Arabic Text
English Translation
— ‘Ā'ishah (RA) (Bukhari & Muslim)
Commentary
The standard against bid‘ah. Worship is taken only from revelation. Inventing acts of worship — no matter how sincere — is rejected by Allah.
Extended Explanation
This hadith is the standard against bid‘ah (innovation in religion). Together with Hadith 1 (intentions), it forms the two-condition test for any act of worship: it must be (1) sincere for Allah, and (2) in accordance with the Sunnah.
In another wording (Muslim): ‘Whoever does an action that is not from our affair, it is rejected.’ The first wording covers the founder of the innovation; the second covers everyone who follows it after.
The Salaf understood this hadith as a complete refutation of every claim of ‘good innovation.’ As Imam Mālik said: ‘Whoever invents an innovation in Islam considering it good has effectively claimed Muḥammad ﷺ betrayed the message — for Allah said «This day I have perfected for you your religion» (5:3); whatever was not religion that day is not religion today.’
From the Scholars
"Whoever innovates in Islam an innovation regarding it as good has claimed that Muḥammad ﷺ betrayed the message — for Allah said: ‘This day I have perfected your religion for you.’"
"This hadith is one of the great foundations of Islam — it is the scale of actions outwardly, just as the hadith of intentions is the scale of actions inwardly."
"Every innovation in religion is misguidance — there is no such thing as bid‘ah ḥasanah in matters of worship. The division of bid‘ah into five categories applies only to worldly matters."
Fiqh & Rulings
- •The default in worship is tawqīf — restriction to what is revealed; you do not invent acts of worship.
- •The default in worldly matters (mu‘āmalāt) is permissibility unless evidence prohibits.
- •An innovation in religion is rejected even if the intention was sincere — sincerity does not legitimise the act.
- •Celebrating the Mawlid, dhikr in unison, building over graves, and similar matters are rejected by this hadith — they were unknown to the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions.
Qur'ān Cross-References
Key Arabic Vocabulary
introduced something new
our affair — i.e. the religion
rejected, returned (i.e. not accepted)
Today's Reflection
Examine one act of worship you do regularly. Can you trace it to the Qur'an or authentic Sunnah?
Key Benefits
- 1Sincerity is necessary but not sufficient — the act must also follow the Sunnah.
- 2'Good intention' does not justify innovation in religion.
Common Mistakes & Warnings
- ⚠‘But my heart finds peace in it’ is not a valid argument — the heart of a Companion would have found peace in it first if it were good.
- ⚠The division of bid‘ah into ‘good’ and ‘bad’ categories in worship contradicts the explicit text ‘every innovation is misguidance.’
Related Hadiths
Memorization Progress