Avoiding
Bid’ah in Da’wah
By
Dr. Norlain Dindang Mababaya
Islâm both as a religion and as a way of life is not only complete but also applies to all generations, at all times, under any circumstance. In other words, it is the perfect religion for the whole mankind. Allâh the Exalted says:
“...This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islâm as your religion.” (Qur’ân 5:3)
Islâm as the perfect religion is one of the important concepts that we should know and at the same time convey to all. We do not, therefore, need to make bid’ah (innovation or fabrication) in our religion. The Prophetr stresses the importance of knowing and holding on to the Qur’ân and the Sunnah and at the same time warns us to avoid bid’ah. To reiterate:
Jabir Bin ‘Abdullah (r.a.) narrated that Allâh’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said, “The best speech is that embodied in the Book of Allâh, and the best guidance is the guidance given by Muhammad. The most evil affairs are their innovations; and every innovation is an error.” (Muslim1885 and Ibn Majah 1/45)
‘Aishah
(r.a.) narrated that Allâh’s
Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “Whoso introduces any thing new to this affairs of ours (i.e., religion) which does not form a part of it, it is invalid.” (Bukhâri
3/861 and Ibn Majah 1/14)
Hasan Bin Attiyah
(r.a.)
narrated that Allâh’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “No one ever made an innovation in their religion but Allâh withdrew
the equal portion from their Sunnah and He would not restore it to them till the
Day of Resurrection.” (Tirmidhi
188)
Yahya Bin Abu Muta
(r.a.)
said, “I heard Irbad Bin Sariya
(r.a.)
as saying, “One day Allâh’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
got up among us and delivered a profoundly effective sermon to us: the
hearts softened and eyes welled up with tears thereby.”
It was said: “Allâh’s Messenger, you have delivered to us a farewell
sermon. So enjoin upon us some
duty.” He remarked,
“God-consciousness (fear of Allâh), listening to (the commands of those at
the head of affairs) and the compliance (thereof) are obligatory duties for you,
even if he (the ruler) be an Abyssinian slave.
Very soon, you would see tremendous controversy after me.
At that juncture, it is incumbent upon you to adhere strictly to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the
rightly guided caliphs.
Hold fast that with teeth and pursue not the affairs of innovation for
every innovation is straying from the Right Path.”
(Ibn Majah 1/42, Abu Dawud 4950, and Tirmidhi)
Ghudhayf Bin al Harith al
Thumali
(r.a.)
narrated that Allâh’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “Never did a people make an innovation (in religion) there was withdrawn
from them the equal measure of Sunnah. Adhering to Sunnah is better than making
innovations.” (Tirmidhi
187 and Ahmad)
As much as possible, we must refrain from committing Bid'ah. Innovation in religion, which includes the manner of conveying Islâm to others contrary to the Qur’ân and the Sunnah must be avoided. Let us always be guided with the Qur’ânic injunction to obey Allâhand His Messenger (s.a.w.s.) by adhering to the Qur’ân and the Sunnah. We must take admonitions from the following Qur’ânic injunctions:
“But no, by your Rabb
(Sustainer), they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad) judge in
all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your
decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.” (Qur’ân
4:65)
"...And whosoever does not
judge in accordance with what Allâh has revealed, such are the kafiroon
(disbelievers).” (Qur’ân
5:44)
"...And whosoever does not judge in accordance with what Allâh has revealed, such are the dhalimoon (wrongdoers).” (Qur’ân 5:45)
"...And
whosoever does not judge in accordance with what Allâh has revealed,(then) such
are the fasiqoon (the rebellious) to Allâh.” (Qur’ân
5:47)
"It is not for a believer, man or woman when Allâh and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allâh and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed into a plain error." (Qur’ân 33:36)
“O you who believe! Obey Allâh,
and obey the Messenger (Muhammad) and render not vain your deeds.” (Qur’ân
47:33)
In our Da'wah, we must refrain using any source outside authentic Islâmic sources. Let us not imitate those who do Da'wah by referring to the Bible or any part thereof. Let us remember that Prophet Muhammad r rebuked one of his closest companions for trying to refer to the Torah. We Du’ât must take lesson from the following Hâdîth:
Jabir Bin ‘Abdullah
(r.a.)
narrated that Umar Bin al-Khattab
(r.a.)
brought to Allâh’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
a copy of the Torah and
said: “Allâh’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.),
this is a copy of the Torah.” He (Allâh’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)) kept quiet and he (Umar
t)
began to read it. The (color) of the face of Allâh’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
underwent a change. Abu Bakr
(r.a.)
said, “Would that your mother
mourns you, don’t you see the face of Allâh’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)?”
