Class 3
BIDAH HASANAH
By now, we understand:
What bid‘ah is
How to recognise it
Why sincerity alone is not enough
But there is still one major doubt that troubles Muslims around: “Isn’t there such a thing as good bid‘ah?”
This class is dedicated entirely to answering that question— calmly, clearly, and with evidence, not emotion.
The Foundational Statement We Must Begin With
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Every newly invented matter is a bid‘ah, every bid‘ah is misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Fire.” (Abu Dawood & Tirmidhi)
This statement is:
Clear
Universal
Comprehensive
The word used is “kullu” (every) — without exception.
Why This Statement Cannot Be Reinterpreted
The one who said this was:
The most eloquent of mankind
The most sincere towards this Ummah
The most knowledgeable about Allah’s religion
So when the Prophet ﷺ said: “Every bid‘ah leads astray”
He ﷺ:
Knew exactly what he was saying.
Intended exactly what his words conveyed.
Left no room for hidden exceptions.
Therefore, claiming that there is good bid‘ah creates a contradiction that cannot be reconciled with his statement.
Two possibilities of “Good Bid‘ah”
Let us be fair and logical. When someone says “this is a good bid‘ah”, one of only two things must be true:
1. It is not actually bid‘ah
They call it bid‘ah, but in reality:
It has a basis in the Sunnah
Or it is a revival of a forgotten practice
2. It really is bid‘ah
And therefore:
It is misguidance
Even if the person does not realise its harm
There is no third option. Because the Prophet ﷺ already ruled: “Every bid‘ah leads astray.”
The Prophet’s Statement: A Clear Criterion
This statement of the Prophet ﷺ is like a sharp sword. Whenever someone claims: “This innovation is good” We ask: Does this contradict ‘every bid‘ah leads astray’ — or not?
This principle:
Was forged in Prophethood.
Was given for the protection of the Ummah.
Removes confusion decisively.
With this criterion, a believer is never left helpless.
What About ‘Umar’s Statement: “What a Good Bid‘ah This Is”?
At this point, a doubt naturally arises. ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab R.A. said regarding congregational Tarawih prayers in Ramadan: “What a good bid‘ah this is.”
So does this mean: There is good bid‘ah? Let us answer this carefully, from two angles.
First Principle: No One Overrides the Prophet ﷺ
No one’s statement—no matter how great—can override the words of the Messenger ﷺ.
Allah says: “Let those who oppose the Messenger’s command beware lest a trial befall them or a painful punishment.” (24:63)
The Salaf were extremely strict on this point. So whatever ‘Umar meant must agree with the Prophet ﷺ — not contradict him.
Second Principle: What ‘Umar Meant by “Bid‘ah”
We know with certainty that:
‘Umar was one of the strongest in following the Sunnah
He never introduced new worship
He never crossed Allah’s limits
And so He used the word bid‘ah linguistically, not religiously.
Here is the key:
The Prophet ﷺ already prayed Taraweeh in congregation.
He stopped only out of fear it would become obligatory.
After his death, that fear no longer existed.
So when ‘Umar gathered people behind one imam, he was:
Reviving a Sunnah.
Organising what already existed.
Not inventing new worship.
Thus, it was new in form but sunnah in origin
He Umar R.A.’s statement cannot be used to justify innovations because:
The act already existed in the Sunnah.
The Prophet ﷺ himself practiced it.
‘Umar only restored it.
What About “Modern Innovations”?
Some people say: “What about schools, books, institutions — weren’t these innovations?”
The answer is simple:
These are not acts of worship
They are means, not goals
Islam differentiates between:
Ends (acts of worship)
Means (tools to serve worship)
The Rule of Means
Means take the ruling of their goal:
A means to obedience → permissible or rewarded
A means to sin → forbidden
A means that leads to harm → prohibited
So:
Schools teaching Shari‘ah → good
Books preserving knowledge → good
Tools that help Sunnah → good
None of these are bid‘ah in worship.
What About the Hadith: “Whoever Introduces a Good Sunnah…”?
Another common confusion. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever introduces a good Sunnah into Islam will have its reward and the reward of those who act upon it.” (Sahih Muslim)
Does this contradict: “Every bid‘ah leads astray”?
