What is Bidah? And Who Really Gets to Define It?
- Muiz As-Siddeeqi
- May 16
- 1 min read
What is Bidah? And Who Really Gets to Define It?
The people of Sunnah have clarity. The people of desires bring confusion.
Shaykhul-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله defined Bidʿah as:
“Everything that contradicts the Qur’ān, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the Salaf in belief or actions.”
(Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 18/346)
This is the true definition — grounded in Revelation and the understanding of the best generations.
But Ahlul-Bidʿah, the people of innovation and desires?
They come with twisted definitions:
“Using microphones is Bidʿah!”
“Cars didn’t exist in the Prophet’s time — Bidʿah!”
“Printing Qur’āns is a Bidʿah!”
They confuse the linguistic meaning (something new) with the Sharʿī meaning (a new matter in religion without basis in Revelation).
Their goal? To defend their real Bidʿah — in worship, beliefs, and methodology — by misdirecting the conversation.
True Bidʿah is not about tools or technology.
It’s about altering or adding to how we worship, what we believe, or how we understand the religion — in contradiction to the Qur’ān, Sunnah, and way of the Salaf.
Do not be fooled by their traps.
Stick to the definition of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamāʿah.
Follow the Salaf. That’s safety.
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