had not legislated it for the ummah, then, as I said earlier, he is either ignorant or deliberately concealing the truth.

Seventh: When an innovation spreads within the community, the Sunnah withers away, for people inevitably act—either in obedience or in disobedience. Hence some of the early generations said, “No people ever introduce an innovation without losing from the Sunnah an equal amount—or even more.” Innovations therefore lead to the Sunnah being forgotten and disappearing from the Muslim ummah.

A person may at times introduce an innovation with a good intention; his aim may be commendable while his deed is blameworthy. There is nothing to prevent the intention from being good even though the action itself is evil. Nonetheless, once someone realizes that his deed is evil, he must abandon it and adhere to the Sunnah brought by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

Eighth: Another of its harms is that the innovator no longer allows the Book and the Sunnah to judge his conduct; instead he follows his own whims. Yet Allah the Exalted has said, “If you disagree about anything, refer it back to Allah and the Messenger, if you truly believe in Allah and the Last Day” (Q 4:59). “To Allah” means to His Book, and “to the Messenger” means to him during his lifetime and to his Sunnah after his death—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him. Allah is the One who grants success.

169 — ʿĀʾishah, may Allah be pleased with her, reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever introduces into this affair of ours anything that does not belong to it, it will be rejected.” Agreed upon.