, Mohamed (saws).   The most evil affairs are the innovations (bida), and every innovation (bida) is an error.”

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4515  Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “If anyone introduces an innovation (bida in religion),  he will be responsible for it.   If anyone introduces an innovation (bida) or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (bida), he is cursed by Allah,  by His Angels,  and by all the people!”

Without an iota of a doubt, the self-invented celebrations and commemorations of rites like ‘Quran Khaani’ and ‘Shabe-Baraat’ etc. are manifest forms of the abomination of ‘bida’ in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

When one starts or recommends or helps in doing something for the general welfare of the people like building of a hospital, or an orphanage, or one digs a well, or plants a tree, etc….that is the ‘good cause’ or deed of ‘righteousness’ which is absolutely encouraged and endorsed in the above quoted guidance.  Alternatively, if one builds, or starts, or recommends, or helps, or facilitates in the establishments of evil like a disco, or a bar, or a gambling or prostitution den, etc…..that is the ‘evil cause’ or ‘error’ which is absolutely forbidden in the above quoted guidance.

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws),   one can be assured of never ever being misled;   but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.  

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan