Re: Bid^a - (Innovation) 2 types, Good and Evil As Scholars stated.
The point is that the compilation of the finite hadith text, as it exists today, with statements falsely attributed to the prohet p, was a post prophet p and caliphs r creation. The prophet p and caliphs r didnt show anyone how to extract truth out of such a text. The current hadith texts, such as Sahih Bukhari and Muslim etc dont refer back to a source text containing all the sayings of the prophet p mixed with lies, compiled during the life of the prophet or the four caliphs. The mushaf Qurans existed in the days of the prophet p and caliphs r, but no finite hadith text was created by the caliphs r. Infact, there is also evidence that during the days of the caliphs r there was an official policy of destroying writings and books containing any sayings of the prophet p that werent a part of the Quran, to prevent them from being considered a part of the Quran. As such, depending on the definition of bidaa as something in religion that wasnt practiced by the prophet p nor the caliphs r, the compilation of the ahadith as it exists today would have to be classified a bidaa too. It is not such a difficult concept. Im not sure why you are having so much trouble with it.
regards,
bob.