About bid’ah

Bismillaah Ar-RaHmaan Ar-RaHeem
Al-Hamdu Lillaah, was-Salaatu was-Salaamu `ala Rasoolillah
As-Salaamu `Alaikum wa RaHmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh

-----------------------------------------------------------------

`AQEEDAH, Adopted From "A Glimpse at the Way of the Companions",
by Shaikh `Abdul Qaadir al-Arna'oot, published by al-Hidaayah


From the beliefs of the Pious Predecessors is that it is
obligatory to have eemaan (faith) in all that the Qur'aan has
come with, and what Allaah, the Most High, has ordered us with,
and leaving all that Allaah, the Most High, has prohibited us
from, the general and the detailed. We believe in all that the
Prophet, sallaallaahu `alaihi wa sallam, has informed us of,
when its transmission from him is authentic, in that which we
witness or do not witness, regardless of whether we comprehend
it, or are ignorant of it or we have not come accross the
reality of its meaning.

We carry out the orders of Allaah, the Most High, and the orders
of his Messenger, sallaallaahu `alaihi wa sallam. We refrain
from what Allaah, the most High has prohibited us from and what
the Messenger of Allaah, sallaallaahu `alaihi wa sallam,
prohibited us from. We stop at the hudood (boundaries) of the
Book of Allaah, and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah,
sallaallaahu `alaihi wa sallam, and that which has come from the
rightly guided Khulafaa. Our duty is to do ittibaa` (following)
of that which the Prophet, sallaallaahu `alaihi wa sallam, has
come with: from beliefs, actions and sayings, to follow the way
of Allaah's Messenger, sallaallaahu `alaihi wa sallam, and the
four rightly guided Khulafaa', in their beliefs, actions and
sayings. This is the complete Sunnah, as the Sunnah of the
rightly guided Khulafaa' is adhered to like the following of the
Prophetic Sunnah.

`Umar ibn `Abdul `Azeez said:

"The Messenger of Allaah, sallaallahu `alaihi wa sallam, and the
leaders of the Muslims after him set examples (Sunnah), the
taking of which is holding on to the Book of Allaah, the Most
High, and strength upon the Deen of Allaah. It is not for any
one to change or alter it, nor to look at a matter in opposition
to it. Whoever is guided by it then he is truly guided, and
whoever seeks help by it then he is truly helped. Whoever
leaves it and follows a way other than the way of the believers,
Allaah will turn him to what he has chosen and burn him in hell,
what en evil abode!"

This is confirmed by the saying of Allaah's Messenger,
sallaallaahu `alaihi wa sallam:

"...and beware of newly invented matters, for verily every
bid`ah is a going astray."

This hadeeth is a great principle from the principles of the
Deen and it resembles another saying of the Prophet,
sallaallaahu `alaihi wa sallam:

"Whoever innovates in to this Deen of ours that which is not
from it, then it is rejected."

[Reported by al-Bukhaaree in ta`leeq form (without mentioning
the chain) (4/298) and in the full form (5/221), Muslim (no.
1718), Aboo Daawood in the book of Sunnah (no. 4606), Ibn
Maajah (no. 14).]

In it is a warning from following newly invented matters in the
Deen and worship. The meaning of bid`ah is that which has been
invented and has no root in the Sharee`ah pointing to it. As
for what has a root in the Sharee`ah pointing to it it is not
legally (technically) a bid`ah; even though linguistically the
term bid`ah may be applied to it. Thus whenever something new
is introduced into the Deen, having no root (in the Deen) to
return it to, then it is a misguidance - deviation. The Deen is
free of it, regardless of whether it is connected to issues of
beliefs, actions or sayings.

As for the istihsaan (approval and condoning) of bid`ah, which
occurred in the words of the predecessors, then that is in
relation to bid`ah al-logawee (linguistic use of bid`ah) and not
in the legal (technical) use of the term bid`ah. From these
saying is the saying of `Umar bin al-Khattaab, when he gathered
the people in Qiyaam-ur-Ramadaan - Taraaweeh prayers - behind
one Imaam in the masjid. He went out and saw them praying and
he said: "What a wonderful bid`ah."

This has a root in Sharee`ah. Verily the Messenger of Allaah,
sallaallaahu `alaihi wa sallam prayed it (this prayer) in
congregation in the masjid and then he left it, fearing that it
might become obligatory upon his Ummah and that they would be
unable to perform it. Indeed they became free of this fear
after the Prophet, sallaallaahu `alaihi wa sallam. So `Umar
(radiyallaahu `anhu) revived it. As for that which is a matter
confirmed, in worship, then it is not permissible to make
additions to it.

