be ignorant of it, or he knew of it yet concealed it; in that case he would be withholding the message—or part of it—and such a charge is exceedingly grave.

Sixthly: Innovation necessarily fragments the Muslim Ummah. Once the door to novelties is opened, one person invents one practice, another invents another, and a third invents yet another, exactly as we witness today. The result is that the Muslim community splits into factions, each rejoicing in what it possesses, just as the Most High says, “Each faction is pleased with what it has” (Q 30:32). Every faction claims, “The truth is with us, while the others are astray.” Allah also said to His Prophet, “Indeed, those who have divided their religion and become sects—you have nothing to do with them. Their affair is left to Allah; then He will inform them of what they used to do. Whoever brings a good deed shall have ten times the like thereof, and whoever brings an evil deed shall be requited only with its like, and they shall not be wronged” (Q 6:159–160).

When people begin to innovate, they inevitably splinter. Each one asserts, “The truth is with me, whereas so-and-so is misguided and negligent,” accusing him of lies, slander, ill intent, and the like.

Consider, for example, those who introduced the celebration of the Prophet’s birthday. They hold festivities on what they claim is the day of his birth—the twelfth of Rabiʿ al-Awwal. Do you know what they say about someone who refrains from this innovation? They say, “These people hate and dislike the Messenger; they did not rejoice at his birth and therefore refused to celebrate it,” and so on. Thus they accuse the people of truth of that which more rightly applies to themselves.

In reality, the very act of innovating implies that the innovator dislikes the Messenger ﷺ, even if he professes to love him; for when he introduces such a practice while the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him—