What is bidʿah (innovation) in religion?

Bidʿah is inventing something in the religion — a belief, an act of worship, or a manner of worship — that has no basis in the Qur'ān, the Sunnah, or the practice of the Companions, while treating it as part of the dīn. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Whoever introduces into this affair of ours something that is not from it, it is rejected," and in his Friday sermons he would say, "The best of speech is the Book of Allah, the best guidance is the guidance of Muḥammad, and the worst of affairs are the newly invented ones, and every innovation is misguidance." The basis of this is that Allah declared the religion complete: "This day I have perfected for you your religion." This does not apply to worldly matters such as new tools, transport, or teaching methods, which are judged by benefit and harm, not by ritual precedent. Scholars warn against bidʿah firmly while not declaring individual Muslims to be disbelievers over it — correcting the act is not the same as condemning the person.

Ask your own question → All questions