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:

Assalamualaikum

Dear so called shaykh.

Please can you explain the difference between bida`a and good practice. This should be backed by eveidence and also from the words of the salaf.

Also your answers to some questions condemn the use of taweez even if they be with the names of Allah. Show me where it says in the Quran and sunnah that using the names of Allah or Quran in a taweez is wrong and I will prove you wrong on every count that what you say is nothing but innovation and not the view point of the Prophet sws, His companions and the salaf.

And if I prove you wrong for the sake of Allah and His Messenger sws I will do so only to expose your sect and its devious beliefs.

What say you then. Do we have a challenge? 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Challenge of a brother on Bidah

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 no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Statement: Dear so called shaykh

Beloved brother in Islam, Allah is our Witness, that we have never claimed, nor have we ever intended to claim that we are ‘shaikhs’! We have probably posted thousands of answers and tens of thousands of pages on this humble forum in our effort to propagate the Truth from the Quran and Sunnah, but never once have we claimed or intended to hold this noble title which is reserved for the respected and wise teachers and scholars in Islam.

Allah is our witness, we are nothing but simple and mere kindergarten students in this ocean of the knowledge of Truth called Al-Islam, and we would consider ourselves absolutely honored and utterly privileged to remain humble students in this school of knowledge until the day Allah Wills to recall us back to Him.

Your Question: Please can you explain the difference between bida`a and good practice. This should be backed by eveidence and also from the words of the salaf.
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.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4590 Narrated by Irbad ibn Sariyah

Al-Irbad said: ‘One day the Messenger of Allah (saws) led us in prayer, then faced us and gave us a lengthy exhortation at which the eyes shed tears and the hearts were afraid.’ A man said: O Messenger of Allah (saws)! It seems as if it were a farewell exhortation, so what injunction do you give us?’ He (saws) then said: ‘I enjoin you to fear Allah, and to hear and obey even if it be an Abyssinian slave, for those of you who live after me will see great disagreement. You must then follow my Sunnah and that of the Rightly-Guided Khalifahs. Hold to it and stick fast to it. Avoid novelties, for every novelty is a ‘bidah’ (innovation), and every ‘bidah’ is an error.’

The obvious and simple difference between a good practice and a ‘bidah’ (innovation) is as follows:

A good practice is an act or religious deed which is endorsed by the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) and His Rightly Guided Khalifahs. A ‘bidah’ is an innovation through an act or a religious deed which is not endorsed by the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) and His Rightly Guided Khalifahs.

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

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

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 ‘bidah’, and every ‘bidah’ is an error.”

Your Statement: Also your answers to some questions condemn the use of taweez even if they be with the names of Allah. Show me where it says in the Quran and sunnah that using the names of Allah or Quran in a taweez is wrong and I will prove you wrong on every count that what you say is nothing but innovation and not the view point of the Prophet sws, His companions and the salaf.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imraan verse 160: If Allah helps you none can overcome you: if He forsakes you who is there after that that can help you? In Allah then let believers put their trust.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 3: And put your trust in Allah Alone; and enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 51: Say: "Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us: He is our Protector"; and on Allah let the believers put their trust.

Isa ibn Hamza said: I went to see Abdullah ibn Hakim and his face was red due to high fever. I said to him: 'Why don't you use an amulet?' He said: 'We seek refuge with Allah from it. The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "Whoever wears anything as an amulet will be entrusted to it!"

Narrated by Abu Daw'ud

Uqbah ibn 'Amir narrates that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "If anyone wears an amulet, may Allah not help him in fulfilling his wish. If anyone wears a sea-shell around his neck, may Allah give him no peace."

Narrated by Ahmad and Al-Hakim.

It is reported from Ibn Mas'ud that once, when he entered his home, he noticed his wife wearing a knotted object round her neck. He took it away and broke it. Then he remarked: 'The family of Abdullah has become so arrogant that they now associate with Allah those for whom He has sent down no authority.' I have heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) saying: 'Verily, incantations, amulets, and love charms are acts of shirk (associating false gods with Allah).' The people said: 'O Abu Abdullah! We are familiar with incantations and amulets, but what is a love charm (altawlah)'?' He replied: 'It is a sort of magical formula by which women sought to gain their husbands' love'."

Related by Al-Hakim and Ibn Hibban.

Imran ibn Hasin reports that the Messenger of Allah (saws) saw a man wearing a bracelet of copper on his arm. The Prophet (saws) exclaimed to him: 'Woe be to you!' What is this? ' The man replied: 'I am suffering from weakness (al-wahinah).' (Al-wahinah is a disease that causes pain in the shoulders and hands. The man was wearing a copper bracelet believing it would relieve his pain and suffering). The Prophet (saws) prohibited him from wearing it because he regarded it as an amulet. The Prophet (saws) said: 'It will give you nothing but pain. Throw it away. Had you died while wearing it, you would never have achieved salvation'." Narrated by Ahmad.

Your Statement: And if I prove you wrong for the sake of Allah and His Messenger sws I will do so only to expose your sect and its devious beliefs. What say you then. Do we have a challenge? 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 49 Surah Hujuraat verse 10: The believers are but a single Brotherhood: So make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers: And fear Allah that ye may receive Mercy.

My beloved brother in the deen of Al-Islam, the ‘challenge’ that you invite us unto seems like a conflict; and it would not behove two believers united in the love and worship of their One Lord to enter into a conflict.

But if you do sincerely believe that our understanding of the Quran and Sunnah is indeed incorrect, then we would expect that our brother muslim who has more knowledge and understanding of the deen of Islam, would help us and guide us to the Truth.

Our humble understanding in light of the above various Aayahs of the Glorious Quran and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) is that the wearing of the ‘taaweedh’ or amulet at best, is a ‘bidah’ or innovation in the deen, and at worst, a manifestation of the abomination of ‘shirk’!!! In our humble search for the Truth in the Quran and Sunnah, we have been unable to find a single ‘daleel’ or evidence whereby the Messenger of Allah (saws) or his noble companions ever endorsed the wearing of the ‘taaweedh’ or amulet anywhere on their bodies, whether engraved with the Blessed Names of Allah Subhanah or otherwise.

If you could guide us to the contrary with evidence from the Quran and Sunnah regarding the wearing of a ‘taaweedh’ or amulet, regardless of what the contents of the ‘taaweedh’ are; we would indeed appreciate your help in guiding us in search for the Truth.

Our one and only intention is that we search, study, and follow the Truth from the Quran and Sunnah, and avoid all acts and deeds in religion which are not endorsed by Allah and His Messenger (saws). May Allah Subhanah reward you appropriately for your sincere efforts in helping your brothers in faith to increase their knowledge of the Truth of Al-Islam from the Quran and the Sunnah.

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

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan