Innovation (Bid'ah) in Islam
This page looks at religious innovations – practices invented by people and then attached to Islam – using only the Qur'an as the standard. The goal is not to attack people, but to separate Allah’s revealed deen from culture and stories.
Qur'an: Religion Belongs Only to Allah
The Qur'an repeats that judgement and legislation in the religion belong
to Allah alone. People are warned not to follow forefathers blindly, not
to invent rules and rituals and then say “this is from Allah”, and not
to mix truth with falsehood.
Key principles:
- Do not follow what you have no knowledge of (Qur'an 17:36).
- Do not say about Allah what you do not know (Qur'an 2:169).
- Do not follow forefathers blindly when the truth from Allah has come (Qur'an 2:170).
- Do not ascribe partners or “equals” to Allah in love, fear, or obedience (Qur'an 2:165).
- The religion is completed; no one can “improve” it (Qur'an 5:3).
1. What Is an Innovation (Bid'ah)?
In this site we use the word innovation (bid'ah) to mean:
Typical signs of an innovation:
- It is tied to Islam, but has no Qur’anic basis.
- It often comes from cultural or other religious traditions.
- People are told “you must do this” to be a good Muslim.
- Questioning it is treated as disrespect to scholars, imams, or ancestors.
The Qur'an describes people who “write the book with their hands and say ‘this is from Allah’ to gain a small price” (Qur'an 2:79). Any time we attach a human invention to Allah’s name, we risk falling into this warning.
2. Why Do Innovations Spread?
Many Muslims today inherited Islam mixed with:
- Cultural customs from their region (e.g., South Asian, African, Arab, Turkish, etc.).
- Imitation of other religions (Christian 40 days mourning, Hindu birth rituals, etc.).
- Stories and sayings attributed to the Prophet or scholars that cannot be verified by Qur'an and sound reason.
3. Examples Covered on This Site
Below are some specific innovations which are given their own pages on this website. Each one is measured by the Qur'an, not by sect, scholar, or culture:
40 Days of Mourning
A fixed “40 days” ritual after death is not commanded in the Qur'an. It has roots in Christian and cultural mourning customs, but was imported into Muslim societies and dressed with Islamic language.
Salami / Standing for Salami
Standing, singing, and exaggerating praise, often as if the Prophet is present or listening, turns respect into something close to worship. The Qur'an teaches us to send blessings (salat) on the Prophet, but never to treat him like a living saint or semi-god after his death.
Hindu Birth Rites Used by Muslims
Practices like shaving a baby’s head and burying the hair or umbilical cord in a symbolic way come from Hindu traditions in some regions, not from the Qur'an. When Muslims copy these rites and give them religious meaning, this is innovation.
4. How the Qur'an Corrects These Ideas
While the Qur'an does not mention “40 days” ceremonies, “Salami”, or “Hindu birth rites” by name, it gives general rules that cover them:
- Do not mix truth with falsehood, and do not hide the truth when you know it (Qur'an 2:42).
- Do not take rabbis, monks, scholars, or imams as lords besides Allah in obedience (Qur'an 9:31 – in meaning).
- Do not split into sects in the religion, each group pleased with its own (Qur'an 30:32).
- Follow what has been sent down from your Lord, and do not follow protectors besides Him (Qur'an 7:3).
5. Responsibility of Scholars, Imams, and Parents
The Qur'an warns especially those who have knowledge – scholars, imams, teachers, parents – not to:
- Hide verses that expose innovations.
- Defend a practice just because their sect follows it.
- Use fear, shame, or group pressure to silence honest questions.
On this site we will, by Allah’s permission, highlight how groups such as Shafi', Tablighi, Deobandi, Barelvi, Salafi, “Sufi” orders, and others sometimes defend innovations from culture or sect identity, instead of returning to the clear Qur'an. The goal is not to mock any group, but to remind all of us that the only safe standard on the Day of Judgement is Allah’s Book.