Definition of Innovation—its Categories and Rulings

1 – Its Definition
Linguistically, bidʿah (innovation) comes from al-badʿ, which denotes bringing something into existence without any prior example. The Almighty says, “The Originator of the heavens and the earth” (Qur’an 2:117), meaning that He created them without any preceding model. He also says, “Say, I am not a new thing among the messengers” (Qur’an 46:9), that is, I am not the first to be sent with a message from Allah to His servants; many messengers were sent before me. Likewise, the Arabs say, “So-and-so introduced a bidʿah,” meaning he initiated a way that had no precedent.

Innovations are of two kinds:
1 – Innovations in customary matters, such as the invention of modern devices. These are permissible, for the basic rule in worldly customs is permissibility.
2 – Innovations in religion, and these are forbidden, because the default ruling in acts of worship is suspension until evidence is established. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever introduces into our affair anything that does not belong to it, it is rejected.” (1)