“And, indeed, this is My straight path, so follow it, and do not follow the other ways, lest they separate you from His path.” (Q 6:153)

The Prophet ﷺ clarified this verse in the report narrated by Ibn Masʿūd (may Allah be pleased with him): “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ drew a line for us and said, ‘This is Allah’s path.’ He then drew several lines to its right and left, saying, ‘These are other paths; at the head of every one of them is a devil calling people to it.’ He then recited: ‘And, indeed, this is My straight path, so follow it; do not follow the other ways, lest they separate you from His path. That is what He has instructed you, so that you may be God-fearing’ (Q 6:153).” (1)

Whoever turns away from the Book and the Sunnah will be tossed between these misleading roads and the newly-invented heresies.

In summary, the causes that led to the rise of innovation can be reduced to the following: ignorance of the rulings of the religion; following one’s desires; partisanship toward opinions and individuals; and imitating or resembling the disbelievers. We shall examine each of these causes in some detail.