A study of Bid’ah and related principles [5 Lessons]

A four part series of lessons in which the definitions, categorisations, rulings, principles and doubts and matters relating to Bid’ah (religious innovations) are studied.

Lesson One: Download Lesson 1

In this lesson you will learn:

• The linguistic and Islamic definition of Bid’ah;
• The difference between worldly and religious innovations;
• When does a Bid’ah take a person out of the fold of Islam;
• What is the difference between an absolute Bid’ah and a relative Bid’ah;
• Understanding the statement of Umar: “How good a Bid’ah this action is…”;
• When not doing an action is also considered to be a Bid’ah;
• Are the dots and vowels in the Qur’an considered to be innovations?

Lesson Two:  Download Lesson 2

In this lesson you will learn:

• Why Bid’ah is more severe than personal sins;
• Can we categorise Bid’ah into good and bad?
• Six characteristics of an action to be fulfilled, otherwise it is a Bid’ah;
• The famous narration of Imaam Malik regarding innovating actions with a good intention.

Lesson Three:  Download Lesson 3

In this lesson you will learn:

• Ayaat, Ahaadeeth and statements of the Salaf regardng Bid’ah;
• The difference between Masaalih Mursalah (considerations of public interest) and Bid’ah;
• The story of how, when and why the Islamic Hijri year was introduced – and why it is not a Bid’ah;
• Separate rooms for women, minarets, Mihraab and lines for prayer rows – are such actions Bid’ah?
• Is everybody who does a Bid’ah labelled as a Mubtadi’ (innovator);
• Statements of Ibn Taymiyyah, al-Albaani, Ibn Uthaymeen regarding the label Mubtadi’;
• A mention of An-Nawawi and Ibn Hajr;
• The incorrect Manhaj of forcing people to adopt a stance based upon the ijtihaad of a particular scholar.

Lesson Four:  Download Lesson 4

In this lesson you will learn:

• Guidelines and principles in expelling a person from the fold of Ahlus Sunnah;
• When is a Sunni excused for a mistake, and when is he judged to be from Ahl Al-Bid’ah;
• The principle of Ahlus Sunnah: Self rectification precedes rectification of others.

Lesson Five [Last Lesson]: Download Lesson 5

In this lesson you will learn:

• Guidelines and principles in boycotting the people of innovations and disobedience.
• The wisdom of the Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) in why he boycotted some people and kept relations with others.
• The obligation of loving and hating for the sake of Allah.
• A comprehensive clarification by Shaykh Ibn Baz regarding boycotting the people of innovation.