The Devils Deception by Imam Ibn AL-Jawzi

T H E D EVI L ' S
D E C E P T I O N S
innovators is more beloved to me than worshiping for sixty
years.'49
Section One:
What are the Definitions of Sunnah and Bir/ah?
If someone comments: you have praised the Sunnah and condemned
bid'ah, so what are the definitions of Sunnah and bid'ah? Wesee those
whom we claim to be innovators claim to be people of Sunnah.
Afy response would be: The linguistic meaning of Sunnah is 'the path'.
No doubt that those who specialise in compiling narrations (of the
Prophet (j5) and the righteous predecessors) and following the traditions
of Allah's Messenger and his Companions are the people of
Sunnah (Ahlu'l-Sunnah). This is because they adhere to the doctrine
that was free from things newly invented, and innovations were only
introduced after (the death) of Allah's Messenger (j5) and his Compamons.
Bid'ah, on the other hand, is defined as a practice that was not
originally there, but later innovated (i.e. has no origin in Sharfah).
Bid' ah mostly contradicts Sharfah because they imply that it is deficient
and is in need of addition or subtraction.
If something was innovated without contradicting Sharfah, and
did not imply its deficiency, then still most of the righteous predecessors
(Sala/) disliked it. Th used to turn away from every innovation
even if it was (deemed) permissible. This is to ensure compliance with the rule of
adherence (to the Sunnah and not to innovated matters).
When Abu Bakr and