Translation: [ We know that we should avoid innovation in Allah's religion and we are ordered to revive Sunna of the Messenger of Allah and that of the rightly guided Caliphs after him. Reviving Sunna means to act upon it strictly and to guide others to act upon it also. This leads to acquiring the great reward of Allah.
Translation: So, adhere firmly to your religion. For, this is the time when the one adhering to his religion is like the one who is holding a fire brand. The luxuries of life have deluded the people and those of weak faith have increased to the extent that, the following narration of Abdullah ibn Mas'oud seemed to have been realized. It says:
" كيف أنتم إذا لبستكم فتنة يربو فيها الصغير ويهرم عليها الكبير وتتَّخَذُ سُنَّة . فإذا غيّر منها شيء قيلَ غُيّرت السُّنَّةُ . " قيلَ متى ذلك يا أبا عبد الرحمن ؟ قال : إِذا كَثُرَ قَرَّاؤكم وكَثُرَتْ أموالكم وقل أُمناؤُكُم وتعلم لغير الدين "
Translation: “ What would be the case with you when you would suffer from seditions, when your youngsters are reared on them while the elder ones would be addicted to them, and the people take them as Sunna. If some people tried to change them, it would be said: ' Who wants to change Sunna. ' It was asked: ' When would that happen O Abu Abdul-Rahman? ' He said: ' When the readers of the Koran) increase in number, and wealth becomes available to everyone, and when one learns for other purposes than religious ones. "
It is known that whenever an Ummah (a nation) distanced itself from its religion, Satan suggested to its members to practice innovations, which the coming generation then took to be commandments of the religion, when they were not.
I think that the following explanation of the Hadith about innovation would clarify the matter. This is extracted from a book titled: ' The Nature of the Invitation of Imam Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhab. '.
... Besides, Islam is a perfect religion. It lacks nothing, and it abrogates what had passed before it. The Hadith of the Messenger of Allah refutes this. The Hadith says:
Translation: Narrated Al-Monzir ibn Jareer on the authority of his father: ' The Messenger of Allah said: " He that has initiated a good deed, will have its reward and a reward equal to those who followed him in that without decreasing theirs by naught. And he that initiated an evil deed will have its punishment and a punishment equal to those who followed him in that without decreasing theirs by naught¹¹ 11. "
Translation: 11 The full text of the Hadith shows clearly that the words: " He that initiated a good deed, will have its reward and a reward equal to those who followed him in that, without decreasing theirs by naught. And he that initiated an evil deed, will have its punishment and a punishment equal to those who followed him in that, without decreasing theirs by naught. " refer to charity as shown below: Narrated Awn ibn Abu-Johayfa: ' I heard Al-Monzir ibn Jareer say on the authority of his father: " One morning we were with the
Now, let us go through the verses and Hadiths compiled by Imam Al-Nawawi on this topic.]
Translation: " And those who say: " Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders of the pious. * " (25: 74) And
Translation: Messenger of Allah when some naked and bare-footed people of Modhar tribe came holding their swords. The Messenger of Allah was greatly moved by their bad condition. He entered and came out and ordered Bilal to deliver azan. He performed the prayer then he addressed the people: " O mankind! Fear your Guardian-Lord, Who created you from a single person and created its mate from it, and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women; fear Allah, through Whom ye demand your mutual (rights), and (be kind to) the wombs (that bore you): for Allah is an Ever-Watcher over you. well " (4: 1) And " O you who believe! Fear Allah, and let every soul look to what (provision) it has sent forth for the Morrow. And fear Allah: for Allah is well-acquainted with (all) that ye do. * " (59: 18) Then the Prophet said: " Let one of you pay as charity of what he has, a Dinar, a Dirham, some dried dates even if a half of a date. The people started to give what they could afford. A man from Al Ansar came with a bundle of money that was so heavy he could not carry it. Then the people kept on giving until I saw two piles of food and clothes. I saw the Messenger's face beaming as a golden jewel, then he said: " He that initiated a good deed will have its reward and a reward equal to those who followed him in that, without decreasing theirs by naught. And he that initiated an evil deed will have its punishment and a punishment equal to those who followed him in that without decreasing theirs by naught. " The translator.
Translation: “ And We made them (The Messenger of Allah Abraham and Noah peace be upon them leaders, guiding (mankind) by Our Command, and We revealed to them the doing of good deeds, performing the prayer, and the giving of zakat and of Us (Alone) they were worshippers. * (21: 73)
Translation: As to the Hadiths, here are a few below:
Hadith 129: Hadith 129
129 Narrated Amr ibn Awf: ' The Prophet said to Bilal ibn Al-Hareth: " Take into consideration. " Bilal said: " What should I take into consideration Messenger of Allah? " The Prophet said: " Verily, he that revives a Sunna (a practice) of mine that people have neglected after my death, would have its reward and a reward equal to those who acted upon it, without decreasing theirs by aught. And he that innovates an evil practice that Allah and His Messenger do not approve, would have its punishment and a punishment equal to the punishment of those who acted upon it, without decreasing theirs by aught. " (At-Termizi)
Translation: 130Narrated Awn ibn Abu-Johayfa: ' I heard Al-Monzer ibn Jareer say on the authority of his father: " One morning we were with the Messenger of Allah when some naked and bare-footed people of Modhar tribe came holding their swords. The Messenger of Allah was greatly moved by their bad condition. He entered and then came out and ordered Bilal to deliver azan. He performed the prayer then he addressed the people:
Translation: " O mankind! Fear your Guardian-Lord, Who created you from a single person and created its mate from it, and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women; fear Allah, through Whom ye demand your mutual (rights), and (be kind to) the wombs (that bore you): for Allah is an Ever-Watcher over you. * " (4: 1) And
Translation: " O you who believe! Fear Allah, and let every soul look to what (provision) it has sent forth for the Morrow. And fear Allah: for Allah is well-acquainted with (all) that ye do. * " (59: 18)
Translation: Then the Prophet ﷺ said: “ Let one of you pay as charity of what he has, a Dinar, a Dirham, some dried dates even if a half of a date. The people started giving what they can afford. A man from Al-Ansar came with a bundle of money that was so heavy he could not carry it. Then the people kept on giving until I saw two piles of food and clothes. I saw the Messenger's face beaming as a golden jewel. Then the Prophet said:
Translation: " He that has initiated a good deed will have its reward and a reward equal to those who followed him in that without decreasing theirs by naught. And he that initiated an evil deed will have its punishment and a punishment equal to those who followed him in that without decreasing theirs by naught. "