Innovation

بسم الله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله وبعد

Imaam Bukhaaree رحمه الله said:

I met more than a thousand men amongst the people of knowledge from the people of al-Hijaaz, al-Makkah, al-Madinah, al-Koofah, al-Basrah, Waasit, Baghdaad, Shaam and Misr... and I never saw a single one of them differ with respect to the following matters...

... And they (the people of knowledge) used to forbid and prevent [people] from the innovations - those that the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم and his Companions رضي الله عنهم were not upon, due to His saying:

{And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allaah (i.e. this Qur'ân), and be not divided among yourselves} [Soorah Aali Imraam 3:103]

and due to His saying:

{If you obey him [the Messenger], you shall be on the right guidance} [Soorah an-Noor 24:54]

[Reported by al-Laalikaa'ee (2/172-5), The Creed of Imaam Bukhaaree p.13,28 - al-Maktabah as-Salafiyyah Publications]

Notes:

In the words of Imaam Bukhaaree is a clear indication that Muslim unity is to be attained by removing the innovations - and that is the unanimous understanding of the greatest of scholars of the noble ayah in question. Since it is the newly-invented matters (in the issues of belief, action and methodology) that have divided the hearts of the Muslims and set them against each other. Thus, in order for the hearts of the Muslims to unite and consequently, their word and rank, it is necessary for them to purify their beliefs, actions and methodologies from everything that was never taught by the Messenger and which was never acted upon by the Noble Companions رضي الله عنهم - whilst humbly submitting to the Pure and Clear Sunnah. But this cannot be attained until the Muslims attend to the authentic and beneficial knowledge - that which has been left by the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم and which has been inherited by the Scholars after him, the Ahl ul-Hadeeth (the People of Authenticating the Narrations) and then to nurture themselves upon it. This issue was so clearly understood by the Companions of Allaah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم and those after them. , as will become evident by the narrations below.

The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Every innovation is misguidance and going astray.” Reported by Abu Daawood, no.4607 and it is saheeh.

The Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم also warned against the people of innovation, from befriending, supporting or taking from them saying: “Whoever innovates or accomodates an innovator then upon him is the curse of Allaah, His Angels and the whole of mankind.” Reported by Bukhaaree (12/41) and Muslim (9/140)