So, for example of the adhaan, remains in the form in which it
was legislated, without addition or subtraction. The Prayer
remains upon the manner it was legislated as the Messenger of
Allaah, sallaallaahu `alaihi wa sallam said:

"Pray as you have seen me praying."

This is an authentic hadeeth, reported by al-Bukhaaree in his
Saheeh.

Hajj remains upon the manner in which it was legislated, because
the Messenger of Allaah, sallaallaahu `alaihi wa sallam, said:

"Take from me your rites (of Hajj)." [Saheeh Muslim, Book of
Hajj, 1297]

Indeed the Muslims have done things that were not present in the
time of the Messenger of Allaah, sallaallaahu `alaihi wa sallam,
due to them being daroorah (necessities) in preserving Islaam.
Indeed they have permitted it and kept quiet about it. Like the
gathering of the people to one mushaaf (that which the Qur'aan
is written upon), by `Uthmaan bin `Affaan (radiyallaahu `anhu),
fearing the splitting of the Ummah. Indeed it was approved of
by the Companions (radiyallaahu `anhum) and that was for a
maslaha (benefit).

The example of writing down Prophetic traditions (hadeeth)
fearing its loss due to the death of its people. The writing of
Tafseer of the Qur'aan and the Hadeeth. The compilation of `Ilm
an-Nahw (science of grammar) to safeguard the Arabic language,
which is a means of understanding Islaam. The formation of `Ilm
al-Mustalah (science of hadeeth). Thus, these are permissible
to safeguard the Islamic Sharee`ah. Verily, Allaah, the Most
High, has taken the responsability of safeguarding His Law -
from His saying:

"Indeed it is We who sent down the Dhikr (Qur'aan) and surely
We will guard it (from corruption). [al-Hijr (15):9]

The Messenger of Allaah, sallaallaahu `alaihi wa sallam, said:

"This `Ilm (Deen) will be carried by the trustworthy of ones of
each generation. Negating from it the tahreef (alterations) of
the ones going beyond bounds, the false assumptions of the
liars, and the ta'weel (false interpretations) of the ignorant."

This hadeeth is hasan due to all its chains and shawaahids
(supporting narrations).

This is the belief (`aqeedah) - of the group of this Ummah (i.e.
the Companions radiyallaahu `anhum) and it is a pure belief like
the purity of fresh drinking water, strong as the firmly fixed
mountains, firm as the firmest of hand holds. It is a flawless
`Aqeedah, a straight way, upon the methodology of the Book and
the Sunnah and the sayings of the Predecessors of this Ummah and
its A'immah (leaders). It is the way which revived the hearts
of the pioneers of this Ummah.
===============================================================
"By Time! Verily man is in loss. Except those who
believe and do righteous deeds and help one
another to the truth and help one another to patience."
al-Qur'aan, al-`Asr (103):1-3
================================================================

