Quran and Sunnah: An Nawawi 5

On the authority of the mother of the faithful, Aisha (radiyallahu anhu), who said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “He who innovates something in this matter of ours (i.e., Islam) that is not of it will have it rejected (by Allah).” Bukhari and Muslim

Another version in Muslim reads: “He who does an act which we have not commanded, will have it rejected (by Allah).”

This statement is succinct yet weighty, it underscores the importance of adhering strictly to the teachings of Islam as conveyed to us through the Quran and the Sunnah. Islam is a complete and perfected way of life, and any attempt to introduce innovations is met with the rejection of Allah the Almighty. The Prophet SAW uses the term "innovates," referring to bid'ah, which signifies introducing new practices or beliefs into the religion that were not present during the time of the Prophet SAW and his companions. This is a stark reminder that our faith is not subject to personal whims or trends. Acts of worship are not to be acted upon unless there is evidence through Quran and sunnah

To emphasize this principle, we find clear ayahs in the Quran itself. Allah declares in Surah Maidah (5:3): “This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.” The perfection of Islam means that there is no need for additions or alterations. Any attempt to innovate or deviate is a rejection of this divine completion and perfection.

The Prophet SAW said “every newly invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is a misguidance”, collected by Muslim from the Hadith of Jabir, Ibn Abbass, Ibn Masud, Imam Ahmad in his Musnad, Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi in their Sunan, Ibn Majah. As believers, we are entrusted with the responsibility of preserving the authenticity of our faith. Imam Al-Nawawi, in his wisdom, presented another narration of the Hadith with similar wordings, emphasizing that those who follow the path of innovation are also in error. The degree of their blameworthiness rests upon their knowledge, a matter only Allah can judge

In acts of devotion the deeds will be accepted with two conditions: to give sincerity to Allah in it, follow the Messenger SAW on it. If you come with innovated acts of worship and not from the shariah it is rejected innovation and won’t be accepted. Imagine the severity of this, the Lord of all Lords, your Saviour, Your Rabb will invalidate your deeds and nullify your efforts if you introduce innovations into this perfect.

The Prophet SAW said in his last sermon “I leave behind me two things, the Quran and the Sunnah (Hadith), and if you follow these you will never go astray. All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listened to me directly. Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people." - [Al-Bukhari, Hadith 1623, 1626, 6361), Sahih of Imam Muslim refers to this sermon in Hadith number 98, Imam al-Tirmidhi has mentioned this sermon in Hadith nos. 1628, 2046, 2085, Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal has given us the longest version of this sermon in his Masnud, Hadith no. 19774.] This serves as a reminder that sincerity alone is not enough; adherence to the authentic teachings of Islam from the Quran and Sunnah is paramount.

As we strive to follow the Quran and Sunnah, remember that this religion is comprehensive. If it had been good for us, the Prophet SAW and his companions would have been the first to do it. if you come across something which they haven’t done, and it falls under the category of an innovation, then stay away from it and stick to what they used to do.

Benefits and action points:

• Follow the Quran and Sunnah strictly

• Seek knowledge about the foundations of Islam:read the Quran, study the Hadith, attend lectures

• Reflect on your practices and beliefs to ensure they align with the Quran and Sunnah. Identify any potential innovations and rectify them with sincere repentance.

• Share your knowledge with those around you

• Continuously assess your intentions in acts of worship. Ensure that your deeds are solely for the sake of Allah and not driven by personal desires or societal trends.