The Devils Deception by Imam Ibn AL-Jawzi

T H E D E VI L ' S
D E C E P T I O N S
ple had innovated. He disliked it, and elaborated on it.'52
53) Mul::iammad Ibn Zabban said: 'People of l::iadith visited Dhii'l­
Niin and asked him to talk to them about inspirations and
whispers. He replied: I do not discuss such things because
they are innovated. Ask me about something pertaining to
prayer or l::iadith. And Mul::iammad said: Dhii'l-Niin noticed
that I was wearing red leather socks. He said: take them off
my son as it is a form of attention seeking, Allah's Messenger
never wore such things, he only used to wear leather socks
that were black and plain.'53
Section Two:
[The Salaf used to Avoid All Bitf ah]
We have demonstrated that the Sakzf used to avoid all bid' ah, even
if they were not harmful in order to avoid innovating that which
was not (from the Sunnah). However, the Salaf did not see harm in
practicing some innovations that did not contradict Shari'ah, and
did not imply its deficiency. For example, it was reported that people
used to pray (tarawifl) individually, and sometimes a group of
people would pray behind someone who was praying by himsel£
Later on, 'Umar gathered them to pray behind Ubay Ibn Ka'b. When
he saw them doing this he said: 'What a good bid' ah this is. '54
Also, al-l:lasan said: 'Story telling is a bid' ah, but a good bid' ah. Many
brothers have benefited and many prayers were answered.'55
s z lbn a ' d in his Tabaqtit, 6/ 276.
s3 Abu Nu'aym in al-J:li!Jah, 9 /363.
s4 Bukhari, 4/ 250/1201.
ss
lbn Al-Jawzi in al-Qu11a1 wa'l-Mudhakkirin, 172/11.
52