Bid’ah (Innovation)

Q. Which sin is the greatest after shirk and kufr?

After shirk and kufr, the greatest sin is Bid’ah (innovation). Bid’ah means adding something into Islam that has no proof in the Holy Qur’an, in the Hadeeth, or in the practice of the Holy Prophet ﷺ, his Companions, and the early generations. If a new action is treated as a religious duty without evidence, it is bid’ah.

The Prophet ﷺ warned strongly against bid’ah. He said that every bid’ah leads to Hell and misguides people.

Q. Give some examples of Bid’ah.

People have added thousands of bid’aat. Some examples are:

• Building graves with hard bricks
• Holding celebrations at graves
• Building domes over graves
• Lighting candles or lamps at graves
• Covering graves with sheets or cloths
• Preparing a feast in a house after someone dies
• Wearing garlands in marriage
• Adding new actions to mustahab worship without Shari’ah basis