People wrote about this when the innovation occurred. Among those who wrote about it was Abu al-Abbas Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him), Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, who discussed it in Iqtida’ al-Sirat al-Mustaqim. He clarified that it is an innovation (bid’ah), and that people practicing it or claiming love for the Messenger does not make it a Sunnah nor justify it.
Indeed, love for the Messenger ﷺ is not shown through innovations; love for the Messenger is demonstrated by following him, walking upon his path, magnifying his commands and prohibitions, calling to his Sunnah, and refuting those who deny it. This is how love for the Messenger ﷺ is manifested, just as love for Allah is shown by following the Messenger ﷺ—not through grand, empty claims. Glorified be He, He says: “Say (O Muhammad ﷺ to mankind): “If you (really) love Allah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Quran and the Sunnah), Allah will love you…“ [Aal ‘Imran: 31].
Therefore, whoever claims to love Allah and His Messenger must worship Allah alone, and must honor the Messenger ﷺ by following his Shariah, magnifying his commands and prohibitions, rushing to what he ordered, staying away from what he forbade, and halting at his boundaries. This is love—this is true love.
As for innovations and sins, no. Innovation is a sin greater than major sins. The scholars state: Innovation is greater than major sins, and it ranks right after Shirk (polytheism). The greatest of sins is Shirk, then innovation, followed by major sins such as fornication, theft, and the like, and then minor sins.
Thus, the ranks of prohibited matters are four:
- Shirk with Allah, which is the greatest sin.
- Innovation, which follows it because it is more beloved to Satan than ordinary sin; this is because the one who commits it does not repent from it, believing it to be the truth and guidance. Meanwhile, the sinner may repent, stop, and realize their wrong. For this reason, Satan calls to innovation and cares about it more, because it is an addition to the religion, and because its practitioners do not repent—seeking refuge in Allah, they believe they are upon the truth.
- Major sins.
- Minor sins.
Therefore, it is incumbent upon the people of knowledge, faith, and Islam to be wary of all innovations, just as the Prophet ﷺ said: “Beware of newly invented matters.”* He ﷺ also said: “Whoever introduces into this matter of ours”—meaning Islam—*“that which is not from it, then it is rejected,” meaning it is rejected back upon the one who introduced it.
When the Jews and the Christians introduced innovations into their religion, they lost their religion, it became confused for them, and they neglected the Torah and the Gospel. Eventually, this led them to disbelieve in Muhammad ﷺ and deny his religion. The Jews disbelieved in Jesus and denied him, and then made their claims that Ezra is the son of Allah. They altered and changed the Torah, and many of them disobeyed their Prophet Moses (peace and blessings be upon him).
The point is that innovations and alterations lead to great corruption, the fragmentation of religion, casting the Book behind one’s back, and the division of people into numerous factions upon falsehood. And there is no power nor might except with Allah.
Then, Al-Shatibi (may Allah have mercy on him), after Shaykh al-Islam, drew attention to this innovation, condemned it, clarified it, and stated that it is among the newly invented innovations which must be denounced and guarded against. Others besides them also wrote about this.
Among those who wrote about it was our grand teacher, the prominent scholar Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him). He wrote a treatise refuting those who deemed this innovation good, explaining the reasons for its invalidity, stating that it is something invented by people, and that abandoning it is mandatory.
Years ago, I also wrote a short treatise on this subject, which used to be printed year after year around this time. Later, I incorporated into it some other writings regarding innovations, and it was published under the title Al-Tahdhir min al-Bida’ (Warning Against Innovations). It is distributed by the book warehouse here in Riyadh to make the truth clear to those who seek it concerning:
- The innovation of the Mawlid (Prophet’s birthday).
- The innovation of celebrating the night of Al-Isra’ wal-Mi’raj.
- The innovation of celebrating the middle night of Sha’ban.
It also contains a refutation of the fabricated testament (will) alleged by the custodian of the Prophet’s Chamber, who claims that certain events will happen, that he saw the Prophet, and that the Prophet said and advised him regarding various things. We clarified in it that this testament is false, that the one who fabricated it is a liar, and that it has no truth or validity whatsoever. It is distributed among people in Riyadh and elsewhere.
