SECOND REMINDER. Yaumul Ithnayn, 3rd day of Jumaadal Aakhir (19th February). MISCONCEPTION TO JUSTIFY RELIGIOUS INNOVATIONS (So called Bid'atul HASANA). Let's learn and share to others. BismilLahir Rahmaanir Raheem. Let's continue from the first reminder. The reason/context of the Hadeeth about good sunnah is well-known. When some needy people came to Allah’s Messenger (Sallalaahu Alaihi wa Sallam), he was grieved to see their state, and he ordered and encouraged Sadaqah (charity). One man from the Sahabah stood up and gave in charity a huge amount and the people followed him because he took the first step. Allah’s Messenger (Sallalaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said on this occasion, “He, who (Sanna) establishes/initiates a Sunnah Husna (good Sunnah) in Islam, he will have the reward of those who perform it after him until the Day of Judgment.” [Saheeh Muslim]. So, this man performed a Sunnah i.e., Sadaqah and helping the poor. Sadaqah is not a Bid'ah because it is ordered in the Qur’aan and the Sunnah. It is a Sunnah Husna (good sunnah). He who revives a Sunnah and acts upon it and enlightens it for the people until they follow him, he will have the reward equal to their rewards.” Shaikh Muhammad ibn Saleh al-Uthaimeen (rahimahullah) explained the issue in these words, “Bid'ah in Sharee’ah can be defined as, ‘worshiping Allah with that which is not legislated by Allah.’ If you wish, you can say, ‘worshiping Allah with that which Allah’s Messenger (Sallalaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) and Khulafa ar-Rashidoon were not upon.’ The first definition is deduced from the verse, “Or have they partners with Allah (false gods), who have instituted for them a religion which Allah has not allowed.” [Soorah ash-Shura (42: 21). The second definition is deduced from the Hadeeth, “Stick to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of my rightly guided Caliphs, cling to it firmly with your molar teeth. Beware of newly invented matters, for every new matter is an innovation and every innovation is misguidance.” [At-Tirmidhee (2676)] So, anyone who worships Allah with that which Allah did not legislate or with that which Allah’s Messenger (Sallalaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) or the Rightly Guided Caliphs were not upon then he has innovated regardless or whether that worship is linked to the Names and Attributes of Allah, His Orders or Sharee’ah. To be continued in Shaa ALLAH. May ALLAH keep guiding us all and protect us from any satanic influence. Aameen.