Umar
(r.a.) saw the face of Allâh’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.) and said, “I seek refuge with Allâh from the wrath of Allâh and the
wrath of His Messenger
(s.a.w.s.).
We are well pleased with Allâh as Rabb, with Islâm as religion, and
with Muhammadr
as Prophet.” Whereupon Allâh’s
Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said: “By Him in Whose hand is the life of Muhammad, even if Moses were to
appear before you and you were to follow him, leaving me aside, you would
certainly stray into error. If
(Moses) were alive (now), and he found my prophethood, he would have definitely
followed me.” (Tirmidhi
194; Darimi and Mishkat, 1/20)
It
must be noted that according to the above narration Umar Bin al-Khattab
(r.a.)
merely “began to read the Torah”, yet the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.)
showed some kind of displeasure to him.
Umar
(r.a.)
did not get any guidance from the Torah nor quote any verse from it the
way some Du’ât and
even scholars in today’s generation give emphasis to some Biblical verses in
trying to convey Islâm. Umar
(r.a.)
invited the people through the Qur’ân and not with the Torah. Even after the
Messenger’s death, Umar
(r.a.) admonished the Muslims to stick
to the Qur’ân so they would be guided to the Right Path:
Anas Bin Malik
(r.a.) narrated that he heard 'Umar
(r.a.) speaking while standing on the pulpit of
the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.)
in the morning (following the death of the Prophetr),
when the people had sworn allegiance to Abu Bakr
t.
He said the Tashah-hud before Abu Bakr,
(r.a.) and said, “Amma Ba'ad
(then after) Allâh has chosen for his Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
what is with Him (Paradise) rather than what is with you (the world). This is
that Book (Qur’ân) with which Allâh guided your Messenger
(s.a.w.s.),
so stick to it, for then you will be guided on the right path as Allâh guided
His Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
with it.” (Bukhâri
9/374)
Caliph Umar (r.a.) was indeed pleased with Allâh as Rabb, with Islâm as religion, and with Muhammadr as Prophet. If we feel the same way as the Caliph t, which we must do as Du’ât, we must be contented with the Qur’ân and the Sunnah. We do not, therefore, need to refer to any other scripture such as the Torah or any part of the Bible as the Qur’ân is sufficient for us. It is the only Divine Book from Allâhthat has been preserved. It is a must that we study it and share it to people especially the non-Muslims. Unfortunately some Du’ât waste their time and effort in learning and memorizing verses in the Bible instead of devoting their time memorizing some Qur’ânic Surahs or Ayât. It must be noted that the Bible contains so many verses that lead one to commit shirk and blasphemy. An example of this is the word “Father”, which is associated to “God” according to Christians. If Du’ât try to quote Biblical verses containing the word “Father” in their attempt to prove that Prophet Jesus is not God or that God is greater than him, they somehow agree with the Christians who believe that the two words mean the same thing. If they continue to make use of the Bible, indirectly they are encouraging people to study and even memorize the Bible. This is never the Sunnah of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.). If those Du’ât continue to make use of the Bible in their Da’wah, they disobey Allâhand His Messenger (s.a.w.s.) by ignoring the following commandments:
“Say (O Muhammad): ‘This is
my Way; I do invite unto Allâh with a certain knowledge.
And whoever follows me (must also invite others to Allâh, Oneness of Allâh
with sure knowledge). Glory to Allâh! And
I am not of the polytheists.’” (12:
108)
Abdullah Bin ‘Amr
(r.a.) narrated that the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “Convey (my teachings) to the people even if it were a single Âyah
(verse)...” (Bukhâri
4/667)
We know very well that certain knowledge refers to the Qur’ân and the Sunnah/ authentic Ahâdîth. The Bible with all its contradictions, errors and sheer lies is never the certain knowledge being referred to in the said Qur’ânic verse (12:108). Likewise, the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) was referring to the Âyah (verse) of the Qur’ân and not to the Bible or any other source outside Islâm when he commanded us to convey his teaching.