Impossible! Because:
Truth does not contradict truth
The Prophet ﷺ does not contradict himself.
The Arabic is سُنَّةً حَسَنَةً (good Sunnah) but many people translate it to Good action implying introducing any good deed. The word is Good Sunnah and not Good action/deed.
What Does “Introduce a Sunnah” Mean Here?
It does not mean:
Creating new worship.
Legislating religion.
It means:
Reviving.
Implementing.
Being the first to act upon an existing Sunnah.
Reminding others to follow the Sunnah.
The Context Explains Everything
There is even a second reply that can be given: That is the background of the whole hadith, for it is a story concerning the tribe that came to see the Prophet ﷺ while being in exceptionally difficult circumstances. So the Prophet ﷺ urged that donations be given to them, and hence one man form the Ansaar came forward with a bag of silver in his hand which was almost too heavy for him to carry. He placed it down before the Messenger ﷺ. This made the face of the Prophet ﷺ glow with joy and happiness and so he ﷺ said, "Whoever enacts a good sunnnah into Islaam will have the reward of it and the reward of oil those who act upon it until the Day of Resurrection." So we have here that the meaning of " ... enacting a sunnah ..." means to enact an action in the sense of implementing it and not in the sense of setting up a new thing into the sharee'ah. Hence the meaning of his ﷺ saying, "Whoever enacts a good sunnah into Islaam ..." turns out to be, 'Whoever acts upon a good sunnah in the sense of implementing it as opposed to introducing a new thing in the sharee'ah,' for that would be prohibited as he ﷺ said, "... every bid'ah leads astray."
To summarise the hadith:
Poor people came to the Prophet ﷺ.
He encouraged charity. (A Sunnah)
One companion gave generously. (A Sunnah)
Others followed.
So the Prophet ﷺ praised:
Starting a Sunnah action
Not inventing a new one
So we conclude with clarity:
There is no Bidah Husna in Islam, and the Sunnah Husna is that which is in agreement with the Sharee'ah and this includes that one may initiate a Sunnah, which means that one starts practicing the Sunnah (before others and others follow him), or he revives it after it has been forgotten, or he does something that may become a means for a legislated command.
There is no bid‘ah hasanah in Islam.
There is Sunnah.
Reviving Sunnah is rewarded.
Inventing worship is rejected.
TIPS OF TEST
Do not have to memorise the ayahs or hadeeths word for word and their references, but remember their meanings and the msg being given.
Remember the concepts, simple questions will be asked about the concepts explained.
ASSIGNMENT
There will be an Assignment Question asked in the Test. Marks will be given based on the following: -
Invite atleast 15 people to the course (can invite via WhatsApp, Facebook, Email, telegram or word of mouth) 4 Marks. (check the note below for exceptions)
Note:
Those who have already invited whether on Whatsapp, Email or FB, do not need to invite again.
It does not matter, whether people join or not, our job is to invite.
2..Talk about any 3 topics/bidahs/Sunnahs covered in this week’s classes with atleast 3 people. 5 Marks.
3. Pray for the Ummah, pray for the ease of all the poor & oppressed Muslims and pray that Allah make us all strong in imaan and give us the hidayah to work for the aakhirah and to help each other. - 1 Mark
JOIN FOR FREE VIA
FACEBOOK | EMAIL | WHATSAPP | TELEGRAM
Pls read our FAQs to get the details and to know how we go about things if U have any further Qs pls feel free to ask...
FAQs: - https://learn-islam.org/faqs-short-courses
Happy Learning... JazakAllah Khair...
As Salam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullaahi Wa Barakaatuh :)
SUPPORT LEARN ISLAM
Alhamdulillah we have been providing free courses on LEARN ISLAM for over 15years now. We now have employees working in our organisation and need support to fulfil commitments and accomplish goals/projects.
Support LEARN ISLAM in continuing to provide free courses on
Quran & Tajweed.
Various Islamic Topics.
Parenting.
Worldly Skills (like Designing, Excel Sheets etc).
Free Matrimonial Services.
More Projects coming up InShaAllah.