Note: Whoever divides innovation into “good” and “bad” is in error and is contradicting the Prophet’s saying (peace and blessings be upon him), “Every innovation is misguidance.” The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) declared all innovations to be misguidance, whereas this person claims that not every innovation is misguidance and that there are some good ones.

Al-Hafiz Ibn Rajab, in his commentary on the Forty Hadith, wrote: “The Prophet’s statement, ‘Every innovation is misguidance,’ is one of the concise sayings that leave nothing outside their scope. It is a major principle of the religion and is similar to his words, ‘Whoever introduces into this affair of ours something that is not from it, it is rejected.’ Thus, anyone who brings something new and attributes it to the religion when it has no basis in the religion to which it can be referred is misguidance, and the religion is free of it—whether the matter pertains to beliefs, actions, or outward and inward statements.” End of quote. (1)

Those who insist on a “good innovation” have no proof except ʿUmar’s remark (may Allah be pleased with him) about the congregational night prayer in Ramadan: “What a good innovation this is.”