Instead of inviting non-Muslims (the Christians) to Tawhîd using the Book of Allâh, the Du’ât who make use of the Bible appear to be insulting the Christians by telling them the numerous errors and contradictions in the Bible, which is never the Sunnah of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and his Companions. By talking about the errors in the Bible, instead of conveying Tawhîd and by insulting the Christians, they disregard the following Qur’ânic injunctions:
“Say: ‘O People of the Book! Come to what is common between us and you that we worship none but Allâh, that we associate nothing with Him, and that none of us shall take others as rabbs besides Allâh.’ If they reject our invitation, then tell them plainly, ‘Bear witness that we are Muslims.’” (Qur’ân 3:64)
“Invite (all) to the Way of your Rabb with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that
are best and most gracious: for your Rabb knows best, who have strayed from His
Path, and who receive guidance.” (Qur’ân
16:125)
“Say to My servants that they
should (only) say those things that are
best: for Satan does sow dissension among them: for Satan is to man an avowed
enemy.” (Qur’ân
17:53)
In general, sensitive Christians find some Muslims’ insults really hurting that they tend to be offensive. Some of them go to the extent of lying or fabricating lies to destroy Islâm. Consequently, too many reading materials have been written to falsify Islâm.
Another danger of using the Bible is for Du’ât to fall into the error of too much argumentation and debates. When this happens, they disobey Allâh and His Messenger (s.a.w.s.) who command us not to argue with the People of the Book, except those who do wrong:
“And do not argue with
the People of the Book (Jews and the Christians) unless it be in a way that is
better, save with such of them as do wrong. But say, ‘We believe in the
Revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you.
Our God and your God is One; and it is to Him we submit
(in Islâm).’”
(Qur’ân
29:46)
Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrated that the people of the Scripture used to read the Torah in Hebrew and explain it to the Muslims in Arabic. Then Allâh’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said, "Do not believe the people of the Scripture, and do not disbelieve them, but say, 'We believe in Allâh and whatever has been revealed to us...’” (Qur’ân 3:84 also see 2:136). (Bukhâri 9/632 and 6/12)
Abu Namlah al Ansari (r.a.) narrated that Allâh’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said, “Whatever the People of the Book tell you, do not verify them, nor falsify them, but say: ‘We believe in Allâh and His Messenger. If it is false, do not confirm it, and if it is right, do not falsify it.’” (Abu Dawud 3637)
One may ask: “How can we avoid argumentation and debate with the Christians?” The answer is plain and simple: by avoiding quotations from the Bible. Before we start our Da’wah, we should inform the Christians that we are going to explain to them Islâm based on authentic sources (the Qur’ân and the Sunnah). It is for their additional knowledge that they should listen to us. They can ask any relevant questions pertaining to Islâm. To facilitate learning and to make the discussion more meaningful, we can tell them that it is for their own benefit that they listen to the teachings of Allâh and His Messenger (s.a.w.s.) and while listening they should keep their knowledge of the Bible for themselves. If after the Da’wah session is over and they do not right away accept the Truth, then we can tell them to ponder over the veracity and incomparable supreme words of Allâh in the Qur’ân and the truthful wisdom of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.). We can invite them to sincerely believe in the absolute Oneness of Allâh (Tawhîd). This we can do by inspiring them of the Paradise that awaits them in the eternal world and warning them of the severe punishments in the Hell-Fire for those who deny Him as the Only True God who Alone deserves to be worshipped. Verily, the Qur’ân (and certainly not the Bible) gives enlightenment to the whole mankind on the rewards of believing in Tawhîd and the subsequent punishments for disbelieving the divine Message.
