Criteria for Distinguishing Sunnah and Bid’ah (Part 7)
In the Quran and Sunnah, numerous verses and hadiths have been narrated regarding the condemnation of Bid’ah, and the Companions and Tabi’in were warned against it. For example, we will briefly quote the following:
Holy Quran:
Al Imran: 7:
«هُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُّحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا اللَّهُ.» Translation: “He is the one who revealed the Book (Qur’an) to you. A part of it consists of clear verses (that have specific meanings and clear objectives); these are the foundation of the Book. The other part consists of verses that are metaphorical (and they have precise meanings and various interpretations). Those who have crookedness in their hearts (who seek to deviate from the truth) follow the ambiguous parts, desiring discord and misinterpretation. Only God knows their true interpretation.”
Shatabi, may Allah have mercy on him, has quoted works indicating that this verse was revealed concerning those who argue with the Qur’an, specifically the Khawarij and their supporters.
An-Nahl: 9:
«وَعَلَى اللَّهِ قَصْدُ السَّبِيلِ وَمِنْهَا جَائِرٌ وَلَوْ شَاءَ لَهَدَاكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ.» Translation: “The guidance of people to the right path is the responsibility of Allah. (The path leads to goodness and truth; however, some paths are deviant and do not lead to truth.) Had Allah willed, He would have guided you all.”
The middle path is the correct one, while the diverging paths represent innovation and misguidance.
Al-An’am: 153:
«وَأَنَّ هَذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ ذَٰلِكُم وَصَّاكُم بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ.» Translation: “This path (which I have delineated for you) is my straight path; follow it and do not follow other paths that will diverge you from the way of Allah. This is what Allah advises you so that you may attain piety.”
The straight path is the divine path that Allah has outlined, which is the path of Sunnah. The other paths are those taken by people of division who have strayed from the right course and represent the ways of innovation. This verse encompasses all paths of heretics.
Ar-Rum: 31-32:
«وَلَا تَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ فَرَّقُوا دِينَهُمْ وَكَانُوا شِيَعًا كُلُّ حِزْبٍ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ فَرِحُونَ.» Translation: “And do not be of the polytheists, of those who have scattered and divided their religion into factions. Each faction is pleased with what it has.”
Al-An’am: 159:
«إِنَّ الَّذِينَ فَرَّقُوا دِينَهُمْ وَكَانُوا شِيَعًا لَسْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْعَلُونَ.» Translation: “Indeed, those who have divided their religion and become factions, you are not of them in any way. Their final judgment is with Allah, and He will inform them of what they used to do.”
These groups represent the fanatics, the misguided, and the heretics of this nation.
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