Re: Blessings of Qasidat al-Burda (Poem praising the Prophet)
The bottom line is, that innovation has already been discussed before so stop trying to start this debate again, and go into another thread to start this discussion Lajawab. It is established that there are two types of innovations:
an innovation of guidance,
and an innovation of misguidance.
If you are telling me that 800 million Muslims in the world follow and believe in innovations of misguidance, then you should look at your own life before stating such a thing. Hafiz ibn Hajr al Asqalani, Hafiz Jalaluddin Suyuti, even ibn Taymiyya, Hafiz ibn Kathir, Imam Nawawi's explanation of Sahih Muslim, all clearly state that bid'a is not all a form of misguidance, so who are you to say, you more learned than them? Or have you ever studied their works?
What complies with the Qur'an, the Sunnah, the Ijma^ (scholarly consensus), and the sayings and practices of the Companions is an innovation of guidance, and what contradicts the Qur'an, the Sunnah, the Ijma^, and the sayings and actions of the Companions is an innovation of misguidance. This definition of the two types of innovations was given by many knowledgeable and trustworthy scholars of Islam; among them Imam ash-Shafi^iyy, Imam an-Nawawiyy, al-Bayhaqiyy, and the Hafidh, Ibn Hajar al-^Asqalaniyy.
We all know of this hadith stated in Sahih al-Muslim:
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«من سنَّ في الإسلام سنة حسنة فله أجرها وأجر من عمل بها إلى يوم القيامة، لا ينقص من أجورهم شىء ومن سنَّ فِى الإسلام سنة سيئة فعليه وزرها ووزر من عمل بها إلى يوم القيامة لا ينقص من أوزارهم شىء»
This hadith means:
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The one who innovates a good innovation in Islam has its reward and a reward similar to those who follow him in it--until the Day of Judgment--without lessening their reward. The one who innovates an innovation of misguidance would be sinful for it and has sins similar to those who follow him in it--until the Day of Judgment--without lessening their sins.
It is apparent Muslims** have not** gone astray in celebrating the birth of the Prophet, based upon the aforementioned hadith, because the deeds practiced during this event are considered rewardable by the standards of the Religion, and in line with the definition of innovations of guidance. Unfortunately, there are some people who misinterpret a sahih hadith related by Abu Dawud: "كل بدعة ضلالة"
which REALLY means: <> Those who are misguided interpret the word (kul) as `every' and thus claim this hadith to them means: "Every innovation is an innovation of misguidance. Their claim is unfounded for two reasons. Linguistically, this hadith is similar to the hadith related by al-Bayhaqiyy: "كل عين زانية"
Which clearly does not mean: "Every eye gazes the look of the adulterer;" rather, "Most people are guilty of the forbidden look." The person blind since birth would surely not have the forbidden look, and it is known the Prophets would never commit such an abject sin. The word "كل" (kul) as used in both hadiths refers to `most,' although it can mean "every" it does not mean this in all cases.
As a matter of fact, in the explanation of Sahih Muslim, an-Nawawiyy said: "The saying of the Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, «كل بدعة ضلالة» is among the terms which are: "عام مخصوص" (^am makhsus) i.e., a general statement giving a specific meaning; which is a known field in Islam, and the meaning of the hadith is "most innovations are innovations of misguidance."
This field the "عام مخصوص" is seen in the Qur'an in Ayah 3 of Surat al-Ahqaf: تدمر كل شىء] which means the wind Allah sent as punishment to the people of ^Ad demolished most of the things.
To accept the meaning: "Every innovation is an innovation of misguidance," as the meaning of the sahih hadith related by Abu Dawud would negate the sahih hadith related by Imam Muslim which specifies two types of innovations: the innovations of guidance and the innovations of misguidance. In the rules of the Religion it is not permissible to interpret two sahih hadiths in contradiction to one another, therefore we know the true meaning.
Please explain to me now Lajawab, that if one hadith says every innovation is a misguidance, are you telling me that that one hadith in Sunan Abu Dawud is negating the other related by Muslim in his Sahih which is a Sahih Hadith as well?
It is clear and obvious that any person who interprets the word "Kul" in that hadith is misguided and has committed a grave and serious error.
That should quell the bickering forever and for good, Insha'Allah.