Time has come, therefore, that we adhere to the Qur’ân and the Sunnah in conveying Tawhîd. Let us study the revealed authentic sources of knowledge and refrain wasting our time memorizing and quoting Biblical verses in order to invite non-Muslims to the worship of Allâh, the Only True God. Let us not be deluded with those who claim that through the use of the Bible (i.e., citing its many errors and contradictions and the like) many Christians embraced Islâm. Let us remember that it is Allâh the Most Merciful Who guides people to Islâm (28:56). He gives guidance (Islâm) to whom He pleases (6:88). Let us further remember that the Prophet (s.a.w.s.), just like the previous prophets, and the rightly guided Caliphs and his Companions never made use of any part of the Bible in conveying Islâm to others. In fact, one of the Prophet’s Companions, Bin Abbas t, admonished the Muslims not to ask the People of the Book regarding their Scriptures (the Torah and the Bible) as they were distorted:
Ubaidullah Bin ‘Abdullah Bin Utbah (r.a.) narrated that Bin Abbas (r.a.) said, “O Muslims? How do you ask the people of the Scriptures, though your Book (i.e. the Qur’ân), which was revealed to His Prophetr, is the most recent information from Allâh and you recite it, the Book that has not been distorted? Allâh has revealed to you that the People of the Scriptures have changed with their own hands what was revealed to them and they have said (as regards their changed Scriptures): ‘This is from Allâh, in order to get some worldly benefit thereby.’” Bin Abbas (r.a.) added: “Isn’t the knowledge revealed to you sufficient to prevent you from asking them? By Allâhhave never seen any one of them asking (Muslims) about what has been revealed to you.” (Bukhâri 3/850)
As narrated in other Hâdîth, the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) stressed that we should always stick to the Qur’ân and the reported authentic Sunnah and the Sunnah of the four righteously guided Caliphs. We should, therefore, avoid any innovation pertaining to our perfect religion. The authentic Ahâdîth quoted above showed that it was never been the Sunnah of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) or any of his Companions to invite Christians through the Bible.
There is no single Hâdîth, which shows that the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) quoted the Gospel according to John, Luke, Mark and Matthew or any verse from the Bible in the same way as some Du’ât and Muslim scholars are quoting in their speeches, lectures and/or writings. Those who claim that the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) did make use of the Bible must remember that the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) referred to the Torah (the Old Testament, not the whole Bible) not as a way to invite the Jews to Islâm. But he mentioned the word Torah in order to guide the Jews to implement a law that is in line with the Qur’ân as shown in the following Ahâdîth:
Abdullah bin Umar
(r.a.)
narrated that the Jews came to Allâh’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.) and told him that a man and a woman from amongst them had committed
illegal sexual intercourse. Allâh’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said to them, "What do you find in the Torah (old Testament) about the
legal punishment of Ar-Rajm (stoning)?" They replied, (But) we announce
their crime and lash them." Abdullah bin Salam said, "You are telling
a lie; Torah contains the order of Rajm.” They brought and opened the Torah
and one of them solaced his hand on the Verse of Rajm and read the verses
preceding and following it. Abdullah bin Salam said to him, "Lift your
hand.” When he lifted his hand, the Verse of Rajm was written there. They
said, "Muhammad has told the truth; the Torah has the Verse of Rajm. The
Prophetr
then gave the order that both of them should be stoned to death. ('Abdullah bin
'Umar said, "I saw the man leaning over the woman to shelter her from the
stones.”
(Bukhâri 4/829, 6/679 and 8/809)
Al-Bara’ ibn Azib (r.a.) narrated that there happened to pass by Allâh’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) a Jew blackened and lashed. Allâh’sMessenger (s.a.w.s.) called them (the Jews) and said: “Is this the punishment that you find in your Book (Torah) as a prescribed punishment for adultery?” They said: “Yes.” He (the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.)) called one of the scholars amongst them and said: “I ask you in the name of Allâh Who sent down the Torah to Moses if that is the prescribed punishment for adultery, which you find in your Book.” He said: “No. Had you not asked me in the name of Allâh, I should not have given you this information. We find stoning to death (as the punishment prescribed in the Torah). However, this (crime) became quite common amongst our aristocratic class. So when we caught hold of any rich person (indulging in this offence) we spared him, but when we caught hold of a helpless person we imposed the prescribed punishment upon him. We then said: ‘Let us agree (on a punishment), which we can inflict upon both the rich and the poor. So we decided to blacken the face with coal and flog as a substitute punishment for stoning.’” Thereupon Allâh’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said: “O Allâh, I am the first to revive Your command when they had cancelled it. He then gave the order and he (the offender) was stoned to death. Allâh, the Majestic and Glorious, sent down (this verse): "O Messenger, (the behavior of) those who vie with one another in denying the truth should not grieve you...” up to "is vouchsafed unto you, accept it” (7:41). It was said (by the Jews): “Go to Muhammad; if he commands you to blacken the face and award flogging (as punishment for adultery), then accept it, but if he gives the verdict of stoning, then avoid it.” It was (then) that Allâh, the Majestic and Great, sent down (these verses: "... And they who do not judge in accordance with what Allâh has revealed, are indeed deniers of the truth” (7:44). "And they who do not judge in accordance with what Allâh has revealed -- they, they indeed are the wrongdoers” (7:45). "And they who do not judge in accordance with what God has revealed--they are the iniquitous” (7:47). (All these verses) were revealed in connection with the nonbelievers.” (Muslim 4214)
(This is Ma'mar’s version which is more accurate.) Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrated that a man and a woman of the Jews committed fornication. Some of them said to the others: “Let us go to this Prophet, for he has been sent with an easy law. If he gives a judgment lighter than stoning, we shall accept it, and argue about it with Allâh, saying: ‘It is a judgment of one of your prophets.’” So they came to the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) who was sitting in the mosque among his companions. They said: “Abul Qasim, what do you think about a man and a woman who committed fornication?” He r did not speak to them a word till he went to their school. He stood at the gate and said: “I adjure you by Allâh Who revealed the Torah to Moses, what (punishment) do you find in the Torah for a person who commits fornication, if he is married?” They said: “He shall be blackened with charcoal, taken round a donkey among the people, and flogged.”
