Worship is not measured by sincerity alone. An act can be well-intended, widely practiced, and still not be part of the religion — and it is that distinction which Shaykh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz (رحمه الله), the late Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, sets out in this booklet, known in Arabic as As-Sunnah wal-I'tidal fit-Tahdhir min al-Bida'.
The Sunnah as the Standard
The Shaykh begins where the matter is settled: alongside the Qur'an, the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ is the source that determines how Allah is to be worshipped. Adding to it implies that the religion was delivered incomplete. That, and not hostility to devotion, is why the warnings against innovation in the texts are so firm.
What Counts as Bid'ah
He then draws the line carefully, because it is drawn carelessly by others in both directions. Bid'ah is innovation in matters of the religion — introducing an act of worship, or a form of one, with no basis in revelation. It is not a prohibition on new tools, arrangements or worldly practices, a confusion that causes much unnecessary argument. Understanding the distinction properly is what the booklet is for.
The Cases He Addresses
Shaykh Ibn Baz does not keep the discussion abstract. He takes up practices that are widespread and defended, most notably the celebration of the Prophet's ﷺ birthday (the Mawlid), and shows why it has no basis in the Qur'an, the Sunnah, or the practice of the Companions and the generations that followed them — the people who loved the Prophet ﷺ most and knew best how he was to be honored.
Who It Is For
Muslims who have inherited practices from family or culture and want to know where they stand. Students of knowledge who need the principles stated by a recognized scholar. Anyone who has been asked why a particular gathering or custom is objected to and would rather answer from evidence than from habit.
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