«
0
Helpful
»
0
Unhelpful
in category Fiqh (Jurisprudence)

What was Shatibi's definition of bidah (innovation)?

1 Answer
1 Answer
0 Helpful
0 Unhelpful

Imam al-Shatibi said in al-I'tisaam (1/43):

فالبدعة إذن عبارة عن: طريقة في الدين مخترعة تضاهي الشرعيّة، يُقصد بالسلوك عليها المبالغة في التعبد لله تعالى
[The word] innovation (al-bid'ah) then, is an expression of:

A path taken in deen
Which is invented
And resembles the Shari'ah
And by whose practice exaggeration in serving Allah, the Exalted, is intended.

This definition was elaborated upon by al-Shatibi himself and likewise there are from the scholars who have commented upon it. It contains many elemenrselements summarized as follows:

Element 1: A path (طريقة), this is any sabeel, tareeq, sunan (all terms referring to ways), they are all the same, and it refers whatever is laid down in order to be followed and traversed. The intent behind the devising or initiation of such a path is for it to be taken as a course of action.

Element 2: In religious matters (في الدين) this excludes all other affairs, such as habits, customs and so on, and this is because this path or way is being ascribed to the deen, and if it was a worldly matter, it would not be labelled a bid'ah (innovation) in the legislative sense. Thus all worldly affairs are outside of the definition of bid'ah. This is important to grasp because in the language of some of the scholars one can find them using this term in its wider linguistic sense.

Element 3: Invented (مخترعة), meaning it has no previous example or model, and with this restriction, many things are excluded from the definition of bid'ah, in particular those things that do have a foundation in the Shari'ah and such things include the compilation of the Qur'an, the writing and compiling of hadith, the congregational tarawih prayer, the principles of fiqh, knowledge of grammar and morphology and so on. Even if they were not formally present, their foundations can be found in the Shari'ah. So these are not considered innovations in the legislative (blameworthy sense), and whoever referred to them as innovations, only did so in the linguistic sense, as is found in the saying of Umar ibn al-Khattaab about his gathering the people together in a single jama'ah for the taraweeh prayer, that it is an "excellent bid'ah," and this action has a foundation in the Sunnah as the Messenger (saw) led the people for three days in Ramadan in congregational taraweeh prayer.

Element 4: Resembles the Shari'ah (تضاهي الشرعيّة), this is a another crucial part to the definition, because innovation in the religion is of two types. One that has absolutely no basis and is completely alien to the religion and other type which resembles the Shari'ah in its foundation, but opposes the Shari'ah in its form and details and most innovations are of this nature. Al-Shatibi gives some examples of what is meant by this part of his definition and he mentions congregational dhikr (remembrance in unison with a single voice), and taking the birthday of the Prophet (saw) as a day of celebratoin (eid). Dhikr has a foundation in the Shari'ah as does a day of celebration (eid), however in the particular details, these matters (dhikr in unison and the celebrating the Prophet's birthday) are innovations. Al-Shaatibi says if it was not the nature of innovations to resemble the Shari'ah they would be treated nothing more than habitual actions.

Element 5: Exaggeration in servitude of Allah is what is intended by traversing the particular innovated way (يُقصد بالسلوك عليها المبالغة في التعبد لله تعالى), this is from the completion of the definition of bid'ah, because this is the main objective behind inventing it, and it is as if the Innovator thinks he has license to do this because it is the objective for his creation, as per the saying of Allah:

"I have not created Jinn and Men except to serve me" (51:56).

However, it has not become clear to him that what Allah has legislated of the laws, rules and limits is sufficient. However, often the innovator has desires such as wanting to be followed, and this is what motivates him to innovate for the people through the claimed objective of bringing them closer to Allah. And in this regard al-Shatibi quotes the saying of Mu'adh bin Jabal (ra):

It is feared that a man might say: They are not my followers and will not follow me, even though I have recited the Qur'an to them. They will not follow me until I innovated something else for them. So beware from what he innovators, for what he innovates is misguidance. (Abu Dawud in his Sunan, al-Darimi in his Sunan, and likewise al-Aajurree in al-Shari'ah, Ibn Waddah in al-Bida' and others.)

Al-Shatibi also points out that from this part of the definition, it becomes clear that the notion of innovation [that is blameworthy] does not enter into the habitual matters (al-aadaat). There are ways and matters innovated, which resemble the Shari'ah but nearness to Allah and worship of Him are not intended by them, so these matters do not enter into the definition of bid'ah. Examples he gives include imposed fines (that a ruler may subject upon his subjects) that have a particular value which may resemble that of zakah, likewise making use of sieves and washing hands with potash from the things that were not previously present. Whilst they may resemble something from the Shari'ah, they are not intended to make exaggeration in worshipping Allah, the Exalted.

Element 6: Al-Shatibi also explains that included within this definition is the bid'ah tarkiyyah, and this is when a person abandons an action, seeking closeness and nearness to Allah, and this abandonment is in opposition to the Shari'ah.

al-I'tisaam 1/41-55


User Settings


What we provide!

Vote Content

Great answers start with great insights. Content becomes intriguing when it is voted up or down - ensuring the best answers are always at the top.

Multiple Perspectives

Questions are answered by people with a deep interest in the subject. People from around the world review questions, post answers and add comments.

An authoritative community

Be part of and influence the most important global discussion that is defining our generation and generations to come

Join Now !

Update chat message

Message

Delete chat message

Are you sure you want to delete this message?

...