The point is that, praise be to Allah, this is something previous scholars before us have known, and they clarified its ruling in the Shariah. The proof for this is what you have heard from the saying of the Prophet ﷺ: “Beware of newly invented matters,” his ﷺ saying: “Whoever does a deed that is not in accordance with our matter, it is rejected,” and his saying in the Friday sermon: “The worst of matters are newly invented ones, and every bid’ah (innovation) is a misguidance,” alongside other statements made by the Prophet ﷺ.
Furthermore, Allah says in His Mighty Book: “Or have they partners with Allah (false gods), who have instituted for them a religion which Allah has not allowed?” [Ash-Shura: 21]. Thus, He condemned those who legislate that which Allah has not permitted.
Glorified be He also says: “This day, I have perfected your religion for you…“ [Al-Ma’idah: 3]. Innovations imply that there is a deficiency in the religion which these innovations are meant to fix—and there is no power nor might except with Allah.
Allah the Glorified also says: “Then We have put you (O Muhammad ﷺ) on a plain way of (Our) commandment [like the one which We commanded Our Messengers before you (i.e. legal ways and laws of the Islamic Monotheism)]. So follow you that (Islamic Monotheism and its laws), and follow not the desires of those who know not. [Tafsir At-Tabari Vol. 25, Page 146].”[Al-Jathiyah: 18]. Allah informed His Prophet that he was upon a clear shariah and clear rulings, and He commanded him, peace and blessings be upon him, to adhere to and follow it, while warning him against following the desires of those who do not know. He said: Verily, they can avail you nothing against Allah (if He wants to punish you).” [Al-Jathiyah: 19].
Therefore, it is not permissible for the people of Islam to follow the desires of the ignorant, nor of those who introduce into the religion that which Allah has not permitted. The obligation is to follow the Mighty Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His trustworthy Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him.
A short time ago, it happened that someone affiliated with knowledge authored a book and mentioned in it the innovation of the Mawlid. This is the well-known Muhammad Alawi al-Maliki, who is known in Makkah al-Mukarramah. We contacted him and met with him—myself, His Eminence Shaykh Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Humayd (may Allah have mercy on him), and some other scholars. We met with him in Taif two years ago and advised him, directing him toward what is obligatory.
We told him: “You are responsible, and you are someone people look up to and attribute to the people of knowledge. Therefore, it is incumbent upon you to fear Allah, manifest the truth, and abandon this innovation along with other innovations he mentioned in his book Al-Zakha’ir al-Muhammadiyyah.” In that book, he mentioned things involving Shirk in addition to mere innovation. We clarified to him the invalidity of these matters, and he agreed, saying: “I ask Allah for forgiveness, and I will announce this, clarify it in the newspapers and on the radio, and retract what I have said of falsehood.”
Then—may Allah guide him—he persisted in it and did not announce anything, and we ask Allah to guide him.
Then, at the end of last year—[AH] 1402—he also wrote a treatise concerning the Mawlid, in which he favored the Mawlid, celebrated it, and called to it. This is also among the errors that newly emerged from him, may Allah guide him. Some of our brothers have refuted him; a refutation by our brother, the prominent scholar Shaykh Hammud ibn Abdullah al-Tuwayjiri, is currently being printed. I have read his refutation and wrote an endorsement on it correcting what he said, and it will be printed and published soon, in sha Allah.
Likewise, our brother, the prominent scholar Shaykh Abdullah ibn Husayn al-Mani’, one of the members of the Council of Senior Scholars, also refuted him in his latest book, clarifying his errors, subhat (doubtful arguments), and mistakes. It will also be printed and published soon, in sha Allah. There are other refutations as well, and we ask Allah success for everyone.
The point is that the obligation is to manifest the truth—this is the duty—and to condemn falsehood. Whoever persists in his falsehood must be restrained, and he must be prevented from spreading his falsehood, whether in the broadcasts, in the mosques, or anywhere else, until falsehood is crushed, truth stands firm, and the truth is supported.
Even if someone is attributed to knowledge, once his errors and mistakes become apparent, it is mandatory to prevent him and to put a stop to his actions, so that he does not spread innovations and evils that are impermissible to publish or display.
We ask Allah to grant guidance to us and to everyone who has fallen into falsehood. We ask Allah to guide us and them, and to return us to what is right.