Warning and Admonition

Abdullah ibn ad-Dailami said: 'It has reached me that the Deen would fragment and become lost by abandoning the Sunnah. People would abandon Sunnah practice after Sunnah practice, just as a rope would become weaker and weaker.' (Ad-Darimi #98) Each one of us should adhere to the Sunnah of the Prophet and try his best to disseminate it amongst people and to apply it. Goodness can only be anticipated when one applies the Sunnah of the Prophet whether the Sunnah be an utterance or action, and when he casts aside all innovated acts in the Deen of Allah. It is also a must upon each of us, if he hears something which opposes the Shari'ah to give sincere counseling and advice, and clarify it so that he can have the great honor of defending the Deen of Allah. The Prophet said: 'Convey from me even one Ayat (verse) and there is no sin upon you if you relate the stories of the Children of Israel; and whoever forges a lie against me, let him assure his seat in the Hell.' (Bukhari #3274)

Eliminating Bid'ah is a collective duty upon the community. The Prophet said: 'Whoever of you sees a wrong, let him change it with his hand, but if he cannot then let him do so by his tongue, but if he cannot then let him abhor it in his heart, and that is the weakest branch of Iman.' (Muslim #49)

A person should give Da'wah and call to the path of Allah as mentioned in the words of Allah: (Invite to the way of your Rubb with wisdom and fair preaching and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Rubb knows best who has gone astray from His path, and He is fully aware of those who are guided.) (16:125)

Religious matters should not be taken for granted from every preacher and person who claims to have knowledge and understanding. The Deen should be taken from those who are trustworthy in their Deen, knowledge and piety. The Prophet said: 'Indeed the scholars are the heirs of the Prophets. The Prophets did not leave behind a Dinar or Dirham, rather they left behind knowledge, so whoever takes it and learns it, would have taken a grand, hefty share.' (Ibn Hib'ban #88)

We should be mindful of the words of the Prophet: 'Whoever calls to guidance, he would receive reward equal to the rewards of those who followed him, while their rewards would not be decreased. And whoever calls to a misguidance, he would receive sin equal to the sins of those who followed him, while their sins would not be decreased.' (Muslim # 2674)

Also whoever guides people to an evil -Bid'ah is a type of evil- he would receive its sin and the sin of those who follow it. The Prophet said: 'Indeed the most truthful of speech is the Book of Allah, and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad, and the most evil of matters are the innovated ones, and every innovation (in the Deen) is a misguidance and every misguidance would lead to Hell.' (Ibn Khuzaimah #1785)

As mentioned above, danger and seriousness of innovating matters in the Deen of Allah is apparent, so whoever wants to practice an action, he should take note as to whether this action is endorsed by the Shari'ah. If it is, then he should put it into practice and guide people to it; but if it belies the Shari'ah then he should abandon that action and warn people against it.