A young man among them kept silent. When the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) emphatically adjured him, he said: “By Allâh, since you have adjured us (we inform you that) we find stoning in the Torah (is the punishment for fornication).” The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: “So when did you lessen the severity of Allâh’s command?” He said: “A relative of one of our kings had committed fornication, but his stoning was suspended. Then a man of a family of common people committed fornication. He was to have been stoned, but his people intervened and said: ‘Our man shall not be stoned until you bring your man and stone him.’ So they made a compromise on this punishment between them.”
“So
I decide in accordance with what the Torah says.”
He
r then commanded regarding them and they were stoned to death.
Az-Zuhri said: “We have been informed that this verse was revealed
about them: ‘It was We Who revealed the Law (to Moses): therein was guidance
and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the Prophet who bowed
(as in Islâm) to Allâh’s will.
(Abu Dawud 4435)
Note, that the above Ahâdîth do not illustrate to us how the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) performed Da’wah or invited the Jews to Islâm. They simply explain how the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) guided the Jews to the Law of Allâh, which is found in the Torah. Since the particular verse in the Torah is authentic, as it does not contradict Allâh’s law in the Qur’ân, he advised them to abide with the Torah. In those instances the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) demonstrated to us the Qur’ânic injunction that we Muslims ought to believe in the books revealed to other Messengers, including that of Prophet Moses. Unfortunately, only the Qur’ân has been preserved in its purest form. Others were tampered by human beings. We must only believe those teachings that concur with the Qur’ân as the Qur’ân is the ultimate criterion for Truth and guidance (2:185, 3:3 and 25:1). Allâh has made the Qur’ân complete and perfect for the guidance of the whole humanity.
The Bible, especially the New Testament, has many erroneous teachings that run contrary to the Qur’ân and the Sunnah. Reading, studying and quoting them in our Da’wah do not at all benefit us. If we continue using them for our Da’wah, we will be encouraging people and the next generations to study it. If they do so, they will be wasting their precious time, which must be spent in reading and learning the Qur’ân and the Sunnah or the time to be spent for doing other forms of worship – all for the pleasure of Allâh the Almighty. It is for our guidance that we refrain using the Bible in our Da’wah. Our attitude as true believers must be to follow and obey what we hear (learn) from the Qur’ân and the Sunnah in order to attain ultimate success:
“The only saying of the
faithful believers, when they are called to Allâh and His Messenger to judge
between them is they say: ‘We hear and we obey.’
And such are the successful. And
whoever obeys Allâh and His Messenger, such are the successful.”
(Qur’ân
24:51-52)
“…O you who believe!
Fear Allâh and (always) say a word directed to the Right: that He may
make your conduct whole and sound and forgive you your sins. He that obeys Allâh
and His Messenger has already attained the highest Achievement.”
(Qur’ân
33:69-71)
When Allâh the Almighty commands
us to say a word directed to the Right it means nothing but the Right Religion,
Islâm (based on the Qur’ân and the authentic
Sunnah).
For those among us who have made use of the Bible in our Da’wah,
may Allâh the Most Forgiving forgive us.
May He protect us from committing any sort of bid’ah
in practicing and conveying Islâm to others and accept our Da'wah as a good
deed, worthy of His rewards. Ameen.
If
you are interested to learn how to be an effective writer and public speaker or
to know more about Islâm in order to attain success, click on
WISDOM.
/
Wisdom
Enrichment Foundation (WEFOUND)
http://www.wefound.org
“Our
Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer)! Accept
(this service) from us. Verily, You are the All-Hearing, the All Knowing.”
(Qur’ân 2:127)