The Kaaba

The Kaaba

"And now verily We shall make you turn (in prayer) toward a Qibla which is dear to you. So turn your face toward the Inviolable Place of Worship (the Kaaba of Makkah)." (Al Baqarah 2:144)
The Quran commands the Muslims to face the sacred precincts in Makkah during prayer which is a fundamental tenet in slam. The legend of this purely Islamic development of a sacred stone structure dates back to the fall of Hadhrat Adam (alayhis salaam) from Paradise onto earth at Makkah. It has been reported by Al-tabari that Hadhrat Jibraeel (alayhis salaam) flapped his wings to uncover a foundation laid in the seventh fold of the earth. Angels paved this foundation with stones and Hazrat Adam went round this structure following the example of the Angels. Therefore it stands to reason that Allah Ta'ala contemplated and designated the Ka'aba before the creation of the earth. It is said that the Kaaba is a prototype of Baitul Mamoor, a house in the seventh Heaven situated immediately over the Kaaba.
The Kaaba with respect to the inhabited parts of the world is like the centre of a circle with respect to the circle itself. All regions face the Kaaba, surrounding it as a circle surrounds its centre; and each region faces a particular part of the Kaaba. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) adopted the Kaaba as a physical focus in prayer as well for other acts of worship such as burial of the dead, recitation of the Qur'an, announcing the call of prayer, the ritual slaughter of animals, etc. Thus, Muslims have been spiritually and physically oriented towards the Kaaba and the holy city of Makkah in their daily lives.
Circumbulation of The Kaaba
'Tawaf' or cicumbulation (the ritual encircling of the Kaaba) starts from the Hajar Aswad - the Black Stone. The circumambulator, if possible, may kiss the stone or may direct his hand towards it saying, "In the name of Allah, Allah is great." He must circle the Kaaba seven times with the Kaaba to his left (in anti-clockwise direction).
On examination, it will be found that the entire universe which is in constant circular or elliptical rotation, is in actual fact moving in the pattern as the Tawaf. The electrons of an atom revolve around its nucleus in the same manner as making Tawaf, in an anti-clockwise direction. The ovum, prior to fertilisation actually taking place, surrounded by sperms, turns remarkably in anti-clockwise direction, thereby resembling the Tawaf. Considering the globe as a whole, it could be found that the earth has two movements. It rotates on its own axis in 24 hours causing day and night. The various seasons of the year are due to the earth's simultaneous revolution around the sun in 365 days. It is really astonishing to note that the earth, in both these movements, rotates anti-clockwise. The entire universe from the atom to the galaxies is in constant circular rotation like a circumambulator who encircles the Kaaba in the anti-clockwise direction. All objects in the universe, atoms, moon, stars, electrical current, galaxies, etc. are rotating in the same way. Moreover, the angles encircle the heavenly Baitul Ma'mur in an ever-lasting Tawaf. In the same way, the Kaaba in Makkah is never free from circumbulators. "Know that the world has come to an end when no soul will circlembulate the holy Kaaba."
"Do Muslims Really Worship the Kaaba?"
This was one question, among others, propounded by certain non-Muslim student groups at a university rally not very long ago. This kind of obnoxious thinking and behaviour is the direct result of villifying and being abusive towards other religions. Islam, known by many a western thinker as the 'champion religion' condemns the idea of disgracing and mocking any religion, but rather promotes the idea of showing respect. How else would the world see good in a religion so perfect as Islam. Our aim in this world should be to convey the magnificent teachings of Islam with love and honour, so that the word of Allah Ta'ala reaches the four corners of the world.
Do Muslims worship the Kaaba by merely prostrating towards it?
Hadhrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thaanvi (rahmatullah alayhi), in his book 'Ashraful-Jawaab', carefully probes the matter by providing logical and simple facts.
1. It is a known fact to Muslims that we don't worship the Kaaba but only worship Allah Ta'ala and Him alone. There is sufficient evidence to substantiate our stand and belief. Categorically, we explicitly deny worshipping the Kaaba nor the structure of the Kaaba. Hence, no worshipper (in his right frame of mind) can deny the thing he or she worships. In other words, Muslims deny worshipping the Kaaba and it is not a symbol of worship. The Kaaba is only a direction of worship.
2. When performing Salaat, even if the thought of facing towards the Kaaba is absent from the mind too, the salaat is valid. However, many Musallies that enter the masjid and begin performing salaat without having the faintest idea that they are facing the direction of the Kaaba, still have their salaat intact. Had we been worshipping the Kaaba, then it would have been a prerequisite condition to first intend facing the Kaaba before beginning any salaat.
3. If at anytime the structure of the Kaaba is destroyed then too, it will be compulsory to perform salaat facing the direction of the Kaaba . Therefore, we can say without a shadow of doubt that Muslims do not worship its stone structure, otherwise by its destruction Salaat would immediately come to a temporary stop.
4. If a person decides to perform salaat on the roof of the Kaaba, the Salaat will be valid. Therefore had we worshipped the Kaaba then Salaat performed above it would be incorrect; because firstly, the thing worshipped must appear in front and secondly, it is utterly disrespectful and disgraceful to the thing worshipped by standing on top of it. Imagine anyone standing above their Creator and Maker of this universe.
In addition, Moulana Thaanvi (rahmatullah alay) further discusses other related matters on the same subject - the Kaaba. Did you ask yourself at any time, 'Why do we face one direction, and not many directions?'
Imagine if there was no one direction to face then everyone would have faced all directions which may have caused dissent and disunity in the heart of the Muslims. Therefore it was essential to provide a common direction for the Muslims throughout the world.
Why do we face toward the Kaaba in particular and not any other selected direction?
No one has the right to ask such a question. However, Allah Ta'ala is omniscient and He alone knows toward which direction His Noor (light) descends. Whichever direction this light is greatest, we are directed to face.
How do we know the Noor of Allah descends toward the direction of the Kaaba? Only those who possess eyes may be able to get a glimpse of that Noor descending onto the Kaaba. Therefore, Salaat may be read above the Kaaba structure, because in actual fact, it is the Noor of Allah Ta'ala that we face in prayers and definitely not any object or likewise.
The Jurist have commented that the Kaaba, although seen to a certain height, reaches upto the heavens and right down to the earth's bottom.
Furthermore, the secret in facing toward the direction of the Kaaba is the spirit of worship (Ibaadat), and contentment and serenity of the heart. Without this contentment there exist no spirit (rooh), which is the reason we are instructed to focus our sight on the place of prostration in Salaat so that we may be able to concentrate with heart and soul entirely.