The Perspective of Traditional Muslim Scholars on Heretical Innovations

The term of innovation or heresy (bid’ah) was used by the Prophet Muhammad in describing the practices which contradicted to Islamic teachings. The danger of its deviation from Islamic teaching was further emphasized by the companions and later became guidelines among Muslim society. This article examined several particular events such as extremism in worshipping God and congregational prayer during fasting month occurred during the times of Prophet Muhammad and his companions that regarded as the beginning of heretical innovations in the history of Muslim society. These events provided extensive discussions and remarkable debates among later Muslim scholars pertaining the permissibility or formidability of such practices which have no basis either in the Qur’an or the traditions of the Prophet. This article employed content analysis approach by referring to several authentic references from both classical and modern literatures. It was found that there were significant differences in views among Muslim scholars concerning the conformity of some Islamic practices related to faith, worship and custom which have weakened Muslim unity.