Innovation in the religion is returned to its introducer.
Narrated by ʿĀʾishah (عائشة)
مَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِي أَمْرِنَا هَٰذَا مَا لَيْسَ مِنْهُ فَهُوَ رَدٌّ
"Whoever introduces into this matter of ours something that is not from it — it is rejected."
A foundational legal principle. The scholars derived from this that religious practice is restricted to what the Prophet ﷺ taught — one cannot invent new acts of worship and then claim they are praiseworthy. The hadith is a check on sincere but misguided piety.
Passages that draw on this hadith
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"Regarding the prophetic traditions, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, Marriage is my sunnah. Whoever turns away from my sunnah is not of me. He also said, Marriage is my sunnah. Whoever loves my nature should follow my sunnah."
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"These two forms of innovation are often intertwined, rarely separating from one another. As some have said, the innovation of beliefs marries the innovation of actions, and the couple becomes preoccupied with their union, only to be surprised by the illegitimate offspring wreaking havoc in the lands of الإِسْلَام, causing the servants and lands to cry out to اللّٰه."
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"Those others, however, must inevitably introduce innovations into the religion along with corruption in their deeds, so that the two evils meet in them. For following one's passion blinds the eye of the heart, so that it cannot distinguish the Sunna from innovation — or it inverts it, so that he sees innovation as Sunna and the Sunna as innovation."
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"The sitting of rest is not counted among the fundamentals of sunnah actions because it is like enhancing the posture from prostration to standing since it is not intended by itself. As for the sunnah in remembrance, there is the opening supplication, then seeking refuge, and then saying "Ameen," which is an emphasized sunnah,"
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"The best speech is the speech of Allah the Exalted, and the best guidance is the guidance of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. Beware of innovations in affairs, for the worst of affairs are their innovations, and every innovation is a bid'ah, and every bid'ah is a misguidance."
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"'Whoever opposes the Sunnah of Muhammad shall not receive his intercession.'" The analogy of someone who introduces an opposing innovation to the Sunnah is likened to someone who sins in the heart of the state,"
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"For indeed, whoever lives among you will see many differences. So adhere to my sunnah and the sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs who come after me. Hold on to it tightly and beware of newly invented matters, for every innovation is"
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"Both extremes represent a departure from the السُّنَّة to innovation: one towards the innovation of negligence and neglect, and the other towards the innovation of excess and extravagance. Some of the early scholars said:"
More on foundations
- The first hadith — the inner measure of every deed."Actions are only by intentions, and every person shall have only what they intended."
- The religion in three words: Islam, Īmān, Iḥsān."Islam is that you bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, establish the prayer, give zakāt, fast Ramadan, and make pilgrimage to the House if you are able. Īmān is that you believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and in divine decree — its good and its bitter. Iḥsān is that you worship Allah as though you see Him; and if you do not see Him, He sees you."
- The five pillars."Islam is built on five: the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah; the establishment of prayer; the paying of zakāt; the pilgrimage to the House; and fasting Ramadan."
- The soul and the decree written in the womb."The creation of each of you is gathered in the womb of their mother for forty days as a drop, then a clinging thing for the same period, then a lump of flesh for the same period. Then the angel is sent, who breathes the soul into it, and is commanded to write four things: its provision, its term of life, its deeds, and whether it will be wretched or blessed."