Siraj-ul-Absar (English) - Khalifatullah Mehdi (AHS)

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The meaning of Bid’at
He [Muttaqi] says: When the matter pertaining to the bid’at [innovation] of these people is
under discussion, I felt it appropriate to explain the meaning and kinds of bid’at, so that it
becomes known what kind of bid’at these people [the Mahdavis] indulge in. In shari’at, all
those things which were not present during the period of the Messenger of Allah SLM and were
introduced later are termed as bid’at. They are of two kinds: hasana [good] and qabiha [bad].
Hence, Sheikh Imam, whose imamate is universally accepted and whose title is Sultan-al-
Ulama Abu Muhammad Abdul Aziz bin Abdus Salam has written at the end of his book,
Qavaid-al-Aqaid, that the kinds of bid’at are: Wajibat [obligation], muharramat [forbidden],
mandubat [recommended] and makroohat [disapproved things though not unlawful] and
mubahat [permissible].
And he has given the procedure for segregating as follows: The bid’at should be juxtaposed
with Shari'at laws; if it falls under the rules of wajoob [obligation], it is wajibah [obligatory].
If it falls under the rules of tahrim [forbidden], it is muhramah [forbidden]. If it comes under
the rules of mandubat [recommended], it is mandoobah [recommended]. If it comes under
the rules of makroohah, it is makroohah [disapproved but not unlawful]. And finally, if it
comes under the rules of mubah [permissible], it is mubahah [permissible].
There are many examples of the bid’at-e-wajibah [obligatory]. One among them is the
learning of the science of nah’v [syntax]. This is obligatory because the protection of Shari'at
is obligatory; and this protects Shari'at. And the thing that helps complete the obligation, it is
obligatory. And among them are the ghara’ib [rarities] of the Quran and the Sunnat. It also
includes the compilation of the principles of Fiqh; criticism and cross-checking and the
issues of the correct performance of various actions in ritual prayers; the discussion of the
sahih [correct] and saqim [faulty]. Further, the rules of the Shari’at prove that the protections
in matters that exceed the fixed things in Shari'at are a farz-e-kifayah. 18
There are many examples of the bid’at-e-muhramah [forbidden]. Among them are the
religions or the schools of thought of the Qadriyah, Jabriyah, Marjiyah and Mujassimah
sects. To contradict the religions of these sects is bid’at-e-wajibah [obligatory].
There are many examples of the bid’at-e-mandoobah [recommended], like the construction
of the caravan, serai and schools. In the earlier times these things were not seen as being
constructed. And among the many bid’aat-e-mandoobah are the performance of the taravih
[special night prayers in the month of Ramazan] and discussing the minute details of the
tasawwuf [mysticism] and talking about the jadal [contentions and fighting], etc. Among
them are also the issues of convening the Majalis-e-Mujadilah [congregations for arguing
various issues], provided the objective of these congregations is to invoke the pleasure of
Allah Most High.
The examples of Bid’at-e-Makroohah are the decoration of the mosques, beautification of the
Holy Quran, and others.
Some of the examples of the bid’at-e-Mubahah are the shaking of hands by the musallis
[performers of daily ritual prayers] after the pre-dawn and Asr prayers, eating of tasty meals,
drinking of beverages, wearing of good dresses and residences, wrapping shawls and chadors
and garments with loose sleeves, etc. Some of the ulama have disapproved some of these
things that they are the bidaat-e-makroohah. Some others hold that these are the Sunnats that
18 Farz-e-Kifayah is a general obligation, whose performance by an adequate number absolves all; adequate
obligation.